Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sierra Club backs Meeker, Stephenson, Crowder, Koopman in Raleigh; also, Robison, Smith in Cary
The Sierra Club's endorsements are out in the Raleigh and Cary elections.
In Raleigh, no surprise that the environmental group is backing Charles Meeker for mayor, Thomas Crowder in District D and Rodger Koopman in District B -- all incumbents. (It also endorsed Nancy McFarlane, an incumbent, who is running unopposed in District A.)
In the at-large Council race in Raleigh, where the top two finishers will win seats, the SC's Capital Group -- 3,000 members strong -- endorsed only incumbent Russ Stephenson. In other words, the enviros kept their second vote in their pockets rather than endorse the other incumbent, Mary-Ann Baldwin, or one of the two challengers, either Lee Sartain or Champ Claris.
(Voters in the at-large race can cast one vote or two votes -- their choice. Or no vote.)
In the District C race, the Club endorsed nobody -- not incumbent James West, not challenger Charles Reisinger.
In Cary, Julie Robison, running at-large, and Jack Smith, running in District C, won the group's backing -- they're both incumbents. In District A, it was another no-endorsement call: Neither Jennifer Robinson, the incumbent, nor any of her trio of challengers (Lori Bush, Cynthia Sinkez, Terry Thorne) earned its favor.
Comments (4)
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C.Daily neglects to mention this candidate was re-elected to the State Executive Committee by democrats well after CD sought her removal personally. Despite several Cary precinct officers resigning in protest of CD persecuting me, I was also re-elected as a precinct chair. Sadly, CD won't trash people under her real name but she was once a party officer no would re-elect.
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While Ms Evangelista may have a valid complaint about not being interviewed, her characterization of Jack Smith as part of a problem seems off base. Many of the positive efforts to address the Jordan Lake watershed have been implemented during Mr. Smith's tenure, and he should receive props for acquisition of park space in the highly commercial Walnut Street corridor to prevent development along the Lawrence Road intersection. As a resident of Mr. Smith and Ms. Evangelista's district, I appreciate the Sierra Club's willingness to make an endorsement in this race, and trust that they have done their homework.
The Sierra Club not wanting to interview a candidate that was removed from office by her own party is understandable. Why waste time and money.
Allow me to correct some facts concerning the Sierra Club's Cary Town Council endorsement in District C. I was denied a candidate interview and upon learning this, contacted the Capital Group chapter of the Sierra Club to ask why. I was told the chapter decided they did not have time to bother with interviewing me and had endorsed Jack Smith in the 2005 election and were sticking with him according to Ed Clayton, Chair of the political endorsement committee. It is patently ridiculous that this chapter would endorse a candidate whose 2005 campaign received 81 percent of its contributions from the Home Builders and Construction industry and their PACs. I have been a lifelong environmentalist as is my husband, a recently retired EPA air quality scientist. My opponent was the Cary Mayor Pro tem from 2001-2007 when Cary was experiencing explosive growth and overdevelopment. Overdevelopment is the key factor harming Jordan Lake's water quality, Cary's source of drinking water. I always considered the local chapter of the Sierra Club's endorsements to be an important factor in voting for candidates. I am saddened to find out it is not based in reality or facts.
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