PSmathers2008's blog

As many of you who I’ve had the chance to meet over the last year know, my campaign for lieutenant governor took me to every corner of the state. Making good friends across North Carolina was one of the most rewarding aspects of my run. Fortunately, those friendships didn’t end on Primary Day.

I’ve stayed in close contact with my fellow “down ballot” Democrats, including Ronnie Ansley, who’s running for Commissioner of Agriculture. Ronnie recently visited us at our home on Mama’s Mountain.

First off, I want to congratulate Senator Walter Dalton on a race well-fought and well-won. I hope everyone here will join me in supporting Walter and all of our great Democratic candidates with the energy and determination I've come to associate with this community.

That's why I also want to congratulate BlueNC today. This site has provided a terrific forum for serious discussion of substantive issues this election season, and has served to energize progressives across our state. Even if your candidate didn't win yesterday, you all played a role in helping to get more Dems to the polls -- and informing them before they got there. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in a live blog and many spirited discussions here. Thank you.

I have just watched Hampton Dellinger's latest ad, which you'll find posted at Under the Dome. Hampton claims as lieutenant governor, he will bring our National Guard troops home. He won't.

That's because the lieutenant governor has no say as to when our troops come home. Neither does the governor. Hampton's outrageous claim is pure pandering.

Those of you who have heard me speak, or read my postings here, know I believe the solution to our schools’ problems is strong community support. We can't stave off the challenges confronting our school systems with single-issue legislation or budget increases alone. As the attorney for the Haywood County schools for the past 22 years, I've seen how schools can thrive when their communities get behind them.

Friends, I am pleased to announce that the NC Federation of College Democrats has finalized its schedule for the Lt. Gubernatorial candidate debates I proposed here last month. Both Dan Besse and I have agreed to participate in all six debates, starting with an event in Asheville on Jan. 19.

I want to thank the College Dems for their hard work in assembling a schedule that includes most of the state’s major urban areas and incorporates a wide range of educational institutions. As those of us running for executive office know, organizing any sort of statewide effort is a monumental task, and I applaud the College Dems for not shirking from the challenge.

The lieutenant governor’s race is starting to get some attention. Unfortunately, some newspapers and political observers have picked up not on the substantive issues in the race that have begun to be thoroughly explored here at BlueNC, but an inter-candidate spat that reveals little about who is best equipped to lead North Carolina.

Frontpaged with pleasure ... and with a strong endorsement of this idea. A.

This is a very special Veterans’ Day for me, because it marks the first time I am observing the holiday as a veteran. After 28 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, I retired this year as lieutenant colonel. I am proud to call myself a veteran.

Although I have retired, I have not abandoned the ideals that led me to join the Guard in 1979. I still believe it is our responsibility to protect, defend and strengthen our great country. That is why I am running for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

Dear friend,

As many of you know, I enjoy campaigning. There’s no better way to see our great state or get to know its citizens than attending the party functions, civic events and statewide conventions in which I’ve had the opportunity to participate over the last year. But some of the best times I’ve had on the trail came over the past month, when I joined local Democrats in Durham, Forsyth and Wake Counties to register voters.

If you have had the pleasure of seeing David Holt perform, you already know why I am so excited to announce David will be headlining the “It Makes Sense” concert tour, a six-city event kicking off my campaign for lieutenant governor.

Summer is coming to an end, but there is still time for one more beach party. If you have not already purchased tickets to my Mayor’s Mountain Beach Party this weekend, I hope you will consider joining us in Canton for beach food, fun and a concert by the Beach Boys.

This event marks the beginning of the fundraising phase of my campaign. I am hoping to attract some important donors to help me spread my message of local leadership, statewide. But it doesn’t take a fat wallet to count as an important donor: My most important donors are working people who believe that common citizens – not well-funded lobbies – are best equipped to build a better North Carolina. These donors, who care deeply about our state’s future, form the core of my campaign.