Ellmers: fear' holding economy back

Renee Ellmers says fear is preventing an economic recovery.

Ellmers, 45, is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat.

"I'm running for Congress because I'm a mom and I'm very afraid of where our country is going and where the current administration in Washington is taking us," said Ellmers, a registered nurse and first-time political candidate who became politically active during the summer debates over health care reform.

Ellmers said Democratic proposals such as health care reform and a cap-and-trade system to limit carbon emissions have prevented businesses from growing and hiring. 

"Businesses aren't hiring because they're too afraid of what's pending. They're too afraid of government-run health care and cap and trade and the effects they might have on their business," Ellmers said. 

Ellmers said she believes she can present a strong challenge to Etheridge.

"Although he considers himself a fiscally conservative Democrat, it would be hard to see that based on his most recent voting record," she said.

"I am a woman and that is not something he has come up against before."

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Ellmers campaign team includes campaign manager Al Lytton, who ran the eastern operation for Pat McCrory's gubernatorial campaign; new media director Luther Snyder, President of Snyder Interactive, who was deputy campaign manager for McCrory; research advisor Bob Harris, who directed research for U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms' 1984 and 1990 campaigns.

John McLaughlin, who did polls for Helms and U.S. Sen. Lauch Faircloth, will be the campaign's pollster.

Former Helms political advisor Carter Wrenn will be the campaign’s general consultant and strategist.