1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,640 go to thepeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,719 smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,320 your support. Still have a lot to get to on 10 00:00:30,359 --> 00:00:37,039 this election day. Seven four five, seven eleven ten. Email 11 00:00:37,119 --> 00:00:40,200 ispt at the Petecalnarshow dot com. I have a message 12 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:44,679 from Dave who said your WBT news cast said Steven 13 00:00:44,759 --> 00:00:50,119 Mooreris supported Josh Stein. This is for the Concord mayor's race. 14 00:00:51,119 --> 00:00:53,600 I'm voting later today. Can you tell me how he 15 00:00:53,719 --> 00:00:56,560 supported Josh Stein. I'm trying to figure out if tax 16 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,000 evasion is worse than supporting Stein's. 17 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:00,119 Speaker 2: Yes. 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 1: Hm, So I'm assuming that this was in the good 19 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:13,480 notorial race. I don't remember the specifics, but it probably 20 00:01:13,519 --> 00:01:17,319 had to do with Mark Robinson being the Republican nominee 21 00:01:17,359 --> 00:01:19,680 and all of the scandal around Mark Robinson, and so 22 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,200 maybe the mayor endorsed Josh Stein, I assure that's my 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:30,079 that would be my guess, and that angered Republicans I 24 00:01:30,079 --> 00:01:34,680 would assume, okay. So one of the things I like 25 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:39,920 to do whenever prepping for the the election day coverage 26 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,799 and such, which, by the way, WBT will be uh 27 00:01:43,719 --> 00:01:47,439 covering the election results tonight at seven o'clock, Bo and 28 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:52,359 Beth are going to be back in studio, and I 29 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,239 think at some point I'll join them. I think all 30 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,680 of the hosts will join at some point. So, but 31 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,640 one of the things so in prepping, usually the weekend 32 00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:04,319 before the election, you know, and Christy knows this, that 33 00:02:05,079 --> 00:02:08,520 I block out the whole weekend and I do all 34 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,199 I you know, I take all of the stuff that 35 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,120 I've been compiling for the year, and you know, I 36 00:02:13,199 --> 00:02:15,680 put them all together. I make my you know, my 37 00:02:15,759 --> 00:02:18,639 prep sheets and stuff for the various races. Now, admittedly 38 00:02:18,719 --> 00:02:21,520 this year it's a little easier because there aren't a 39 00:02:21,599 --> 00:02:25,439 lot of races on the ballot, especially where I live. 40 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:28,599 I'm in unincorporated Mecklenburg County, so I get to vote 41 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,599 for a school board member, and I get to vote 42 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,039 for or against the sales tax increase. And people have 43 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,919 asked me. My view on the sales tax increase came 44 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,800 up at the News and Bruis event. And I'm not 45 00:02:41,879 --> 00:02:46,080 telling anybody how to vote, Okay. I have been told 46 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,199 how to vote by people for the better part of 47 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:54,000 fifteen years, and I don't like I don't listen to 48 00:02:54,039 --> 00:02:56,319 people telling me how to vote. I will make my 49 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,439 own mind up on that stuff. So I'm not trying 50 00:02:58,479 --> 00:03:00,280 to tell you how to vote, but I I will 51 00:03:00,319 --> 00:03:02,879 tell you I'm going to be voting against that sales 52 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:09,960 tax increase. That's me. And so one of the things 53 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,840 I like to do in making the prep sheets for 54 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:17,439 the election is I go to sites of all sorts 55 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,599 and I look at who they like. 56 00:03:20,599 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 2: Like. 57 00:03:20,759 --> 00:03:23,719 Speaker 1: For example, you can go to the Charlotte Observer. They 58 00:03:23,719 --> 00:03:27,439 have their list of endorsements and I will usually just 59 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,280 pick the opposite of whoever there, or you know, you 60 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,800 go to the local party website, go to the Democrat 61 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:40,199 party website, go to the Republican party website, and they 62 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,759 usually have a thing called the palm cards, which are 63 00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:44,879 what they hand out at the polling places, you know, 64 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,360 for people to look at. And so I can take 65 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,240 a palm card and then if it's the Democrats that 66 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,120 are giving it to me. Chances are like, I'm voting 67 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,000 against every one of your candidates. Thank you for the 68 00:03:54,039 --> 00:03:57,199 palm card. I appreciate that. But I only have two races, 69 00:03:57,199 --> 00:04:00,759 two things that I get to vote in, so I'm 70 00:04:00,759 --> 00:04:05,120 gonna be voting in like two seconds today. But one 71 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:06,960 of the things I like to do is go to 72 00:04:08,039 --> 00:04:12,000 different publications that may be of a different political bent, 73 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,920 let's say, and see how they are handicapping the races, 74 