It’s quite the interesting group…Kenneth Lewis is dogged by having the same name as the former CEO for Bank of America. Elaine Marshall has low name recognition, even though she’s been Secretary of State since 1997. Cal Cunningham is the candidate that wasn’t and even formally ended his campaign that wasn’t…Until the DSCC courted him after their first choices (Representative to the US House Bob Etheridge, NC Attorney General Roy Cooper,  ) backed out.

If it weren’t so serious to get rid of Senator Richard Burr (Republican), the Democratic primary would almost be comical.

It’s a new year. And that means new goals. Many of my goals are the same as last year…Goals that I’ve failed at achieving. But, we never let failure stop us from trying to succeed. We’d really never get anything done if we did!

There’s a number of things I want to do this year.

Writing: I want to start writing more and better. 2009 saw me get hired on as one of the parent-bloggers for Onslow Memorial Hospital’s Mom-Talk blogging network. I’m hoping that will continue through 2010 and flourish into some new opportunities. New opportunities that include include publishing in magazines and other websites. I want to start and keep a journal. My goal is to write one non-blogging piece a month for submission to magazines. I’m focusing on publications that look for creative non-fiction like The Sun Magazine. If you know a similar magazine that’s looking for something new, please let me know.

Reading: I want to actually finish a book this year. I’ve read horribly little the last few years. I want to read some creative non-fiction to help build the writer I want to be…But I also want to read good fiction. My goal is to read one book a month. Starting this month with Jack Kerouac’s Town and Country. I’ve been reading off and on (mostly off…) for months. I’m looking for recommendations, so if you’ve got them, send them my way.

Photography: I want to start taking photos…Again. To that end: I’ll be taking a self-portrait a day. Today it’s with the iPhone (at left). Future self-portraits may be well-planned shots, others on-the-go. The idea is to get back into the habit of taking pictures. I also want to start using my Nikon D40 more. I want to take more photo-walks and maybe even take the camera along on some bicycle rides and commutes. My goal: Post weekly to the Photography blog. Post daily self-portraits there, here and on Twitter and Facebook.

Bicycling: I have been extremely lazy when it comes to bicycling since October. I want to get back into using the bicycle as my primary form of transportation. I also want to get back into blogging more about bicycling and working harder to advocate for the bicycle as a viable form of transportation in Jacksonville, NC. My goal:  250 miles ridden a month by bicycle.

Fitness/Weight-loss: I have completely failed at all previous attempts to get into better shape. This year, I hope to make real and lasting lifestyle changes to get back to a reasonable weight. My goal is to lose 25 pounds by May 2010. I can achieve this by making better food choices, exercising and bicycle commuting more. Tools like the Lose It, 100 Push Ups, 200 Sit-Ups and 200 Squat iPhone apps will help me. As will getting to the gym and not being a slave to sodas.

Activism and Issue Advocacy: I’ve been remiss in advocating for the issues that are important to me for some time. In 2010, I want to take a more active role in the world around me. That means making more time to research issues and contact the elected leaders that can influence them. More letters to the editor, more letters to elected leaders (local, state and national) and more work pushing the ideas and ideals that I believe. It also means a more active role in the City of Jacksonville Recreation and Parks and Trails and Greenways Commissions.

So. Those are some of my goals this year. What are yours?

Why can’t he just admit that he lost, admit that his political career is over (much like his financial management career, I hear) and go away?

What is it with NC-03 candidates? Between McLaughlin and Weber, we must be the laughing stock of all the nation!

If you thought recent dramas in Jacksonville were over, you were wrong. The folks at Americans for Prosperity have attacked Mr. Phillip Cherry (Director of the Onslow County Library System) for sending out an email requesting citizens speak at a recent Onslow County Commission meeting to advocate for library programs. Members of the Onslow County faction of AFP claim that Cherry has undertaken “political and partisan” action while using government systems and information. I find it odd that the chief advocate for the library would be attacked for advocating against serious cuts, but I think it’s more likely that the local group hasn’t gotten much play in the media. The AFP has been taking a more active and public role in attempting to force local governments into cutting budgets, laying off or furloughing employees and trimming services since their organized “TEA parties” (which they tried to pass off as “grassroots”). AFP is a group of right-wing zealots that believe in reducing anything that doesn’t directly benefit themselves (usually Social Security, MediCare and MedicAid, etc). It’s quite pathetic, actually.

There’s a new blog covering local politics. Onslow County Politics is written by a former-Onslow County employee and he’s got some good insight on stuff. Check him…Erm, his blog, rather…out on a regular basis.

The Onslow County Board of Education has approved a budget nearly $3 million smaller than they wanted. Among the results are deferments for non-essential building renovations and repairs and a hiring freeze (leaving nearly 200 vacant positions) are the results.

Freedom Communications, Inc has instituted a 5% pay cut across the board for employees. Freedom Communications has a firm grip on Eastern NC’s news sources as it owns the Jacksonville Daily News, New Bern Sun Journal, The Havelock News, The Kinston Free Press and other newspapers in the area. 

