Matt Tomsic

Farewell to the Dome correspondents

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:40:39 -0400

The Legionnaires are no longer with us.

Since January, the Legion of Dome has been graced with the presence of five correspondents who helped us cover the 2008 gubernatorial primary and other political news.

They were chosen through a partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill's journalism program.

Karin Dryhurst, a recent graduate, should have earned extra credit towards a degree in constitutional law for covering Bob Orr. She proved her mettle with the governor's press office over an item on Easley not showing his colors.

Sam Wineka, a recent graduate, taught us a lot about how Bill Graham spends his millions: A 12,000-square-foot house, dresses owned by Princess Di and an office building for his consultant. Not to mention how he earned his money.

Cori Sue Morris, a recent graduate, sparred with the governor's press office over a pronoun slip that turned out to be meaningful after all. She also cornered Kenneth Starr over representing Blackwater at Campbell University.

Matt Tomsic, a rising senior, dug into Fred Smith's business ventures, learning about how he built roads, ran a steakhouse and checked his employees' immigration status. He also checked into Smith's somewhat surprising reading list.

Emily Stephenson, a rising junior, researched Beverly Perdue's extensive legislative record, and covered two Barack Obama rallies and Thomas Wright's expulsion. She also caught a candidate essentially admitting to smoking in the boys room.

If the future of journalism depends on the likes of these correspondents, we're in good hands. We wish them the best of luck in their careers. They will be sorely missed.

Smith concedes

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:12:17 -0400

Fred Smith conceded to Pat McCrory at Hedingham Country Club tonight.

In front of a crowd of more than 75 supporters, the Republican gubernatorial candidate thanked his family and everyone who was involved in his campaign and said he has no regrets.

"We've run a good race," he said. "We're proud of what we've done and we want to congratulate Pat McCrory. We're going to keep a smile on our face, and we're going to move forward.

"We don't regret anything we did in our race," he added. "We'd do it all over again."

Smith said his priority now is to help McCrory any way he can in the general election in November.

"That's the most important thing that we elect a Republican governor," he said. "I think the voters have chosen Pat to run and that's their choice. We've got to let Pat run the race the way he wants to run it."

He also quoted famed sportswriter Grantland Rice.

"As Grantland Rice said, sometimes it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game," he said.

Joe Johnson's celebration

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:55:42 -0400

Joe Johnson will celebrate all over Raleigh.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his campaign staff while out at dinner and at his campaign headquarters. Johnson also is planning on stopping by Fred Smith's party later this evening.

After that, he'll "see what else the evening holds."

Where the down-balloters will celebrate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:18:48 -0400

David Young will celebrate in Asheville.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer will watch election night returns with family and friends at his house.

Beth Wood will celebrate at her parents' farm.

The Democratic candidate for state auditor will watch election returns with her family in Cove City.

June Atkinson will celebrate at the North Raleigh Hilton.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns in suite 543 with family and supporters.

Eddie Davis will celebrate at his home.

The Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns with his family in Durham.

Eric H. Smith will celebrate in Reidsville.

The Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction will watch election returns at his home with family and friends.

Voter turnout: Chavis Center

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:12:55 -0400

Fred Davis said turnout at the Chavis Center in southeastern Raleigh today has been better than expected.

The chief judge for the voting location said that typically 60 voter cast ballots by 1:30 p.m. This year 234 voters had cast ballots by the same time.

Davis, who has volunteered as an election official for the last three presidential elections, also said one-stop voting has affected the turnout.

"The one-stop voting cut down our numbers somewhat," he said. "A lot of people that normally vote today voted one-stop."

Many people found one-stop voting more convenient since they could show up at any Raleigh location, register and vote at the same time, Davis said.

But the same process has led to some confusion, with voters thinking they could show up Tuesday and register, he added.

Davis said the day is far from over.

"A lot of people will come in to vote when they get off work and after school," he said. "I think we've still got a lot to go. I'm hoping it's going to be a good rest of the day.

"You dread it in the morning when you get up," Davis said. "But around this time of the day, you like it more and more."

One Voter's Take: Mildred Christmas

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:58:38 -0400

Mildred Christmas, 60, voted for Barack Obama and Beverly Perdue.

"(Obama) brings about change and new, fresh ideas," Christmas said. "I think that's what the country wants."