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,199 how they are describing the candidates and such. And so 75 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,199 I found myself at Queen City Nerve. And this is 76 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:30,680 a leftist publication here in Charlotte. I believe it was 77 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:36,920 the It was the remnants of Creative Loafing, that weekly 78 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,839 newspaper that used to mainly be filled with like ads 79 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:48,439 for like depraved behavior and such. So the I'm just 80 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:50,240 kidding it. Well, I mean they did have a lot 81 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,800 of ads in the back of the in the back 82 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,800 of the paper, very weird things. But anyway, they remember, 83 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:58,879 they shut down Creative Loafing and then a bunch of 84 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:03,639 their employees started Queen City Nerve, and so they had 85 00:05:03,639 --> 00:05:09,240 a big election guide, very lengthy guide, and so real 86 00:05:09,319 --> 00:05:14,519 quick running through their guide. I'm not going to go 87 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,800 over all of the stuff that they say, and they 88 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,040 do not make endorsements explicit endorsements, but you can kind 89 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,439 of tell who they like and who they don't by 90 00:05:23,439 --> 00:05:26,600 the way they describe some of the candidates. So, of course, 91 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:29,120 in the mayor's race, we covered this last hour, you 92 00:05:29,199 --> 00:05:32,480 got Yliles running for her fifth term. And now I 93 00:05:32,519 --> 00:05:35,959 don't know this for sure, but I suspect that you 94 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,399 get up to the fifth term, it's going to be 95 00:05:38,519 --> 00:05:44,519 pretty attractive enticing for if she were to win a 96 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:46,839 fifth term. I think she's going to try to go 97 00:05:47,079 --> 00:05:51,120 and beat Pat McCrory's seven terms, you know, like when 98 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,879 you rack up five in a row like she has 99 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:57,120 or she made today. I think she may go for seven. 100 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,600 So we got that to look forward to. But I 101 00:05:59,639 --> 00:06:02,160 don't know that. I'm not making that prediction. I'm just 102 00:06:02,199 --> 00:06:03,879 saying like that, it seems like that would be a 103 00:06:03,879 --> 00:06:09,959 bit of a pull, you know. Then you've got Rob 104 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,519 Yates the libertarian and Terry Donovan. I've interviewed both of 105 00:06:13,519 --> 00:06:15,279 them on the program. You can go back to the 106 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,759 podcast and listen to that interview with each of them. 107 00:06:18,399 --> 00:06:21,800 The Charlotte City Council at large. So this is everybody 108 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,240 in the city gets to vote for the four at 109 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:29,759 large seats dimple Edgemeira four term incumbent James Smudgie Mitchell. 110 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,920 He's been on the council first as a District Rep 111 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,000 and then an at large Rep. And he's been on 112 00:06:36,079 --> 00:06:42,519 there since, I mean twenty years. Lawana Slack Mayfield, she 113 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:47,959 was District three for four terms, then was off the 114 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,800 council for three years and then ran at large in 115 00:06:51,879 --> 00:06:57,560 twenty twenty two Victoria and so she's running at large 116 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:02,639 reelection and then Victoria Watlington and also at large. She 117 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:05,959 was a District three Rep as well. She won her 118 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,319 seat two years ago at large. So those are the Democrats. 119 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:15,680 Then you've got Misson Kim. Born and raised in South Korea, 120 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:19,160 immigrated to America in nineteen ninety one. Small business owner 121 00:07:20,079 --> 00:07:24,959 proud supporter of Donald Trump, has spoken against allowing transgender 122 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,000 folks to work as teachers or public service providers, criticized 123 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,480 DEI initiatives, and appeers to oppose vaccines. She has recently 124 00:07:33,519 --> 00:07:37,199 shared the uplifting story of her son, who previously identified 125 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:41,199 as gay. But wait, you don't wait a minute, You 126 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:44,079 identify as a male or female. I don't think you 127 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,879 get to identify as gay, do you. I thought that 128 00:07:47,959 --> 00:07:52,600 you're born that way. To quote the expert Lady Gaga, right, 129 00:07:53,079 --> 00:07:57,759 you just born that way. But he apparently underwent a 130 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:02,519 significant transformation and disnow engaged to a woman. Then there's 131 00:08:02,639 --> 00:08:05,360 Edwin Peacock. I mentioned him last hour. He raised the 132 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,240 most amount of money. He's a former city council member. 133 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,639 He ran for mayor at one point, I believe, and 134 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:15,360 he's been sitting in the District sixth seat filling the 135 00:08:15,439 --> 00:08:19,639 unexpired term of Tark Bokari. He's now running at large. 