Ed Ridpath

Labor Day Press Release:

Fuquay Varina, NC - Ed Ridpath, 2008 Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House, received key endorsements from several organizations representing North Carolina Workers. The Triangle Labor Council and NC State AFL-CIO; the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and Wake NCAE; and the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) all endorsed Ed Ridpath over his opponent, incumbent Republican Paul “Skip” Stam.

I struggle to describe the radical North Carolina branch of the Republican Party. As I tell my Republican friends, this is not the Republican Party I grew up with in Minnesota.

The message that drew my mother to the "Party of Lincoln" 50 years ago: fiscal efficiency, individual responsibility, equality of opportunity, and protecting rights and civil liberties, is now completely lost. The NC GOP of 2008 has abdicated those mainstream American values in favor of anti-government rhetoric, rigid and dangerous fiscal policy, social intolerance, and divisiveness.

It is always interesting to review your opponent's campaign finance filing. As expected, my opponent, NC House Republican minority leader Paul "Skip" Stam, finally out fund raised my campaign.

You are invited to an Afternoon Reception in support of

Ed Ridpath,Democratic Candidate North Carolina House District 37

With Very Special Guest
Honorable David Price, US Congress North Carolina District 4

And Special Guests

Honorable Ty Harrell, Representative, North Carolina House District 41
Al Swanstrom, Democratic Candidate, North Carolina House District 36

Hosted by Apex Council Member
Honorable William Jensen

Sunday, May 18th, 2008 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 North Salem Street
Historic Downtown Apex

Platinum: $1000 Gold: $500 Silver: $250 Bronze: $100 Admission: $25

On Tuesday I discussed Equality NC's announcement that the State Personnel Commission had added protections for workers based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to the 2008 State Personnel Manual.

Not long after that change went up on the state web site, the local anti-gay machinery went into high gear. Homo-obsessed House Minority Leader Rep. Paul Stam (pauls@ncleg.net) and the anti-gay bible beaters at the NC Family Policy Council publicly called for the removal of the fairness language. Because of a matter of the difference between "rules" and "policies" in the state, there's now a tussle over what this change means, as the non-discrimination policy has been adopted by the State Personnel Commission and it has not rescinded it.

In the end, the language adding the protections has been stripped from the web site over the fracas.

ENC Executive Director Ian Palmquist explains below the fold, as well as a look at the pro-LGBT candidate in the wings ready to unseat Stam.

Just switched over all the technology of the website under a program of the DLCC. Nice thing is, although ActBlue does not normally support NC House candidates, they can through the DLCC.

So, if you have an ActBlue fundraising page (you do, right???) please add the Ed Ridpath campaign to it.

http://actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/14608

Congressman David Price will be our very special guest for a Sunday afternoon Reception on May 18th at 2:30 PM at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Historic Downtown Apex. We also have special guests Ty Harrell and Al Swanstrom, and Apex Town Council Council Members Bill Jensen and Bill Sutton. Mark your calendars now for this after-primary celebration.

RSVP or Volunteer

Come on out and meet Ed Ridpath and other candidates, register voters, and show your pride at the Apex Peak Fest.

Sign up to volunteer at http://edridpath.com/event?key=142

In my “day job”, I am a professional working at the business and technical interface of a large company. I see the business needs to balance investments in equipment with investments in people. However, our current laws too often value capital over labor. To maintain our shared prosperity and the basics of the American dream, we must restore the balance of valuing hard work over wealth.