There’s a few other things rolling around, but none are currently…Ready for release. So. Keep an eye open.

What’s happening in your world?

After the firing, there was quite the bit of backlash from city employees and residents.

City Employees were stunned that such an excellent manager (Bauer was known for pushing his employees to excel as well as supporting better benefits and pay) would be so easily dismissed with no explanation.

Alva Williams suggested that Bauer had been informed of deficiencies and failed to correct them (or, rather, that’s what I think she meant by this):

"We had given him chance, after chance, after chance for the last year and it was time, it was just time."

Residents aren’t sure what to make of the firing, as Bauer had moved the City forward in the short years he’s been manager. And since details of the closed meeting in which he was fired can only be released by Bauer, residents are taking the only view available: Ego was at stake. Particularly the egos of Willingham, Sullivan, Williams and Thomas.

Peggy Voyles used the Council’s public comment time to voice her opinion:

"From my perspective as a citizen, Mr. Bauer was doing a fine job of managing the city…The citizens deserve an explanation … If you have problems dealing with him on a personal level, how is that the problem of the entire city? Can you not work it out? Why pay him nine months salary for doing nothing when he could be doing his job."

It’s an interesting turn of events in what would be an otherwise unusual municipal election year. Willingham (Ward 1), Sullivan (Ward 2), Williams (At-Large) and Thomas (At-Large) will be facing re-election in November (though you wouldn’t know that by reading the Jacksonville Daily News articles). Filing begins July 6th and this election will place council-members for the next 4 years.

There’s one Jacksonville resident (and former council-member) that I’m willing to bet a quarter on to try to win a seat.

Mr. Horace Mann, a ten-year council-member who lost his At-Large seat in 2007, wrote a letter printed in the Jacksonville Daily News, sent an email asking for participation at the last Council meeting and made a statement to the council there. Mann could run against Willingham in Ward 1 or seek a return to an At-Large seat. He hasn’t publicly committed to running, but I would guess he’ll file for an At-Large post.

I don’t know all the details of Bauer’s removal and no one outside the room probably ever will. I do know that Jacksonville has lost its most forward-thinking and progressive manager in many years. His absence, if not replaced by someone just as educated, just as smart and just as experienced, will be painfully felt for years.

It looks like our fair City may be heading back to the bad old days…

I haven’t heard the names “Joe McLaughlin” or “Delma Collins” in a while. Isn’t that nice?"

And it was, it was very nice…But it wasn’t to last very long. Follow the jump for details.

On Wednesday morning, my co-worker laid a clipping from the day’s Jacksonville Daily News. It was a paid advertisement, sponsored by Joe McLaughlin, which detailed a small slice of funding from the Economic Stimulus Package recently passed by the Congress and signed into law by President Obama.

And it looked exactly like this:

It says:

Did you know?

Under the new stimulus package recently signed into law the,

NATIONAL FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES NATIONAL ENDOUWMENT FOR THE ARTS

GRANTS AND ADMINISTRATION

For an additional amount for “Grants and Administration”,

$50,000,000 OF YOUR MONEY!

to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects
and activities which preserve jobs in the non-profit arts sector
threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during
the current economic downturn: Provided, That 40 percent of such
funds shall be distributed to State arts agencies and regional arts
organizations in a manner similar to the agency’s current practice
and 60 percent of such funds shall be for competitively selected
arts projects and activities according to sections 2 and 5(c) of
the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 951, 954(c)): Provided further, That matching requirements
under section 5(e) of such Act shall be waived.

"Ultimately, this is your money, and you deserve to know where it’s going and how it’s spent.” – President Barack Obama – Radio Address, Feb 14th, 2009

The advertisement takes text directly from H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and quotes President Obama.

McLaughlin placed similar advertisements in Friday and Saturday editions as well. His targets were AMTRAK and volcano monitoring funding within ARRA.

I understand McLaughlin’s choice of targets. Arts, science and AMTRAK have long been targets of the Republicans. They seem to feel that any government spending related to the three (as well as public/mass/alternative transportation, alternative energy, climate change, and more) is waste. It’s obviously a wrong-headed and misguided point of view, but it’s something I’ve accepted from right wing Republicans.

What has plagued me for the last few days is McLaughlin’s motives. Why is he paying for these advertisements? Just to educate Jacksonvillians? What’s his angle?

Could he be gearing up for a Jacksonville City Council battle this year? Onslow County Commissions (a post he held before resigned to spend his time campaigning for Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr’s seat, a campaign at which he ultimately failed) aren’t due for a contest for four years. A run to get into the NC General Assembly? But against who? Would he challenge George Cleveland, Robert Grady or Harry Brown in primaries or Russell Tucker in a 2010 General Election? Is he ramping to challenge Mr. Jones, Jr. in 2010? Can he possibly believe he’d have a chance against Jones, Jr. after the primary? Or is he planning another primary challenge against a different opponent in 2010? Perhaps McLaughlin has senatorial aspirations.