136 00:08:19,959 --> 00:08:24,360 Republicans have fielded only two candidates. You can vote for four, 137 00:08:25,199 --> 00:08:30,560 and the top four votainers of the six they will 138 00:08:30,839 --> 00:08:38,120 get seated on City Council Okay District three. Joy Mayo, Democrat, 139 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,480 community advocate, former middle school math teacher who founded and 140 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,879 serves as board chair for the Transforming Nations Forward, a 141 00:08:45,919 --> 00:08:52,639 community development nonprofit that advocates for the nation's Ford Arrowood 142 00:08:52,720 --> 00:09:01,440 Road corridor. Running against Robin Emmons, unaffiliated. She actually got 143 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:06,159 the necessary signatures about fourteen hundred in order to get 144 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:11,960 onto the ballot as an independent or unaffiliated and then 145 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:20,080 the Republican James Bowers and captain in the Young Men 146 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,840 of Valor Boys organizations, serve five years on the County 147 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,480 Motor Vehicle Review Board. He's been a minister since nineteen 148 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:32,200 ninety seven. Then Charlotte City Council District six. Kimberly Owens 149 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:38,799 practiced law. Advocates for causes she believes in through Mom's 150 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:43,200 Demand Action, the Gungraby Group, as well as Planned Parenthood, 151 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:49,600 Rotary Youth Exchange and Lillian's List Action Fund. So very 152 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:55,080 much for the abortions, okay, and the grabbing of the guns. 153 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:01,120 Christo Baccari, Republican, running for the seat that her husband 154 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,960 Tark Bakari held for a very long time. So that's 155 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,200 on the city council. You have the sales tax referendum. 156 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,480 Current sales tax in Mecklinberg County is seven and a 157 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,440 quarter percent. They want to raise it to eight and 158 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,840 a quarter percent. I've done shows on this before. You 159 00:10:15,879 --> 00:10:20,120 can pull them up on the Peak podcast Board of 160 00:10:20,279 --> 00:10:26,759 ED Now this one is interesting. The Charlotte Mecklenburg School 161 00:10:26,759 --> 00:10:29,320 Board has three at large members. They are not up 162 00:10:29,399 --> 00:10:34,639 for reelection. The six district members are okay, and so 163 00:10:34,799 --> 00:10:40,000 in District one, you've got Melissa Easley, Bill Fountain, and 164 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,559 Charlita Hatch, three people running for that seat. And this 165 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,480 is technically nonpartisan, so you're not going to see ds 166 00:10:46,519 --> 00:10:49,320 and rs next to their names. You know, stories are powerful. 167 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,519 They help us make sense of things, to understand experiences. 168 00:10:52,759 --> 00:10:55,039 Stories connect us to the people of our past while 169 00:10:55,039 --> 00:10:58,480 transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life, 170 00:10:58,519 --> 00:11:02,440 and our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve 171 00:11:02,519 --> 00:11:05,879 your stories with Creative Video started in nineteen ninety seven 172 00:11:05,919 --> 00:11:08,759 and Minhill, North Carolina. It was the first company to 173 00:11:08,759 --> 00:11:12,799 provide this valuable service, converting images, photos and videos into 174 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,919 high quality produced slide shows, videos and albums. The trusted, 175 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,039 talented and dedicated team at Creative Video will go over 176 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,919 all of the details with you to create a perfect project. 177 00:11:23,039 --> 00:11:26,200 Satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off in person or mail them. 178 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,519 They'll be ready in a week or two. Memorial videos 179 00:11:28,519 --> 00:11:32,879 for your loved ones, videos for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, 180 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:37,159 family vacations, birthdays, or just your family stories all told 181 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,919 through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They 182 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,799 are your life told through the eyes of everyone around 183 00:11:43,799 --> 00:11:46,080 you and all who came before you, and they will 184 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,440 tell others to come who you are. Visit Creative video 185 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:54,279 dot com. This is from the text line. Voters may 186 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,440 cast four votes for Charlotte City Council at large. Candidates 187 00:11:57,759 --> 00:12:01,240 don't cast for it dilutes the value of your preferred candidate. 188 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,600 It's okay to leave blanks. This is what's called single shot. 189 00:12:07,159 --> 00:12:11,240 It is a strategy. It basically gives a little bit 190 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:16,159 like one point one percent, Like if a vote is one, 191 00:12:16,799 --> 00:12:19,159 it's like one point one. It gives a little bit 192 00:12:19,279 --> 00:12:22,960 of an edge to your preferred candidate by single shotting 193 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,759 or shooting I guess, or double shot. If there are 194 00:12:26,759 --> 00:12:29,399 two Republicans and you only want Republicans, just give them 195 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,879 your votes. Don't add to the vote totals of the Democrats. 