The new year promises to be a big one for BlueNC, and to get things off to a proper start, I have this announcement. Our friend and frequent contributor, George Pence, has agreed to become one of BlueNC's front-pagers! George's gentle way with words and his independent streak have already added much to our community - so please join me in welcoming him aboard.
When I asked George how I should introduce him, he shared this:
I live in Moore County. My Congressman is Howard Coble, my state Senator is Harris Blake, and my state Rep is soon to be Joe Boylan ... Republicans all.
I've been fairly active in the Moore County Democratic Party. I've been an assistant precinct chair, 1st Vice Chair, 2nd Vice Chair, and GOTV chair. I'm a white guy, but I'm the political action chair of the Moore County NAACP and I'm a member of the North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus. In 2004 I was the Moore County liaison for Oscar Harris' run for the state senate.
I enjoy keeping track of the Council of State, Senators and Congress people. I'm not putting my hand in the air and claiming any of these subjects as my own, but it seems to me that there are some emerging stories worth watching: The role of the Blue Dogs in the new Congress, and how Heath Shuler and Mike McIntyre fit into all of that. The upcoming gubernatorial race and how Bev Purdue and Richard Moore jockey for position in the coming months. John Edwards campaign. Elizabeth Dole and 2008 Senate.
In addition to having front-line experience with campaigns and partisan politics, George is also a very nice guy. I met him for the first time at the Edwards bash in Chapel Hill, and he seemed like an old friend. That could be because we're about the same age, although I am a crotchety old man and he's not.
Welcome to the front page, George!
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For the record, this status at BlueNC brings with it precious few privileges. Mostly it means George can put his own entries on the front page without having to be "recommended" by others. It also means he gets to feel guilty about whether he's posting brilliant insights often enough!
:)
Comments
Congratulations and well deserved!
I love reading his articles and comments and so proud to say that he is also from Moore County!
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
If we're not careful
this place'll end up being called "BlueMC" if you know what I mean!
:)
WOOT! That would be a dream come true....
A blue Moore County.....ahhh....I feel the love :)
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Blue MC indeed
Just you watch. Just you watch.
Not the boards, my friends. The county. Just you watch.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi
Yayy!
I always enjoy reading George Pence, he's a great thinker as well as a great writer. 'Grats, George.
Brilliant insights?
Crikey! Are we supposed to do that?
NC Defend Health Care
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
Wonderful...
and it was great getting to meet George.
Stan Bozarth
Aww come on RobertP. I would bet big money
that even your dreams are brilliant and insightful!
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Congrates for raising Blue NC to a new level with George
I have enjoyed George's research and his excellent writing on politics. George is a real gentleman and of above all...he is honest with his comments. Excellent choice A.
ps...The moment I see senior moments in both of you old coots, I will personally have you both committed without due process like the Republican leadership has done for the past 6 years.
Speaking of Retired Old Coots
Check this out....from Peace Takes Courage
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
This is a fabulous choice.
George is one of the best writers around - and always has lots of opinions he's willing to share. :) I'm proud to call him neighbor and friend.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi
He's good despite...
He's a good writer despite the lack of a hat.
(We'll get up with you soon.)
Hi George!
I'm so glad BlueNC has a front pager with the time and energy to take on Patrick McRove-clone. Even though I spent most of last year fighting Taylor (after having lived in the 11th for 16 years), I now live in the 10th. And I've felt a little guilty neglecting the obvious needed work in my own backyard.
(I am extremely proud to say Tom Delay Lite didn't win my precinct but the overall district numbers are pretty grim.)
Keep up the good writing!
“All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.” So enjoy the Drama.
Moore County
someone asked me about Moore County last night and I'm afraid I was left without a good answer. Which of you would be willing to give us a general recap of the county's history and current status?
NC Defend Health Care
Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me
More Moore
I do know Moore is in 6th NC Dist, where we have put up with Coble for, what 22 years or so. District was gerrymandered for Repubs. several times if I remember right. Many of us have heard that Moore is pretty conservative (I am from Alamance), if that be the correct term. Other than that, we Dems in 6th have been unable to organize a food fight in a cafeteria. I also would like a snapshot from a denizen of Moore.
wafranklin
Thanks for your question, Robert...
Moore County has a population of 81,685 and it is growing about 8.5% faster than the state as a whole. 15.1% of our population is black which is about 25% less than what is average for the rest of North Carolina.
Our average per capita income is 13.2% above the state average while our mean household income is only 4.3% above the state mean household income. This indicates that wealth in Moore County, while considerable, is held by a smaller percentage of the population than in virtually any other county of the state.
That wealth is also unequally distributed between native North Carolinians who make much less, and those who have relocated to the county, largely, but not entirely retirees who make far more. Taxes here are among the lowest in the state and far lower than any county that borders us. We lag far behind the rest of the state when it comes to financing our public schools.
Moore County is 45% registered Republican, 32% registered Democrat and 23% registered unaffiliated. As in most places, unaffiliated voters are the fasting growing segment of registered voters.
The Republican party here is at war with itself. There is a far right ideologically driven segment of the party that routinely battles with the more moderate wing. Joe Boylan, our new state representative and a recent immigrant from Los Angeles is a part of the far right faction. Harris Blake, our native born state senator, is more moderate. However, Blake is one of the least energetic members of the legislature who typically sponsors fewer bills than you have fingers on one hand.
