Butler event

draws GOP legislators
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Three members of U.S. Congress and two state legislators gathered to help raise funds for state Senate candidate Jerry Butler’s campaign on Saturday.

The legislators said Butler was a good candidate and portrayed District 45 as a Republican district whose people and views weren’t being represented by Sen. Steve Goss, the Democratic incumbent. Butler said he was ready to take the people’s views to Raleigh and further the goals of the party.

He said he’d been deciding his legislative philosophy over the last year and a half and said, “When I get to Raleigh, I will not support legislation that encourages irresponsible behavior.”

Butler also said decisions should be made by looking forward to the next decade and focusing on changes that meet the needs of families. He acknowledged it was tough to get people to work together for a campaign and said he wanted to build relationships and show his values to supporters.

Butler said one of his goals was to be part of a Republican majority in the N.C. Senate, saying his district was Republican and other districts were winnable for Republicans.

He said it would cost about $10 million in total campaign funds for Republicans to achieve that goal. Butler also said he would fight against government intrusion in private lives.

N.C. Sen. Phil Berger (R-26) said the 45th District race was important because few districts had competitive races. Democrats currently hold a 31 to 19 advantage in the state Senate, with Republicans needing seven victories to achieve a majority. “This district is the most Republican district currently held by a Democrat,” he said. “It is a district a Republican should be holding.”

Berger said the upcoming races would be close, which made voter turnout and grassroots activism important. He also said fundraising was a critical element in success.

“The time is long gone when you can win a North Carolina Senate seat by paying the $207 filing fee,” he said.

Berger said state spending had ballooned and despite increased education spending, a third of students were dropping out before finishing high school. “That is a crime, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “More dollars is not the answer.”

Berger said Democratic education initiatives had failed and he advocated for the highest pay raises going to the most successful teachers instead of giving equal raises across the board. He also said North Carolina was losing out on industries and business because of having the highest taxes in the Southeast.

N.C. Sen. Bob Rucho (R-39) said, “We’re very excited about Jerry this year. This is a Republican district and Sen. Goss is not speaking for the people.”

He also said Republicans needed an election sweep to fight the “culture of corruption in Raleigh,” and said, “Ninety percent of the people are coming out to vote this year and we better get the lion’s share.”

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5) said, “It’s getting more and more difficult getting people to run for public office. We should be very grateful when we get good candidates like Jerry to run.”

Foxx also said U.S. House Democrats were “anti-American energy” and refused to hear Republican speeches on the energy issue. She also said the upcoming races were important because of the 2010 U.S. Census and the resulting redistricting, with boundaries usually controlled by the majority party.

“More than half the candidates are running without opponents,” she said. “Redistricting makes for non-competitive races. She also said Goss voted with the Democratic leadership and “that doesn’t represent the values of the people in this district.”

U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-6) welcomed the people at the dinner by saying, “What we do in Congress is insignificant compared to what you do,” praising them for launching businesses and creating jobs. He also said Democrats were better organized at unifying after a primary and supporting a single candidate.

Coble urged Republicans to support Butler, saying, “The primary is over and this is the guy who won it.” He also said the Republican Party could be the beneficiary “of scandals that haven’t involved Republicans.”

U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-7), who lives in Florida but owns a home in Blowing Rock, said he was glad to have the opportunity to help Republicans campaign in North Carolina, praising Coble and Foxx for their hard work in Congress. He said Foxx was a model of “representing people from our heart,” and also praised Butler’s energy and commitment.

The fundraising dinner was held at Hound Ears Clubhouse in Foscoe. Butler will face Goss in the November General Election.