196 00:12:35,799 --> 00:12:39,320 I've seen studies over the years about the effectiveness of 197 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,279 these types of campaigns. They can work, but it has 198 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:47,759 to be like a widespread, concerted effort, you know. But yeah, 199 00:12:47,759 --> 00:12:50,120 that is a that is a strategy. It's called single shot, 200 00:12:51,919 --> 00:12:55,559 all right. So the Board of Education District one race 201 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:02,840 from WFAE, their report by James Ferrell. This from October 202 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:07,799 twenty third. Melissa Easily says she's the incumbent, by the way, Democrat, 203 00:13:08,879 --> 00:13:10,799 but you're not going to see ds and rs next 204 00:13:10,799 --> 00:13:15,360 to their names because they're non partisan. Easily says she 205 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:18,360 was hurt that the Mecklenberg County Democrats chose to endorse 206 00:13:18,399 --> 00:13:23,759 her opponent. One of the opponents, Charlita Hatch, Easily says 207 00:13:23,799 --> 00:13:27,360 she's been told that the decision stemmed from concerns about 208 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:32,720 her fundraising. She acknowledges recently that she stirred controversy with 209 00:13:32,799 --> 00:13:35,960 the post about the murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk that 210 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:40,679 drew national attention. We discussed that as well when she 211 00:13:40,919 --> 00:13:43,679 said I'm not going to mourn his loss because he 212 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,679 was a terrible person, and then she gave some examples 213 00:13:48,159 --> 00:13:51,200 of things that he never said, and I dissected her 214 00:13:51,279 --> 00:13:55,399 dumassary at the time. She also has a track record, 215 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,200 though of voting in the minority against the board consensus, 216 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,000 like when she voted against last year's budget because she 217 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,080 felt the board needed to ask for more money from 218 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:08,919 Mecklemburg County. Charlia Hatch has had no problem raising funds. 219 00:14:09,399 --> 00:14:12,679 Campaign finance records show that she has raised nearly forty 220 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:18,480 five thousand dollars compared to Easley's Measley seventeen hundred. The 221 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:23,159 Republican back candidate Bill Fountain, he is self financing, basically 222 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,399 put twenty grand of his own money into the race, 223 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,559 and he thinks that if you got two Democrats, they 224 00:14:28,559 --> 00:14:31,240 could split that vote and then he may be able 225 00:14:31,279 --> 00:14:36,440 to get in. And he points out that twenty percent 226 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:41,039 of CMS grads have less than a two point zero GPA. 227 00:14:41,759 --> 00:14:46,000 Like we're we're not actually educating the kids. Hatch is 228 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,080 the City of Charlotte's chief data and analytics officer. She 229 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,879 is also the founder of a nonprofit and the author 230 00:14:52,919 --> 00:14:58,840 of three children's books. Now, what makes this race interesting 231 00:15:00,159 --> 00:15:05,080 is that last spring, Easily was one of three board 232 00:15:05,159 --> 00:15:09,080 members who voted against a contract with a consulting firm 233 00:15:09,399 --> 00:15:14,639 called syd k Imyl, which is a terrible name. Sid Kimmel, 234 00:15:14,759 --> 00:15:19,200 I guess is the acronym. She questioned the firm's efficacy 235 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:26,919 and its connections to Racky McGregor or Rocky Raki. Racky McGregor, 236 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:32,200 who was a close advisor to the superintendent and was 237 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:38,039 getting this contract. Sid Kimmel is owned by Racky's wife, 238 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:43,720 Kimberly McGregor. The mcgregors and cms have defended Sid Kimmel, 239 00:15:45,039 --> 00:15:48,960 their contractor or their company that's getting the contracts by 240 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,639 pointing to recent academic gains across ten of the twelve 241 00:15:51,679 --> 00:15:54,600 schools where they worked, but racky McGregor went on to 242 00:15:54,679 --> 00:15:59,000 publicly support Charlietta Hatch, which then prompted questions of whether 243 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,240 he was c making political payback. McGregor has denied this. Hatch, 244 00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:07,360 for her part, takes exception to any notion that McGregor 245 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:10,960 played a role in her decision to run. And so 246 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,480 when people started saying this, Easily started saying this, the 247 00:16:14,559 --> 00:16:17,799 McGregor's confirmed that they sent a cease and desist letter 248 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:22,200 to both Easily and another school board candidate in a 249 00:16:22,279 --> 00:16:30,120 different district, District six, named Tony mhl m Hel m 250 00:16:31,039 --> 00:16:36,399 e m e E m e h e l Emma 251 00:16:36,639 --> 00:16:39,159 m Hel. That's just a very difficult last name. And 252 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,039 I say that as one with the last name Calender, 253 00:16:41,159 --> 00:16:48,240 Okay mhl. So they both got cease and desist letters 254 00:16:48,279 --> 00:16:51,519 regarding what they saw the McGregor saw as false in 255 00:16:51,559 --> 00:16:54,720 defamatory statements about them and their companies on the campaign trail. 