My only source for making the following assertion is purely anecdotal, but the more moderate wing of the Republican Party here seems to be lead by native born Democratic converts, while the far right wing faction is composed disproportionately of out-of-towners who came here more out of enthusiasm for low taxes and warm weather than any particular fondness for the state itself.
In the last election the far right won the contest over ousting Richard Morgan, with generous outside help from Mr. Pope, while the more moderate wing took over the county commission. The only Democrats holding significant county wide elective office here are on the school board.
Our senatorial district is paired with Harnett County which is economically less well off. While the population of Harnett County is larger than Moore County, and more heavily Democratic in its registration, the much higher voter turnout in Moore usually decides the election for state senator.
Our county Democratic Party is energetic and 80% of the precincts are organized, however, we too have been dealing with divisions that have limited our effectiveness. It seems there is always a faction among us willing to prevail over other members of the party at any cost. The unpleasantness of all that conflict has made me inclined to favor tolerance and mutual concord over an excess of passion. As Democrats in Moore County we've been very successful at saying we love the poor, but we haven't been very successful in loving one another.
I'm 56 years old. I moved to North Carolina five years ago. The previous twenty-five years I spent as a resident of Chicago's north shore and before that Wisconsin, Utah and California. I live in Moore County. My Congressman is Howard Coble, my State Sen
Moore County
I've lived here for 10 years. WAFranklin is correct, Moore County is fairly republican and conservative - now. At least that's how it skews. Our voter registration looks like this: Roughly 17,000 registered Democrats (32%), 12,000 registered Unaffiliated (23%), and 24,000 registered Republicans (45%) . This gives Republicans a simple majority in the county. Republicans in this county have a traditionally low turnout, but Dems have an even lower one. :( So our job, as always, is to GET OUT THE VOTE, both Dem and Unaffilated.
Turn-out over-all in 2006 was about 38%. We had the much trumpeted 3-way race for NC House 52 between Joe Boylan (R), Manila (Bud) Shaver,(R),running Unaffilated, and Gerald Galloway (U), which all of us thought would drive more turn-out than it did.
My understanding is that until about 25 years ago, Moore County was decidedly Democratic. Then it became a retirement mecca for more conservative folk, and at the same time, the Republican party has appealed to the religious folks in our county. This is not to say that we don't have very many devout faithful religious Democrats - it's just perceptions.
In Chapel Hill on Saturday, when asked about Moore County, my husband and I joked that Moore County was the area that surrounded Pinehurst. That's really not fair - Pinehurst is indeed part of what makes up Moore County, and there is more to Pinehurst than golf and shopping. There are wonderful, strong Democrats who hail from Pinehurst, who are working hard to build our local party into something strong that can't be ignored.
Moore County is a microcosm of the 2 Americas that John Edwards talked about. Most of you have heard of the Pinehurst resort - that's where the Golf tournaments happen. There is also the Country Club of North Carolina - it makes the Resort look like a Holiday Inn. Right down the road from there is Jackson Hamlet.
As a local party,we're moving forward. As far as I'm concerned, it's already 2008, and we're getting ready for GOTV.
As for the 6th District, however, Moore County was the bluest in that District, giving Candidate Rory Blake the highest percentage of the vote he received in the entire district (36%). The only county where he received a higher number of votes was the much larger Guilford County. So I think we might even be called the Blue Center of District 06 - which in a way scares the mess out of me. :-D
I'm sure Momo can give more background and history about Moore County because she's lived here longer, and her husband grew up here.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
Sad state
Would that be the same Jackson Hamlet where, in 2006, there are homes without running water? Would that be the same Jackson Hamlet where the population includes less white meat than a roast duck? Would that be the same Jackson Hamlet that Pinehurst doesn't want to annex?
I thought so.
lcloud is right, as she so often is. Pinehurst, while being good for tourism and general snootiness, throws off the economic statistics for the county, masking the true state of Moore County and the dire conditions in their own backyard.
Sorry
I'm sorry Linda, I duplicated much of what you had to say. I was busy typing away my response which was begun before you posted. However, I finished and posted only after you submitted your response to Robert's question. Obviously, I'm in perfect agreement with everything you had to say, and now I'm feeling a bit redundant.
I'm 56 years old. I moved to North Carolina five years ago. The previous twenty-five years I spent as a resident of Chicago's north shore and before that Wisconsin, Utah and California. I live in Moore County. My Congressman is Howard Coble, my State Sen
As always George -
You said it better.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi
Thank you all...
I appreciate all the kind words from those of you who have welcomed me to BlueNC. I'll do my best to live up to everyone's expectations.
Also... A happy new year to all!
I'm 56 years old. I moved to North Carolina five years ago. The previous twenty-five years I spent as a resident of Chicago's north shore and before that Wisconsin, Utah and California. I live in Moore County. My Congressman is Howard Coble, my State Sen
Congrats, George
I look forward to your insightful and interesting posts.
Congratulations George
It was good to meet you Saturday.
I hope you'll post some on your experience with the NAACP and NC Black Leadership Caucus. I think that the BlueNC would benefit from an increased voice from people of color.
Like you, I'm a white guy who often finds himself in organizations and political coalitions that are largely made up of people of color. Maybe sometime we can share experiences.
Welcome George
Look forward to more stuff.
kmr
Welcome George
I know we've emailed, but wanted to make it public. Sorry, I've been messing around with learning curves.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.