Iredell commissioner

to seek 5th seat
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

A former Iredell County commissioner has joined the race to oppose Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx for the 5th District’s U.S. Congressional seat.

Diane Hamby recently announced she would seek to oppose Foxx, citing health insurance, the budget deficit and Social Security as her top concerns. Hamby served as Iredell County’s last Democratic commissioner, from 1992 to 1994. She was formerly the county’s party chairwoman and is a partner in D & T Painting Company.

“My work in the community clearly shows me that we need real solutions to real problems,” Hamby said in a statement announcing her candidacy.

“That’s what my campaign will be about—straight talk and real solutions. It’s about the best future for everyone. We need to take back our government and make it work for us.”

She said her experience as a small business owner helps her understand key effects of health care and the economy.

“I’m from people truly of the middle class,” she said. “I know that health care costs are rising and small business owners can’t afford to pass them on. The biggest welfare class in America is the top 1 percent. They all got the gold and we’re all getting the shaft.”

Hamby also criticized Foxx’s support of an administration Hamby said had mortgaged the country’s future through reckless spending.

“Look at what’s going on in our country,” she said. “Runaway (federal) spending has the biggest impact on the economy. This administration has spent money hand over fist, and Virginia Foxx has rubberstamped it. We can’t live on borrowed money. That problem is certainly coming home to roost.”

Hamby said she’d been asked to run for the office before but wanted to wait until her youngest daughter was out of high school.

“I just feel the 5th District is in need of somebody who understands who they work for,” Hamby said. “If I didn’t think I could change this, I wouldn’t do it. We’ve got the government we let happen.”

Former high school teacher and coach Roy Carter of Glendale Springs has also announced his candidacy and has been campaigning for several months.

That sets up a battle between at least two candidates for the party’s nomination as determined by the May 6 primary. Foxx has already announced she intends to run again and no Republican opponents have stepped forward.

David Crawford, 5th District Democratic Party chairman, said, “What it shows us is that a lot of people feel like this is the time Virginia Foxx can be beat. There’s a lot of dissatisfaction. We’re hearing from a lot of people, both Democrats and Republicans, that they’re just tired of the way she’s voting.”

Crawford expects other candidates to emerge and said the victories of N.C. Sen. Steve Goss (D-45) and Rep. Cullie Tarleton (D-92) in what were considered Republican strongholds were signs that Democrats now had a chance, and welcomed the primary as an opportunity to highlight the positions of Foxx and how the party could offer alternatives.

The 5th District covers all or parts of 10 mountain counties, including Ashe and Watauga.