256 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,720 They say the actions were taken to protect them and 257 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:04,279 their business's long standing reputations. So there appears to be 258 00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:09,440 some politicking afoot, and there are these accusations that the 259 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:14,680 superintendent is trying to oust board members that don't fall 260 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:19,960 in line with what she wants done. So that's District one. 261 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:24,559 Going back to Queen City Nerve and their guide to 262 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,400 the local elections, You'll never guess how they describe the 263 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,799 Republican running in that district, Bill Fountain. If you guessed 264 00:17:32,039 --> 00:17:35,640 homophobic and transphobic, then yes, that's in their write up. 265 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,839 You would be correct. Here's a great idea. How about 266 00:17:38,839 --> 00:17:42,119 making an escape to a really special and secluded getaway 267 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,559 in western North Carolina. Just a quick drive up the 268 00:17:44,599 --> 00:17:47,839 mountain and Cabins of Asheville is your connection. Whether you're 269 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,759 celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe you want to plan 270 00:17:50,799 --> 00:17:53,519 a memorable proposal, or get family and friends together for 271 00:17:53,559 --> 00:17:56,720 a big old reunion, Cabins of Asheville has the ideal 272 00:17:56,799 --> 00:17:59,359 spot for you where you can reconnect with your loved 273 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,440 ones and the things that truly matter. Nestled within the 274 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,920 breath taking fourteen thousand acres of the Pisga National Forest, 275 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,960 their Cabins offer a serene escape in the heart of 276 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 the Blue Ridge Mountains, centrally located between Ashville and the 277 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,880 entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It's the 278 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:19,000 perfect balance of seclusion and proximity to all the local 279 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:23,640 attractions with hot tubs, fireplaces, air conditioning, smart TVs, Wi 280 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,039 Fi grills, outdoor tables and your own private covered porch. 281 00:18:27,319 --> 00:18:31,359 Choose from thirteen cabins, six cottages, two villas, and a 282 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,480 great lodge with eleven king sized bedrooms. Cabins of Ashville 283 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,720 has the ideal spot for you for any occasion, and 284 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,119 they have pet friendly accommodations. Call or text eight two 285 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,599 eight three six seven seventy sixty eight or check out 286 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,000 all there is to offer at Cabins of Aashville dot 287 00:18:48,039 --> 00:18:51,720 com and make memories that'll last a lifetime from the 288 00:18:51,839 --> 00:18:56,640 local leftist Queen City Nerve dot com Qcnerve dot com website. 289 00:18:57,559 --> 00:19:01,319 When describing the Board of Education, can that it's District one. 290 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:07,839 Bill Fountain, Republican, a former combat fighter pilot teacher committed 291 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:11,440 to upholding quote the American principles that make opportunity possible. 292 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:19,039 I guess I should probably do this. No how dare 293 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:27,880 you right? Okay, So they go on to say that 294 00:19:28,039 --> 00:19:34,480 Fountain supports the homophobic and transphobic organization Protect North Carolina Kids. 295 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,640 He held a sign that read stop Mutilating Miners in 296 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:46,240 a protest against trans healthcare for youth patients and posted 297 00:19:46,279 --> 00:19:49,440 it to his Facebook page and his website. So that's 298 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,319 what makes you homophobic and transphobic is that you don't 299 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:57,519 believe in transing the miners. Okay, that's again, it's it's 300 00:19:57,599 --> 00:20:01,359 Queen City nerve. And then there's Charlie the Hatch, CMS 301 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:06,599 graduate mother, children's book author, tech executive works for the 302 00:20:06,599 --> 00:20:12,680 city apparently. So that's the District one race District two 303 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,559 for the Board of ed je Rique Hall or one Hall. 304 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,200 After twelve years, the Board of Education's longest serving member, 305 00:20:21,279 --> 00:20:25,079 Thelma Buyers Bailey, is not running for reelection, so District 306 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,680 two is going to have a new rep. Juan Rique 307 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,440 Hall is a former West Charlotte High School football coach 308 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,200 and community advocate who works to mentor young people on 309 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:38,960 violence prevention, joining the city's first Alternatives to Violence program 310 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,240 in twenty twenty one. His mission is to combat illiteracy, 311 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:50,359 restore discipline, and rebuild trust. In public schools. Okay. Hall 312 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:56,400 is also known to partner with Moms for Liberty. No 313 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,839 QC Nerve describes Moms for Liberty as quote an extremist 314 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:14,720 group that lobbies against any school curricula that mentions lgb 315 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:20,880 t Q plus rights, race, or diversity. And that is 316 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:26,720 not true. That's actually not true. They don't want you 317 00:21:26,839 --> 00:21:32,759 promoting any of this sexually inappropriate content at any age. 318 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:37,240 That's you too young. Whether it's gay or straight, it 319 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:42,519 doesn't matter. They don't want you teaching to second graders 320 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:48,599 this inappropriate material age appropriate standards. We used to as 321 00:21:48,599 --> 00:21:51,960 a society, we used to all understand that there are 322 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,839 things that are not age appropriate. And if you don't 323 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:01,000 understand that, then you should not be in public schools. 