She cited Obama's policies on the war in Iraq, the housing crisis, gas prices and inflation as factors that influenced her decision.

In the gubernatorial race, Christmas cited Perdue's experience.

"Bev Perdue has been in the General Assembly for years and hopefully she'll make history as the first woman governor of our state," she said.

She also disagreed with some of the campaign tactics that Hillary Clinton and Richard Moore used.

"I did not like Richard Moore's campaign," Christmas, who is black, said. "He stooped low with his ads. I think that was a big turnoff for the black community."

Some of Clinton's ads had the same effect, she added.

Christmas, a Raleigh local who works for the state's Department of Administration, voted one-stop on Wednesday but was supporting Jack Nichols at the Chavis Center on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

One Voter's Take: Darryl Kirkland

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:35:23 -0400

Deatha, 43, and Darryl, 48, Kirkland voted for Barack Obama.

"I like that he's going to make it necessary for everybody to have health care," Darryl said. "I think he's definitely going to bring the boys back from the war."

"He's got the fresh air that JFK used to have," Deatha added.

The married couple from Selma came to vote with Deatha donning "Vote for Change" face paint and Darryl displaying a homemade "Vote for Change" T-shirt.

The couple, who work for Cisco, cited his stances on the economy and renewable energy as other factors that motivated their decision. Darryl added that the historic campaign between Obama and Hillary Clinton has given his family optimism for the future. The Kirkland's brought their three children to the polls with them.

"I heard my child say this morning, 'It looks like I can be the president,'" said Darryl, who is black.

In the governor's race, Deatha said she was undecided but was leaning toward Beverly Perdue.

"I'm kind of cool with Perdue," she said.

One Voter's Take: Connie Davis

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:26:35 -0400

Connie Davis, 50, voted for Hillary Clinton and Beverly Perdue.

Davis, who is from Smithfield and works for Wake County, cited the Democratic presidential candidate's experience as the main factor in her decision as she cast her ballot at Smithfield Town Hall.

"It was a toss-up between the two of them," Davis said, referring to candidates Barack Obama and Clinton. "I just had to go with the experience."

Clinton's views on the economy and education also influenced her decision.

In the governor's race, Davis again cited experience and Perdue's campaign as reasons for her choice.

"Bev is already in the office," she said. "She knows what's happening."

"I like the fact that she went with a positive campaign," she added. "I'm so sick of that mudslinging."

One Voter's Take: Carolyn Whitley

mtomsic — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:43:06 -0400

Carolyn Whitley, 61, voted for Fred Smith and John McCain.

Whitley, who owns a construction company in Smithfield and was voting at Smithfield Town Hall this morning, said that the Republican gubernatorial candidate's work ethic influenced her decision.

"He's a hardworking guy," she said. "He's started a lot of businesses, and he's got a lot of experience. He puts on his boots and goes to work."

She also cited Smith's background in Johnston County and helped sway her, adding that Pat McCrory isn't in touch with eastern North Carolina.

In the national election, Whitley said she liked the Republican presidential candidate's stances on the economy and the war in Iraq, the two biggest issues in her mind.

"I agree with him on Iraq," she said. "We can't just pull our troops out. There's going to be more terrorists over there."

Edmunds reaches maximum

mtomsic — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:33:15 -0400

Bob Edmunds has received the maximum amount of contributions for publicly funded judicial candidates.

The candidate for the state Supreme Court is asking supporters to stop sending contributions.

As a participant in a publicly funded campaign, Edmunds raised the maximum $80,160 from more than 700 qualifying contributions.

Edmunds had to rasie a minimum of $40,050 from 350 registered North Carolina voters giving between $10 and $500 as a judicial candidate participating in the program.

"I am gratified that so many North Carolinians have chosen to support my reelection," Justice Edmunds said. "These contributions have come from citizens from all walks of life. However, it is awkward to return checks now that I have received the maximum amount. For that reason, I am asking that no additional contributions be sent."

Dome previously reported on April 8 that Edmunds' opponent, Suzanne Reynolds, reached her maximum for publicly funded judicial candidates.

Reynolds received nearly 450 qualifying contributions that totalled $80,100.

Both candidates are eligible for an additional $233,625 from the public campaign fund.