Charlotte politician seeking 12th District seat visits Winston-Salem

NC Rep. Rodney Moore meets with Democratic leaders in Winston-Salem.

A state lawmaker from Charlotte with his eyes on the 12th Congressional District seat currently held by US Rep. Mel Watt made a foray into Winston-Salem to make his case to a small group of Democratic leaders yesterday.

NC Rep. Rodney Moore was introduced by NC Rep. Ed Hanes Jr., a Forsyth County lawmaker, during the informal question-and-answer session at Mayor Allen Joines' campaign office.

The district, which snakes along the Interstate 85 corridor from Charlotte to parts of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem in the north, has been represented by Watt of Charlotte since 1993. Hanes told Moore that any Charlotte candidate who wants support from northern-tier voters will have to persuade them that he will provide equitable representation.

"I don't know how true it is, but I've heard there's been some perceived communication gap between different government entities," Moore said. "And so I just want to tell you that I'm going to be very open and accessible."

Watt's nomination by President Obama to head the Federal Housing Finance Administration has prompted a slew of Democratic politicians to put themselves in contention for the seat, which will be decided by a special election. In addition to Moore, NC Sen. Malcolm Graham (D-Mecklenburg) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools attorney George Battle, along with two Guilford County state lawmakers, Alma Adams and Marcus Brandon.

Brandon made a converse move by campaigning in Charlotte over the July 4 holiday.

Graham topped a recent Public Policy Polling poll with support from 31 percent of likely voters, followed by Adams, with 22 percent. NC Rep. Beverly Earle of Charlotte carried 8 percent, while Brandon garnered 5 percent. Moore polled near the bottom, drawing 3 percent, along with former Mecklenburg County Commission chair Harold Cogdell.

The small group that gathered to hear from Moore included Winston-Salem Councilman Derwin Montgomery, Forsyth County Senior Democrats President Jim Shaw and the Rev. John Mendez.

Moore said depending on when Watt is confirmed the special election to determine his replacement could wind up being folded into the general election in November. The candidate said he would take a bipartisan approach to governing if elected to represent the 12th Congressional District, which leans heavily Democratic.

"I see that Washington, for the most part, right now it's just not functioning properly," Moore said. "It's a whole lot of soundbites, whether you're a Republican and you get on Fox News and you expound the party philosophy, the conservative philosophy; most of the time if you're a Democrat you're on MSNBC and you're expounding the Democratic philosophy, the liberal philosophy. I don't believe you can govern that way. You have to be able to talk to one another and get things done, even if you don't agree with each other."

Moore said, if elected, he would emphasize education, advocate for veteran services, use his relationship with US Secretary of Transportation of Anthony Foxx (who is the former mayor of Charlotte) to bring highway and bridge funding to the district and promote energy independence.

Agency pleads for job training funds as Republicans move to cut benefits

Winston-Salem Urban League President Keith Grandberry, flanked by Rep. Marcus Brandon (D-Guilford) and Rep. Rodney Moore (D-Mecklenburg), carried the voice of unemployed workers to Raleigh on opening day of the General Assembly's long session.

Representatives of the Winston-Salem Urban League went to Raleigh today to plead for additional funding for job training programs as Republican lawmakers forged ahead with plans to reduce benefits to unemployed workers on the first day of the long session.

"That middle-class gentleman that comes down to the Urban League, who's done everything right — I mean, done everything right — worked at that job at RJ Reynolds or Wells Fargo for 16 years — got caught up in the layoffs and is now without a job, can't find a job because they've been at one job for so many years and their mindset hasn't changed, come down to the Urban League, they need to be heard because they have a family," President Keith Grandberry said during a press conference.

Despite the geographic reference in its name, the agency serves 21 counties and a number of cities in addition to Winston-Salem, including Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham.

Meanwhile, Rep. Julia Howard (R-Davie, Forsyth) filed a legislation today to reduce unemployment benefits and begin rebuilding the fund. She said the House Finance Committee, which she chairs, will consider the bill tomorrow. The lawmaker acknowledged that the bill is "rather lengthy," but turned down a request by Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Durham) to postpone the hearing by one day to give Democrats a chance to read the bill.

Members of the Democratic caucus disagree with the cuts to benefits received by unemployed workers, but hold little power to influence the legislation.

"Cutting workers off at the knees, as we're talking about in upcoming legislation will not be the answer," said Rep. Larry Hall (D-Durham). "That will not be a bridge that helps us re-employ our citizens and bring our new workforce forward."

Hall, who was recently elected minority leader by the Democratic caucus, acknowledged that his party is operating from a weakened position.

"Certainly we know that there's a different makeup of the General Assembly this session than there was last session," he said. "We know there's no veto threat. There's no potential to negotiate and defeat bills and have them reconsidered with more input by our caucus. This is a different environment."