324 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,759 You should not have anything to do with public schools, 325 00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:07,359 public education. You shouldn't be in the education field at all, 326 00:22:07,599 --> 00:22:11,319 in my opinion, if you don't understand that concept that 327 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:16,839 there are age appropriate things and there are age inappropriate things. Okay, 328 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:25,359 so Wan Hall running against Chemey Shame. Chammee Chamee Haines 329 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:31,039 a CMS mother advocate and community organizer with a deep 330 00:22:31,079 --> 00:22:37,839 commitment to cultivating equity, opportunity, and belonging in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. 331 00:22:38,519 --> 00:22:41,680 She served as a board member of the Black Political Caucus, 332 00:22:41,839 --> 00:22:46,440 League of Women Voters, and the Charlotte Alliance of Black Accountants. 333 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:50,759 So if you're with the BPC, I'm assuming the Black 334 00:22:50,759 --> 00:22:54,319 Political Caucus, I know your politics there. She's the Democrat 335 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,720 over in District four. Robert Edwards uh more than twenty 336 00:23:00,759 --> 00:23:03,759 years of experience in K twelve education, higher education, and 337 00:23:03,799 --> 00:23:07,400 behavioral health. He began teaching music and mentoring at risk 338 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,720 youth when he was twenty two. He joined the CMS 339 00:23:11,799 --> 00:23:15,240 residency program in twenty twenty three, focusing on special ed 340 00:23:15,799 --> 00:23:19,519 and currently serves as a teacher for Exceptional Children in CMS, 341 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,920 as well as a compliance facilitator at Cochrane Collegiate Academy. 342 00:23:24,599 --> 00:23:28,920 He is running against Jillian King, a former teacher current homemaker. 343 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,160 She is endorsed by the Democratic Municipal Officials as well 344 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,880 as Mom's Demand Action Gun Control Group. The incumbent in 345 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:45,119 District four is Stephanie Snead. She is the CMS board 346 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:50,279 chair and she is running for reelection. She was first 347 00:23:50,319 --> 00:23:55,000 elected in twenty twenty two. CMS parent a trial attorney 348 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,880 practicing in the areas of labor and employment law, and 349 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:08,680 she has served on the Black Political Caucus Education Committee Democrat. Okay, 350 00:24:09,319 --> 00:24:12,279 Then there's District five Lisa Kline. She is the incumbent. 351 00:24:12,839 --> 00:24:17,480 She is a Republican as I understand it, and she 352 00:24:17,839 --> 00:24:21,359 is running for reelection thirty nine years of education experience, 353 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,480 twenty nine of those being at CMS before retiring in 354 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:33,200 twenty nineteen. Her opponent, Cynthia Stone, born and raised in Charlotte, 355 00:24:34,599 --> 00:24:36,960 began a career in education in two thousand and five 356 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,480 at Chantilly Montessori School until her retirement in twenty twenty 357 00:24:40,519 --> 00:24:51,519 three from Park Road Montessori District six. Tony emmahl or mhl. Sorry, 358 00:24:51,559 --> 00:24:53,559 I do not know how to pronounce this last. I'm trying. 359 00:24:53,599 --> 00:24:57,960 I really am CMS grad parent and volunteer. Twenty years 360 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:01,960 of experience with CMS as a school and team leader, parent, teacher, 361 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:08,200 organization board officer, tutor, booster, club board officer. Endorsed by 362 00:25:08,279 --> 00:25:12,880 the Democrat Mecklenberg County Commissioner Vilma Leak, as well as 363 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:19,759 Republican former Governor Pat McCrory. Running against two people, Anna London, 364 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,480 who is president and CEO of Charlotte Works, the state's 365 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:31,039 largest single county Workforce Board and Justin Sheeley, an attorney 366 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,319 and parent who has grown increasingly concerned about the issues 367 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:40,759 CMS faces, including declining safety, politics, taking precedence over academics, 368 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,960 and a lack of transparency. Okay, so those are your 369 00:25:46,319 --> 00:25:51,079 CMS candidates. These are the district races. The at large 370 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:57,319 races not on the ballot. There are other races though, 371 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,319 that we will not be voting on here in Charlotte 372 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:07,079 or in Mecklenburg. Obviously, there were races all over the area, 373 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,240 all over the state. These were all municipal races. I mean, 374 00:26:10,279 --> 00:26:16,559 you've got Cornelius mayor Border commissioners, Davidson mayor border commissioners, 375 