Steve Ivester

McHenry pulls video of Green Zone

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:40:38 -0400

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has pulled a video of himself in the Green Zone.

On Friday, the Cherryville Republican posted a video on his Congressional Web site in which he discussed a rocket attack that occurred shortly after he tried to get into a gym.

"According to our folks here, there were eleven rockets, uh, one hit just over my head, another hit a parking lot, and another hit the gym," he says in the video, which has since been pulled.

The vice president of the group VoteVets, an advocacy group that aims to help elect veterans critical of the execution of the war in Iraq, wrote a post critical of the video Monday.

"The bottom line is that whoever launched that strike could take the information McHenry provided and use it to kill Americans in the Green Zone," wrote Brandon Friedman. "This is why professionals operating in a combat zone are trained not to reveal any battle damage after an attack."

In the May 6 Republican primary, McHenry faces Lance Sigmon, a retired Air Force colonel. Daniel Johnson, a Navy veteran, is running for the Democratic nomination against Hickory businessman Steve Ivester.

Earlier: McHenry takes heat for description of guard.

Johnson raises money for Congressional run

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:59:12 -0500

Daniel Johnson raised $123,000 in a few weeks.

The former Navy officer decided last year to run for the Democratic nomination to face U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Cherryville Republican.

"My wife and I spent a lot of time thinking about it, praying about it," Johnson said. "We decided the country was facing some very serious challenges ahead of it, and that I could use my experience to help find some effective solutions."

He faces a May primary against Hickory businessman Steve Ivester.

Johnson lost both legs in an accident on board his ship in August of 1999. He left the Navy to study law at UNC-Chapel Hill and worked as a prosecutor in Raleigh. (Char-O)

Two more to challenge McHenry?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:29:02 -0500

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry may have two more challengers.

According to the Hickory Daily Record, retired Air Force officer Lance Sigmon, 48, recently formed an exploratory committee to look into a primary race against the Cherryville Republican.

Meantime, retired Hickory businessman Steve Ivester has said he will also run as a Democrat. Ivester ran for Hickory City Council in 2005.

Former Wake assistant district attorney Daniel Johnson has already announced he will run for the Democratic nomination.