John Locke Foundation experts continue to share their insights with audiences across North Carolina. Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray, a frequent speaker at Tea Party events, offered the Fayetteville Observer this week her assessment of the Tea Party movement’s likely impact on this year’s North Carolina elections. Gray and Executive Vice President Kory Swanson traveled to Richmond County Community College to discuss John Locke’s North Carolina legacy and the continuing relevance of his principles during a presentation for two civics and economics classes. Gray also spoke during Johnston County Community College’s Constitution Day celebration. Earlier in the week, she addressed the Guilford County GOP Executive Club, and she joined Carl Lamm on WTSB Radio to discuss hot political topics. N.C. History Project Director Troy Kickler discussed the state and federal constitutions for a Rocky Mount Daughters of the American Revolution group. Carolina Journal Radio Co-Host Donna Martinez discussed the election environment, redistricting, and the state’s $3 billion budget hole during a speech this week to the Any Interested Republican group in Durham. The Elizabeth City Daily Advance covered a recent speech from Terry Stoops, Director of Education Studies, to the Al-Pam Republican Club. The Northwest Observer noted a presentation from Michael Sanera, Director of Research and Local Government Studies, at a 9/11 anniversary event in Oak Ridge. Sanera discussed the U.S. Constitution in a presentation Thursday to a Civitan group, then headed to the latest meeting of the Wake County Sustainability Committee. The Washington Daily News also highlighted JLF participation in Americans For Prosperity’s upcoming “Spending Revolt” bus tour. Along with in-state travels, several JLF staffers flew to Cleveland, Ohio, for national conferences. Daren Bakst, Director of Legal and Regulatory Studies, served as discussion leader at the Atlas forum on state energy policy. At the State Policy Network’s annual meeting, Kristina Mitten Sanders, Director of Advancement, delivered several presentations on development-related topics, while Joseph Coletti, Director of Health and Fiscal Policy Studies, moderated a panel discussion on state responses to federal health care reform. After returning to Raleigh, Coletti discussed state pension and health care benefits during an appearance on Tara Servatius’ WBT Radio program. Speaking of radio, WUNC quoted Roy Cordato, Vice President for Research and Resident Scholar, in a story about tax reform for North Carolina. Television news outlets also turned to the John Locke Foundation this week for expertise. WTVD interviewed Stoops about a new taxpayer-funded job for State Board of Education chairman William Harrison. Both News 14 Carolina and WBTV interviewed Mitch Kokai, Director of Communications, about the electoral influence of North Carolina Tea Party activists. Kokai also will drive to Greensboro this weekend for a presentation at the opening of Guilford County’s new Republican Party headquarters.