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:22,480 Huntersville mayor commissioners, So you've got these are all municipal races, right, 376 00:26:22,599 --> 00:26:31,400 Mayor of Matthews, mint Hill, Pineville Stallings. Also, I was 377 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,920 a moderator for a debate last weekend. I want to 378 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,319 say last weekend. I think it was last weekend, an 379 00:26:39,319 --> 00:26:43,440 Indian trail dealing with all sorts of you know, pressures 380 00:26:43,799 --> 00:26:46,519 due to growth and how to manage the growth and 381 00:26:46,599 --> 00:26:49,599 all of that. So municipal races all over the place, 382 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:56,079 and in low turnout races, your vote matters even more 383 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:01,400 because it is a low turnout election. Generally, these off 384 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:06,799 year municipal races generally don't attract more than about ten 385 00:27:06,839 --> 00:27:10,359 percent turnout, which means you have more power to actually 386 00:27:10,519 --> 00:27:15,519 influence and that's what decides elections and the course of 387 00:27:15,599 --> 00:27:20,960 your local government. It's you turning out to vote, all right. 388 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,799 If you're listening to this show, you know I try 389 00:27:22,839 --> 00:27:24,599 to keep up with all sorts of current events, and 390 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,680 I know you do too, And you've probably heard me 391 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:30,960 say get your news from multiple sources. Why well, because 392 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,640 it's how you detect media bias, which is why I've 393 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:37,000 been so impressed with ground News. It's an app and 394 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:40,160 it's a website and it combines news from around the 395 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,839 world in one place so you can compare coverage and 396 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,799 verify information. You can check it out at check dot ground, 397 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:50,119 dot news slash Pete. I put the link in the 398 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:53,359 podcast description too. I started using ground News a few 399 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,119 months ago and more recently chose to work with them 400 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,920 as an affiliate because it lets me see clearly how 401 00:27:59,039 --> 00:28:02,400 stories get covered and by whom. The blind spot feature 402 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:05,160 shows you which stories get ignored by the left and 403 00:28:05,279 --> 00:28:09,240 the right. See for yourself. Check dot ground dot News 404 00:28:09,599 --> 00:28:12,720 slash Pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll get fifteen 405 00:28:12,759 --> 00:28:15,839 percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage plan to 406 00:28:15,839 --> 00:28:19,319 get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription then not 407 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:22,359 only helps my podcast, but it also supports ground news 408 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,720 as they make the media landscape more transparent. Let me 409 00:28:25,799 --> 00:28:29,839 jump over here and get Carol onto the program. Hello, Carol, welcome. 410 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:34,400 Speaker 2: Hello, good afternoon. Hey. I live an Indian trail and 411 00:28:35,079 --> 00:28:38,160 you know what, there's been no canvassing that I haven't 412 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,400 even seen any signs up, so like, I don't know 413 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:43,279 who to vote for, but I want to vote, but 414 00:28:43,319 --> 00:28:46,079 I don't even know what's like who's running or anything. 415 00:28:46,759 --> 00:28:51,039 Speaker 1: So yeah, well there's only so you have seven candidates 416 00:28:51,039 --> 00:28:55,720 an Indian trail and two seats available I believe, so 417 00:28:55,799 --> 00:29:00,119 the top two votainers will will win the seats. There's 418 00:29:00,119 --> 00:29:04,319 one incumbent that's Tom Ambergee. He was not at the 419 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:10,599 candidate forum that I moderated the other day, so I 420 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,920 don't know. I know he's a local attorney practices law. 421 00:29:14,759 --> 00:29:17,920 I've seen his name pop up in stories over the years. 422 00:29:19,359 --> 00:29:24,519 And then there was another candidate, Jerrell Sengandhi, and he 423 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,160 was not there either, so I don't know anything about 424 00:29:27,279 --> 00:29:33,039 him either. So is there anybody like, are you satisfied 425 00:29:33,119 --> 00:29:34,960 with the direction of your town? 426 00:29:36,559 --> 00:29:39,559 Speaker 2: Well, heck no, Indian Trail. I've been here twenty one years. 427 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,680 I've lived in five different houses in Indian Trail, but 428 00:29:42,799 --> 00:29:46,440 never left Indian Trail. And it's just it's just absurd 429 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,599 of what's going on and the traffic. They're they're not 430 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:52,920 building things the way. It's like they just built these 431 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,160 huge apartments by my house and they should have put 432 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:01,759 a roundabout in before. So there's and some several accidents. 