The outcome of the 2012 elections could have a major impact on the future of school choice in North Carolina. John Locke Foundation Director of Research and Education Studies Terry Stoops shared his expertise on the topic this week during a Civitas Institute panel discussion. N.C. Education Alliance Director Lindalyn Kakadelis discussed the outlook for school choice initiatives during her latest appearance with Lockwood Phillips on WTKF’s “Viewpoints Radio.”

The political impact of recent embassy bombings and other Middle East turmoil generated a pair of interviews for JLF staffers. Vice President for Communications Jon Ham spent an hour discussing the topic with Chad Adams on WLTT Radio. Director of Communications Mitch Kokai analyzed Middle East developments with Demetri Ravanos on Talk Radio WPTF.

Both WTVD Television and News 14 Carolina‘s “Capital Tonight” interviewed Kokai about the political fallout associated with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s comments about 47 percent of Americans paying no taxes while expecting government support.

The Locke Foundation welcomed Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York to an election preview panel discussion that also featured JLF President John Hood, Republican consultant and JLF Senior Fellow Marc Rotterman, and Democratic consultant Brad Crone. One day later, Kokai participated in an election panel discussion for North Carolina State University’s Society for Politics, Economics, and the Law. He discusses the current political scene today with two groups of students from Raleigh Charter High School.

Speaking of elections, JLF’s North Carolina History Project turned back the clock by 200 years to host a debate between former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson about the 1812 election. That event drew 300 people to the N.C. Museum of History. Meanwhile, N.C. History Project Director Troy Kickler delivered lectures on the U.S. Constitution to student assemblies at Fayetteville Technical Community College’s main campus and Spring Lake satellite site. Kickler speaks this weekend in Raleigh during Americans for Prosperity’s National Prosperity Action Day.

Kokai filled in Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray Monday morning in discussing top Carolina Journal stories with WTSB Radio listeners. Gray returns to the WTSB airwaves this afternoon to recap the week’s top political news. 

Gray addressed about 300 students at two Cleveland County high schools during Constitution Day events Monday. She also discussed the importance of the 2012 elections during a presentation to the East Wake Republican Club in Knightdale.