People monitoring North Carolina primary election results Tuesday night had plenty of opportunities to encounter expert analysis from John Locke Foundation staffers. President John Hood spent the evening dissecting results during News 14 Carolina‘s wall-to-wall election coverage. Vice President for Outreach Becki Gray offered her perspective first to WPTF Radio listeners, then to the expanded audience of the statewide radio N.C. News Network. Incoming Carolina Journal reporter Barry Smith offered his expertise during UNC Public Television’s election coverage.
After the election, the News & Observer published Hood’s reaction, and Gray discussed the results for Curtis Media Group’s “People In Politics” radio segment. Gray’s two weekly appearances on WTSB Radio also highlighted election news. JLF Director of Communications Mitch Kokai analyzed primary results for Chad Adams on WLTT Radio and Curtis Wright on WAAV/WFNC Radio. The N&O also mentioned that Wake County N.C. House primary winner James Fulghum is a Locke Foundation board member. N.C. Senate Republicans promoted CJ contributor Dan Way‘s report on the marriage amendment vote.
Before primary day, WRAL.com, the N&O, and the Fayetteville Observer all highlighted Smith’s preview of the 8th Congressional District Republican primary. The Rocky Mount Telegram interviewed Kokai for its election preview. The Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association promoted CJ Associate Editor David Bass‘ report on a controversial Republican Senate candidate who had been a donor and “aircraft provider” for Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue.
The News & Observer‘s voter guide mentioned JLF twice. First, the newspaper noted Fulghum’s JLF affiliation. Second, state auditor candidate and Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright noted his city’s ranking in JLF’s annual By The Numbers report on local government tax burdens. Wright highlighted the same tax burden information in a Stanly News & Press article. (“In 2001, based on a John Locke Foundation ranking, Hickory was the second highest in the state of North Carolina among larger cities — today we are 16th,” Wright said.)
