1. Healthcare

GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS!
FEBRUARY 2, 2015
SEC MEMBERS ENJOY MEETING WITH
STATE CHAIR CANDIDATES!
SEC Members have enjoyed listening to State Party Chair candidates at forums in
Gastonia, Charlotte, Greensboro, Nashville, Raleigh, and New Bern.
The picture above was taken at the January 24th Forum at Ramses Temple in Charlotte
which was hosted by the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th District Democratic Parties. From the left are
8th District Chair Antonio Blue, 12 District Chair Dr. Robbie Akhere, 9 th District Chair Frank
Deaton, Ron Sanyal of Raleigh(bending over), 9th District First Vice Chair Dee Jones, Patsy
Keever, Constance Johnson, Janice Covington, and 10 th District First Vice Chair Axia Wilson.
Marshall Adame of Jacksonville is also running for State Party Chair. Carolina Fonseca
is with Marshall in this picture.
THE HAWKINS MEN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL!
Zack Hawkins brought his sons James Preston and Zackari to the January 24th
forums in Charlotte and Greensboro. New Democrat James Preston listened intently
to the answers of the candidates. Zack said James Preston’s expressive responses to
the candidates’ answers were fascinating.
Diane Little of Union County entertained James Preston during part of the forum.
Zack is campaigning for First Vice Chair of the State Party.
SEC Member Toni Mingo of Charlotte (standing in yellow sweater) was asking a
question of the State Chair candidates in this picture. About 150 Democratic leaders
turned out for the Ramses Temple forum.
State Young Democrats President Justin Conley, 12th District Chair Dr. Robbie Akhere,
and Boone Mayor Andy Ball are happy in this picture at the Ramses Temple Forum. Andy
is running for re-election as 3rd Vice Chair of the State Party.
NASHVILLE FORUM ON JANUARY 31ST
Democratic leaders from the 1st, 3rd, and 13th Congressional Districts gathered in
Nashville to hear from the State Party Chair candidates on January 31 st.
In the picture above First District Chair Senator Don Davis is speaking as candidates
Marshall Adame and Janice Covington listen attentively.
Candidates Constance Johnson, Patsy Keever, and Ron Sanyal are awaiting their
turns to speak in this picture taken at Nashville.
JUSTIN GORDON HITS
GAMEWINNING SHOT TO GIVE WOFFORD A BIG VICTORY!
Justin Gordon, son of SEC Member Pamela Gordon of Mecklenburg County, hit
a game winning three-point shot as the clock was running out to give Wofford College
a 49-46 victory over Mercer College on February 1st. It was Justin’s first three-point
attempt of the entire season!
The victory before a packed house of 3,000 fans kept Wofford atop the Southern
Conference standings with an 18-5 overall record.
Justin is a 6’6” Junior Forward. Last year he helped Wofford win the Southern
Conference Tournament in Asheville.
Click this link to see two exciting videos about Justin’s game winning shot:
http://youtu.be/UWpY0l3Wtn4
The February 7th SEC meeting may be Pamela Gordon’s last SEC meeting. Her husband,
Gregory, has already moved to Florida to accept a big career promotion.
Pamela is an official with Wells Fargo in Charlotte. When she completes her Master’s
in Business Administration degree at UNC-Charlotte in May, she will be moving to Florida to
join Gregory. When you see her on February 7th, be sure to give her your wishes for a
happy transition to Florida!
THE LARGEST DW CHAPTER IN THE STATE
INSTALLS 2015 OFFICERS!
Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley administered the Oath of Office to the
2015 Officers of the huge Democratic Women of Alamance County organization at their
January meeting at Occasions event center in Burlington.
From the left the Officers are:
President – Clara Foriest
1st Vice President – Tarra Collins
2nd Vice President – Susan Zimmerman
Secretary – Dorothy Yarbourough
Treasurer – Elsie Rogers
Assistant Treasurer – Hazel Carter
2014 was the fifth consecutive year in which the Alamance DW won the award for
having the largest membership in the entire state! They have over 400 Members and
more than 100 Associate (Men) Members. Wow!
In her address to the club, Justice Beasley discussed the importance of every vote in
her close 2014 election. She also talked about the bright future of Democrats in North
Carolina.
TONI WOODS!
The Lincoln Times News featured Catawba County Democratic Party First Vice
Chair Toni Woods as she led a parade down the Main Street of Lincolnton to celebrate
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
As of January 21st Toni is an officially published professional researcher. Her peer
reviewed article entitled “America’s Working Poor: Affordable Care Coverage Gap” was
published in the “Journal of Human Services.”
Toni is a Human Services Professional and a Qualified Professional and Pastoral
Care Counselor in Conover. Her email address is [email protected].
DEMOCRATS STAR AT LILLIAN’S LIST LUNCHEON!
Democratic candidates and officeholders were in abundance at the Lillian’s List
luncheon in Raleigh on January 27th. The event at the McKimmon Center on the NC State
campus honored all of 2014’s female Democratic legislative candidates.
Wanda Hardison and Sue Counts were part of the happy group of Democrats at
the Lillian’s List luncheon. Sue ran a very strong race for the State House District which
is comprised of Ashe and Watauga counties.
JESSICA HOLMES KEYNOTES
CONVOCATION AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S UNIVERSITY!
Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes gave the Keynote Address at the
Founders Day Convocation at St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh. Despite being sick with
a fever Jessica gave an inspirational presentation which was roundly applauded by everyone
in attendance.
Jessica was accompanied in the academic procession by St. Augustine’s Interim
President Dr. Everett Ward.
Everett Ward has represented North Carolina Democrats on the Democratic National
Committee for many years. He is one of a select group of 22 DNC Members who make up
the Executive Committee of the DNC.
RON SANYAL NAMED GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR
Franziskus Bertl, Secretary General of the United World Games 2015, has announced
the appointment of SEC Member Ron Sanyal of Raleigh as a Good Will Ambassador for the
games.
The games will be held in Austria on June 18-21. Emily Bertl posed with Ron at
a United World Games booth recently.
ROSS BULLA AT THE WHITE HOUSE!
Global Security Risk expert Ross Bulla of Lincoln County met with President Obama
at the White House on January 29th. Ross is President of The Treadstone Group which is
headquartered in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina.
Ross was the Democratic candidate for State Senate in his district in 2012.
REV. PAUL LOWE APPOINTED TO STATE SENATE!
On January 29th Fifth Congressional District Democratic Party Chair Rev. Paul Lowe
was nominated to the State Senate by the Forsyth County Democratic Executive Committee.
He will be filling the vacancy created by Senator Earline Parmon’s resignation which enabled
her to head Congresswoman Alma Adams’ District Office.
The members of Rev. Lowe’s congregation at Shiloh Baptist Church in Winston-Salem
watched their Pastor receive the Oath of Office during their February 1st Morning Worship
Service.
Mrs. Paul Lowe is standing next to her husband and Mrs. Parmon is helping hold the
Bible during the administration of the oath.
Your Democratic Friend,
Melvin Williams
Send Your GOOD NEWS To Me At: [email protected]