If you think Republican elected officials don’t listen, you’re right. The good news is, Democrats do.
“Shut the hell up!” he explained.
Commissioner candidates Tom Simmons, Jonathan Damico, and Bob Fulton hear you. They’re concerned Brunswick County became the fastest-growing county in NC, seventh-fastest in the U.S., because incumbent commissioners have approved 34,005 housing units since 2021.
The incumbents — Frank Williams, Pat Sykes, and Mike Forte — clearly favor the developers and builders who help fund their campaigns, versus the constituents they’re elected to serve. Constituents get disrespected, excluded, and accused of lying!
When residents protested plans for thousands of new homes in Ash, Forte yelled, "Shut the hell up!" at one citizen. This summer, Commissioners Randy Thompson and Forte met exclusively with developers and staff. The meeting was closed to the public.
At the crowded September 23rd commissioner meeting following destructive Potential Tropical Cyclone 8, Forte heartlessly said, “only one person died, and it was his fault.” Sykes accused concerned residents of telling lies and voted against giving them additional time to speak.
Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
Brunswick County has the worst PFAS levels in America. GOP appointees are delaying new regulations on hazardous chemicals in water supplies. If you want commissioners who respect you, oppose unchecked development, and will fight for all residents to have safe drinking water, elect Simmons, Damico, and Fulton.
Foxes guarding the hen house
Republicans in NC’s legislature weakened building standards. They rejected limits on steep slope construction, which would reduce the number of homes lost to landslides; blocked a requirement that homes be built above the height of expected flooding; weakened wetland protections, which would mitigate stormwater runoff; and slowed adoption of updated building codes, making it harder for NC to qualify for federal grants.
Engineer Kim Wooten, NC Building Code Council member, stated the home builders association opposed every bill “to improve life safety.” She said many GOP lawmakers, as developers themselves or beneficiaries of developers’ campaign contributions, “vote for bills that line their pocketbooks and make home building cheaper.”
Think education is expensive? Try ignorance.
NC ranks 48th in per-pupil funding and 38th in teacher salaries. The Leandro lawsuit ruled that Republican legislators violated students’ constitutional “right to a sound basic education.” They refuse to implement its remedies and instead support giving millions of taxpayer dollars to unregulated private schools.
Recent destructive storms prove we need public servants who put your needs first. Protect Brunswick County from unscrupulous development, give our kids their constitutional right to a sound education, and improve transparency and accountability. Elect Democrats Katherine Randall (NC Senate), Charles Jones and Jill Brown (NC House), Janis Simmons (Brunswick County School Board), and Acquinetta Beatty (Register of Deeds).
“True conservatism has been replaced with a cult”
concluded former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney agreed. Both served on the Jan. 6 Committee and have endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Your ballot is littered with MAGA Cult members.
Attorney General and Representative
Representatives Dan Bishop and David Rouzer hid from the Jan. 6 mob, then voted to overturn the election. Democrats Jeff Jackson, as Attorney General, and Marlando Pridgen, as Representative, will uphold the Rule of Law and work to protect your quality of life.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Fanatic Michele Morrow has zero experience in NC’s public schools. She called for the pay-per-view execution of President Obama, brought her children to the January 6th insurrection, and filmed a video begging Trump to “put the Constitution aside” and use military force to keep power.
Democrat and champion of public education, Maurice Green, served seven successful years as Guilford County Schools Superintendent, was a school board attorney, and was chief executive of a large foundation that supports public education.
Judiciary
The MAGA majority NC Supreme Court favors gerrymandering and allowing unqualified general assemblymen to control women’s healthcare decisions. NC Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs, appointed by Governor Cooper, is running to keep her seat. Riggs’ opponent, Jefferson Griggs, is in lock-step with the current majority. Justice Riggs, with NC Court of Appeals candidates Judge Carolyn Thompson and attorneys Ed Eldred and Martin Moore, will defend your rights.
Governor
Trump’s hand-picked nominee, Mark Robinson, defended Hitler, called the Holocaust “a bunch of hogwash,” and said, “Some folks need killing!” Trump likened him to Martin Luther King. After CNN reported Robinson posted to a porn site calling himself a “Black Nazi,” along with many other lurid remarks, Robinson’s staff resigned en masse.
Josh Stein, NC’s Attorney General, is endorsed by hundreds of elected officials, including many Republicans. He will continue Gov. Cooper’s brand of effective, trusted, centrist leadership.
President
Trump, 78, is America’s oldest presidential nominee. Despite inheriting $413 million from his real estate developer father, he declared bankruptcy six times.
The former reality TV personality made the GOP abandon conservative principles: limited government, strong alliances, the Rule of Law. Trump killed women’s reproductive freedom, mismanaged COVID, wanted to withdraw from NATO, and promised to jail political opponents. Trump is an adjudicated rapist, convicted felon (34 counts), and defendant awaiting trial for trying to overturn the 2020 election and block the peaceful transfer of power.
Kamala Harris, 59, was born to a biomedical scientist mother who advanced breast cancer research. Harris’ vast qualifications include serving as District Attorney, Attorney General, US Senator, and Vice President of the United States.
Many Republicans support Harris, including former VP Dick Cheney, former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and hundreds of former staffers of presidents Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43, and Trump.
Harris is running to be president for ALL Americans. She will restore women’s reproductive freedom; make home buying, childcare and medications more affordable; and see that every American has the opportunity to not just get by but get ahead.
Choose your future, not Trump’s past
If you want officials who will listen to you and work to improve your future, elect Democrats.
Shelley Allen, Ph.D.
Chair, Brunswick County Democratic Party
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