Andrew Whalen

Whalen: Dems exonerated

bniolet — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:44:09 -0400

N.C. Democratic Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen issued a statement after the State Board of Elections ruling.

The board found that former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign solicited contributions for the party that they promised would go to the Easley campaign.

Today, in a unanimous vote, the State Board of Elections fully exonerated the North Carolina Democratic Party of any violations of election law.
Evidence presented during the hearing indicated that the Easley Committee solicited contributions for the Party from two donors, indicating to the donors that those contributions would be used on behalf of the Easley Committee.
It was undisputed that the Party did not participate in the solicitations and had no knowledge of the manner in which the solicitations were made. The SBOE did order the Party to disgorge $9,000 representing the two contributions.
The North Carolina Democratic Party cooperated fully with the investigation, providing numerous documents and testimony, and is pleased that the Board carefully examined the evidence and chose to dismiss the complaint filed against the Party.

Dems: Hearing necessary

bniolet — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:23:01 -0400

The director of the N.C. Democratic Party said this week's State Board of Elections hearings are necessary to restore trust and integrity.

The elections board is investigating the campaign finance activity of former Gov. Mike Easley. Among the questions surrounding Easley is whether he used the state party to funnel illegal or improper contributions.

Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen released a statement Monday morning.

For our democracy to function effectively, it is imperative that the people of North Carolina have confidence in the electoral process. We are confident that a fair, impartial, and unbiased hearing by the State Board of Elections will help restore and maintain trust in the integrity of our political system. The North Carolina Democratic Party has cooperated fully with the SBOE and will continue to do so throughout this hearing.

Correction: Post clarifies who released the statement.

Town hall with a price tag

markjohnson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:31:05 -0400

The Republicans and others have been criticizing the Democratic congressmen for not holding town hall forums on health care.

Now the Democrats are going after GOP Sen. Richard Burr for attending a GOP town hall rally next month which requires a $50 admission charge or $250 for the VIP reception, Rob Christensen reports.

“Whether it’s a $2,000 steak dinner with health industry lobbyists or a $50 town hall rally, clearly you’ve got to pass through a velvet rope if you want to get to Richard Burr,” said state Democratic Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen. “North Carolina deserves a U.S. Senator to whom they can talk without paying the price of admittance.”

The Sept 1 town hall at the State Fairgrounds is designed to raise money for the Wake County GOP.

Dems offer Burr a break from Senate

bniolet — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:43:02 -0400

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr says things are tough in Washington right now.

Democrats fell all over themselves Wednesday to offer the senior senator from North Carolina a respite.

Burr recently answered some questions for The Herald, a Johnston County weekly newspaper affiliated with The News & Observer.

"Listen, it’s much more contentious and partisan today than it’s ever been," said Burr, who also represented North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. "It doesn’t matter whether you’re Republican or Democrat, it’s tough to deal with day in and out."
...
Burr said life in Washington isn’t easy right now. “When people ask me if I enjoy what I’m doing, now is the time that I try not to answer the question,” he said.

North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Director Andrew Whalen pounced.

North Carolinians don’t give up and don’t give in, especially during the tough times. They deserve a Senator who digs in and fights hard to get the economy moving again, improve education, and find real solutions to the health care crisis. I’m sure many of the more than 500,000 currently people out of work in North Carolina would like a $174,000 annual salary. It’s time for Richard Burr to go, and it’s beginning to sound like he knows it too. We’ll be happy to relieve him of his duty next November.

N.C. Dems push Obama health care plan

bkrueger — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:48:59 -0400

State Democratic Chairman David Young today issued what he called “an urgent call” to Tar Heel Democrats to lobby for President Barack Obama plans to overhaul the nation’s health care system.

At a Raleigh news conference Wednesday afternoon, Young said there were 1.5 million North Carolinians with no health insurance and that 13 percent of the state’s children were not covered, reports Rob Christensen.

He warned that the opposition will use “scare tactics” to try to defeat needed health care changes. Despite charges of a government takeover of health care, Young said Obama has repeatedly said people can keep their own private insurance under his proposal, but would have the option of enrolling in a government-backed plan.

New hires for N.C. Democrats

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:39:16 -0400

North Carolina Democrats hope that Andrew Whalen can do in the flatlands what he did in the mountains.

Whalen has been named executive of the state Democratic Party and will lead the party as it goes after Republican Sen. Richard Burr's seat next year, Rob Christensen reports.

Whalen, 28, managed the last two campaigns of Democrat Health Shuler who captured the mountain congressional seat in 2006 from Republican incumbent Charles Taylor and then held on to the seat last fall against Ashevillle City Councilman Carl Mumpower. Most recently he was Whalen's Senate communications director.