433 00:30:01,799 --> 00:30:03,839 They finally put a four way stop and there was 434 00:30:03,839 --> 00:30:06,480 an accident there yesterday. There's just too much traffic there 435 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,319 and it's like they don't know how to build a town. 436 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:10,960 I don't know. I don't know. It was a small 437 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,440 town when I moved here, that's why we think that. 438 00:30:14,039 --> 00:30:16,440 And now it's just it's just a crazy town. So 439 00:30:16,559 --> 00:30:16,960 I don't know. 440 00:30:18,319 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, and from what I heard and from what 441 00:30:21,279 --> 00:30:24,039 I heard in the candidate forum is a big problem 442 00:30:24,119 --> 00:30:29,119 is union County commissioners and the capacity issues with like 443 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,559 the water treatment and that sort of stuff. There's this 444 00:30:31,599 --> 00:30:35,920 fight going on, but I mean, and there's also I 445 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,880 mean the town is limited in what it can do 446 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:43,000 because it doesn't control the the wastewater hookups and stuff, right, 447 00:30:43,039 --> 00:30:46,799 the water system. But also people want to keep the 448 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,720 taxes low and they don't want there to be any 449 00:30:49,759 --> 00:30:55,440 more development. But it's a heavily residential tax base, right, 450 00:30:55,599 --> 00:30:56,440 so like these are. 451 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,079 Speaker 2: The property taxes were ridiculous when we got when we. 452 00:30:59,039 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: Got our revent out. 453 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh my gosh. I mean my house is you know, 454 00:31:03,799 --> 00:31:07,240 I wish my house is worth it, but it's not. 455 00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:09,960 It's not some big, gigantic house. You know. It's about 456 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,279 seventeen hundred square feet. You know, it's just a nice 457 00:31:12,319 --> 00:31:15,519 size house. And I'm just like, well, if I had 458 00:31:15,519 --> 00:31:17,480 the place to move to, yeah, I would sell it 459 00:31:17,519 --> 00:31:19,480 and try and get some of that. But you know, 460 00:31:19,519 --> 00:31:21,960 there's nowhere to go. You can sell, but there's nowhere 461 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:22,640 really to go. 462 00:31:24,200 --> 00:31:27,519 Speaker 1: Well yeah, I mean unless you want to go more rural, right, 463 00:31:27,599 --> 00:31:30,039 But if you if your job allows you that, then 464 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:32,559 then you have more options. But I mean that's one 465 00:31:32,599 --> 00:31:34,960 of the problems I ran into with my wife when 466 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,599 we were moving back here, Like I don't want to 467 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,640 spend an hour and a half in the car each way, 468 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:44,200 you know, on a commute. Uh, and in order to 469 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,880 afford cheaper housing, you got to go farther out and 470 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,759 that's and then you're yeah, then you're trading chunks of 471 00:31:50,799 --> 00:31:55,319 your life for you know, on the commute. So yeah, 472 00:31:55,319 --> 00:31:57,359 I mean it's all trade offs. I know there are 473 00:31:57,359 --> 00:31:59,839 a couple of young guys that are running Raven Farity, 474 00:32:00,119 --> 00:32:08,559 Sean Madison. They were there in their early twenties, so yeah, yeah, 475 00:32:08,799 --> 00:32:12,240 I don't know. Marcus McIntyre. He apparently was a former 476 00:32:13,759 --> 00:32:17,640 board member, town council member who was off the council 477 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,400 and now is coming back on. He seemed pretty impressive. 478 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:23,000 But I mean, I can't make any endorsement for you 479 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:26,519 because I don't know like what your major issues are 480 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,359 and how well of the candidates line up. But you can, 481 00:32:29,559 --> 00:32:32,160 I mean, you still have time. You can go to 482 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:35,319 their websites and read what they are writing. But I 483 00:32:35,359 --> 00:32:38,359 mean that the challenges that you've got in Indian Trails 484 00:32:38,359 --> 00:32:40,720 sound a lot like every small town that I've ever 485 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:44,079 covered dealing with growth. They're the same issues. 486 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 2: You know, yeah, and you know what it would be 487 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,759 one these houses, but they're just building these massive, massive 488 00:32:49,759 --> 00:32:53,759 apartment complexes. I live right in basically the center of 489 00:32:53,799 --> 00:32:57,599 it where in the Atrail Fairby wrote an independence. You know, 490 00:32:57,599 --> 00:32:59,640 I'm a mile from the post office and they have 491 00:32:59,759 --> 00:33:03,160 just old so many apartments. I'm like, why can't read 492 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,319 just do houses. I know they want to growth, but 493 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:09,640 you're literally talking about now thousands of people. Yeah, and 494 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:10,720 they don't have the roads for it. 495 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I hear you, Carol. I appreciate the call. 496 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,480 I wish I could be more helpful. I've got to 497 00:33:15,559 --> 00:33:19,359 run though. Good luck on your research. All right, that'll 498 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:22,039 do it for this episode. Thank you so much for listening. 499 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,279 I could not do the show without your support and 500 00:33:24,319 --> 00:33:27,039 the support of the businesses that advertise on the podcast, 501 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,480 so if you'd like, please support them too and tell 502 00:33:29,519 --> 00:33:31,240 them you heard it here. You can also become a 503 00:33:31,279 --> 00:33:35,920 patron at my patreon page or go to thepetecleanershow dot com. Again, 504 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,720 thank you so much for listening, and don't break anything 505 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:43,359 while I'm gone.