I’m keeping my eyes and ears open. Joe McLaughlin is bad for Jacksonville, bad for Onslow County and bad for North Carolina. His  political career has ended and it needs to stay that way.

Congratulations on your appointment to the NC House/NC Senate Transportation Committee. As a member of this Committee, you are in the unique and important position to assist the Jacksonville/Onslow County area and Eastern North Carolina in getting North Carolina Department of Transportation funding and assistance for badly needed transportation projects.

The City of Jacksonville is sorely lacking in pedestrian infrastructure, such as sidewalks and crosswalks. Recently the lack of crosswalks along Western Boulevard contributed to the death of a high school student. The City has planned the installation of a crosswalk at the nearest intersection but it is not scheduled until 2015. Jacksonville has also planned to build a network of sidewalks which will connect all areas of the city. Increased NCDOT efforts and funding will allow these planned projects to be implemented years earlier than expected and will save lives.

NCDOT could help expand local transit in Jacksonville and Onslow County. The Jacksonville Transit system is well-designed, but increased funding would allow for an expansion of the routes and more buses to support increased ridership. NCDOT support could also expand a county-wide transit system, allowing for those residents in outlying communities to travel to Jacksonville for business or shopping.

Eastern North Carolina lacks a low-cost connection to metropolitan centers such as Raleigh, Greensboro and Charlotte. A Wilmington-to-Charlotte high-speed train would connect the Eastern region with these larger cities and provide an inexpensive form of transportation. Residents from the Western and Central areas of NC would be able to quickly and cheaply travel to the coast for vacations, shopping or business. Coastal residents would enjoy the same benefits heading west.

Your position on the House Transportation Committee can be advantageous to the Jacksonville/Onslow area and the greater Eastern North Carolina region. Transit, pedestrian improvements and a state-wide rail system would greatly benefit this area and its residents. I urge you to work for smarter and better transportation in Jacksonville and throughout North Carolina.

Your constituent,

Thomas S. Brock

Are you interested in bettering transportation options? I urge you to write your elected representatives.

I strongly urge you, dear readers that live in NC, to write your House representatives and support this legislation. Feel free to use my own email as a starting point.

I am writing to express my full support for Representative Holliman’s House Bill 2 (Prohibit Smoking in Public and Work Places).

Second-hand cigarette smoke is a leading cause in respiratory ailments for employees who work in businesses that allow smoking. Given that most of these workplaces are restaurants and bars, these same employees are low-paid and often are not provided health insurance. These employees have an increased level of absenteeism and a decreased level of productivity because of their working environment. Exposure to second-hand smoke causes nearly 50,000 deaths in non-smokers annually. It causes between 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory infections in children and up to 15,000 hospitalizations per year. Prohibiting smoking in restaurants would improve productivity, increase work attendance and provide a higher-level of overall health, while decreasing the already-too-high load on North Carolina’s straining health care system. It is estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke costs nearly $10,000,000,000 in direct and indirect medical costs.

Many legislators believe that smoking bans have a detrimental affect on local economies. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have established smoking bans without serious economic results. Smoking bans in New York and Pennsylvania have not only been shown to have not adversely affected the revenues of restaurants, but most businesses have seen an increase as families and non-smokers are more comfortable dining out in the cleaner environment. A smoking ban in North Carolina could provide a much-needed stimulus to local economies and would be inexpensive to implement.

The science, medical and economic, is clear: Smoking bans are healthier, create cleaner and safer working conditions and provide an economic boost. I strongly support this measure and hope that you will, as well. I urge you to work with your fellow legislators to get this much-needed bill passed.

Your constituent,

Thomas Brock

The text is below.

To all,

I want to thank you for every effort that you made in this past election.  It took a bit of time to come around.  I was quite upset to say the least about the vote in the Third District.  I needed to gain my thoughts and have taken time to put things into perspective.  Please pass on to all whom you encounter and let them know how much I appreciate your effort.  I have tried to ‘face to face’ thank many since the election.  I cannot tell you how many people of the many different factions have said, "Wait until next time."  My mind just couldn’t imagine them thinking that we could pull this off, if we just stay in the game a bit longer and don’t give up.  I know this, and that is why we need the Best Representation in Our District, and we are not getting it.  Walter has generated nothing and inspired nothing.  We need a Progressive and Positive Figure not a Conservative One.  We need Jobs and Improvements and he doesn’t know how to get there.  I will do this again, one more time in an off year election.  The People Must Come First, for their Welfare of Future and Family being the most important issue.  The Welfare of the People of Eastern North Carolina is the Primary Concern, and I will do what ever is necessary to make life better for My Home and the People living here.  Whatever it takes. 

With Warm Regards,

CWeber

Weber For Congress

Somehow, after losing in 2006 (69% to 31%) and 2008 (66% to 34%), Weber still thinks he can win in Eastern North Carolina. He’s deluded and on a serious ego trip which will only maintain the perception of NC-03 being home to a bunch of back-water rubes.

Mr. Weber, please, do all of us in NC-03 a tremendous favor, do not run for Congress in 2010.