Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 17, 2008 issue
Democratic Party Primary—U.S. House of Representatives
Two Democrats are running in the primary for the Fifth Congressional District seat currently held by Virginia Foxx. The Fifth Congressional District includes Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Davie, Surry, Stokes, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin Counties as well as portions of Forsyth, Iredell, and Rockingham.
Roy Carter
Age: 64
Family: Married, three children
Residence: Ashe County
Occupation: Retired educator and football coach
Political experience: None
Top issues: Here are Carter’s top issues and excerpts from her position statements. For more info, click to his website.
Education: Head Start is a tremendous program designed to reach out to disadvantaged children, helping them become successful students and lifelong learners.
War in Iraq: As we enter the 6th year of this war, the U.S. death toll rises to a startling 4,000. I think about the mortars and car bombs that are bombarding the Green Zone in Baghdad, the men and women serving our country in uniform and in the U.S. embassy answering to harrowing cries of "duck and cover." I am reminded of the great need we have to create a responsible, reasonable way to bring our men and women home.
Agriculture: Our district has been devastated by drought. Our farmers, consumers, and local officials are hurting and they need real help from their representative in Congress. The bill that my opponent voted against would provide more than $70 million for water-resource and conservation projects that would directly benefit citizens in Forsyth, Yadkin, and Wilkes counties.
Environment: I will be a strong voice for responsible energy policy and I will work to strengthen our nation’s security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Healthcare: I believe that we have a moral obligation to improve access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans…The State Children’s Health Insurance Program or SCHIP provides the best of public and private healthcare coverage to American children in need. It helps to ensure that kids in working families are able to visit a doctor and receive the medicines they need when they’re sick, and the check-ups they need to stay well.
Diane Hamby
Age: 53
Family: Married, four children
Residence: Statesville
Occupation: Co-owner with husband of paint contracting company
Political experience: Former Iredell County commissioner, long-time officer with the Iredell Democratic Party
Top issues: Here are Hamby’s top issues and excerpts from her position statements. For more info, click to her website.
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: I would never have voted to send your sons and daughters off to war without first knowing the facts…It is time to create a plan to get our troops home as quickly and safely as possible.
Healthcare: There are simple steps, such as creating a single form for all insurance companies to use, that would save millions in administrative costs and this savings could be passed on to the consumer. To encourage businesses to stay in America there is no better incentive than to have national health care.
Energy Policy/Environment: If we gave incentives to our finest minds and research universities to find better technology instead of giving tax giveaways to oil companies we would have solutions by now instead of continued problems. Creating new, clean energy will not only improve our environment but it will create new green collar jobs and help re-build our economy… I will be vocal in my opposition to mountaintop removal and I will be a passionate advocate for practical investments in environmentally and economically sustainable solutions such as solar energy, hydrogen fuel, and home energy efficiency.
Immigration: we need to secure our borders and clean up the bureaucracy surrounding the immigration process. If we had a stronger guest worker program and an clearer path to citizenship so many people would not be here under false documentation.
Education: What every classroom needs is a highly qualified teacher; train them, and pay them well. Give them continued staff development, encourage them with good leadership and we will have successful students and our children will be prepared for the competitive job market upon graduation.