He replaces Caroline Valand, who is now chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.

David Young, the state party chairman from Asheville, hired Whalen after watching him up close.

Shuler is one of several people being courted by the national Democratic Party to challenge Burr next year.

Before working for Shuler, Whalen managed two state House races in Virginia.

Also hired was C. Payne Lucas Jr., who will be director of party affairs and development. He will focus on organizing and training. He worked last year for the election of Barack Obama, working as Franklin County Field director for the Campaign for Change in 2008.

He worked the previous 13 years in business and job recruitment.

Whalen heads to N.C. Dems

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:26:51 -0400

The party chairman wants to keep it under wraps. The man in question isn't talking.

But it's a not very well-kept secret that Andrew Whalen is about to become the new executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party, Jim Morrill reports.

Whalen has been a spokesman for Democratic U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler. He helped run Shuler's successful 2006 and 2008 campaigns.

"I like him, he's a great guy, and we’re going to have an official announcement shortly," said party chairman David Young of Asheville.

A letter from one party official last week was addressed to Whalen as executive director at state party headquarters in Raleigh.

Whalen didn't return callls. But his old boss acknowledged his new job.

"It was very difficult to see Andrew walk out of the office, but obviously it's an opportunity for a young person to make a huge impact on the state," Shuler told the Asheville Citizen-Times. "This really fits his personality and who he is — to help run the state party. I'm very, very proud of him."

Garrett Perdue and Congress

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:50:52 -0400

How much has Garrett Perdue lobbied Congress?

Although his job description mentions Congressional lobbying, the son of Gov. Beverly Perdue is not registered as a federal lobbyist for any clients.

In addition, all eight Democratic members of the state's delegation say they have not heard from him yet:

Rep. David Price: "The office does not have a record of a meeting with Garrett Perdue," said spokesman Phil Feagan.

Rep. G.K. Butterfield: "As far as we can tell, Garrett Perdue has not lobbied Butterfield's office," said spokesman Ken Willis.

Rep. Larry Kissell: "Garrett Perdue has not called or contacted any of our people," said spokeswoman Brianna Atkins.

Rep. Mike McIntyre: "No contact from Garrett Perdue has been made to our office that I'm aware of," said spokesman Dean Mitchell.

Rep. Bob Etheridge: "Rep. Etheridge's office does not have a record of Garrett Perdue contacting the office for a meeting," said spokeswoman Joanne Peters.

Rep. Heath Shuler: "As far as everyone in my office knows, we have not had any contact with Garrett Perdue. I actually had to tell a few people who he was," said spokesman Andrew Whalen.

Update: Rep. Mel Watt: "To our knowledge, (Watt's) never spoken with the guy," said spokesman Corey Little.

Second Update: Rep. Brad Miller: "He hasn't come by the Congressman's office yet, but the Congressmanhas known him for some time and would welcome him," said spokeswoman LuAnn Canipe.

Clinton to headline Boseman event

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:30:00 -0500

During last year's Democratic presidential primary, N.C. Sen. Julia Boseman traveled with Bill Clinton as he stumped for his wife, Hillary. Now the former president is repaying the favor.

Clinton is scheduled to headline a fundraiser this month for the Wilmington Democrat in Raleigh. The same day he'll headline another for U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, Jim Morrill reports.

"It's not everyday the president comes down and throws a fundraiser for you," Boseman said today. "It gives me on start on fundraising for next year."

She might need it.

Through October, she'd spent nearly three-quarters of a million dollars on race she would narrowly win. The Senate Democratic committee helped, giving her $438,000.

Shuler is rumored to be considering a 2010 challenge to Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Spokesman Andrew Whalen said Clinton will help raise money for another House campaign.

"Today," Whalen said, "we're running for re-election to the house."

GOP backing Shuler bill

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:31:01 -0400

House Republicans are trying to force action on a bill by U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler.

In November, the Waynesville Democrat introduced a bill that would increase border security measures, add new Border Patrol agents and mandate that employers verify if their workers are here legally.

Republican leaders hope that by backing the bill, they can paint Democrats into a corner, since supporting it could mean alienating Hispanic voters, while opposing it could hurt them in conservative-leaning districts.

Shuler said that he would sign a petition in favor of the bill, a parliamentary procedure designed to force a vote on it.

"He does support the (legislation) and would like to see an up-or-down vote," Shuler's spokesman Andrew Whalen, told the Associated Press. "He would prefer that it didn't become a political issue."

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly described the bill.