ELPAC`ed up and ready to vote

The East Lincoln Political Action Committee has made its recommendations for candidates running for state and local offices.
For N.C. State House of Representatives, ELPAC is recommending Democrat Ken Fortenberry over Joe Kiser, the Republican incumbent.
“I think generally we felt we needed new blood in there,” said Judy Browne, chairwoman for ELPAC. “People have been unhappy for the lack of support of being unable to vote for incorporation.
“I think the day will come that any politician who does not support our right to vote will find themselves in the cold.”
For N.C. State Senate, ELPAC favored Jim Forrester over Rita McElwaine.
“We were just impressed with how organized he is,” Browne said. “He showed up to the interview with materials that are relevant to our community such as issues on route 16.”
Browne said choosing the school board candidates was very hard. The organization decided on George Smith for the inside city limits seat and Clifidean Bethea for at large.
“The school board frankly is the one of the most important organizations that the community can vote for since it affects how our children are educated, how the funds are spent, taxes and what school books will be used,” she said. “It is effecting everyone in their home at their kitchen table.”
Browne said the committee compared notes and chose the two they felt would best represent the community.
Choosing candidates for county commissioner was also difficult, Browne said.
“We had to select the best qualified and that is what we did,” she said.
ELPAC chose Tom Anderson, Marie Moore and Alex Patton.
“Tom Anderson is an excellent good leader,” Browne said.
She was also impressed with Moore.
“This lady is prepared,” Browne said. “She had all sorts of topics in her notebook that she could flip to. We were very impressed with her thoroughness.
“The commissioners will benefit with someone who has logical thinking.”
Patton was picked due to his good qualities.
“He will serve the community well,” she said.
ELPAC will be at the polls on Nov. 2 handing out pamphlets and will have signs on display.
Once the election is over, ELPAC will have a strategy meeting to determine what is next on the agenda.
“Everybody expects us to do something on incorporation but we have to weigh and consider how and if and when,” Browne said.
ELPAC will also monitor the canddiates that they have endorsed.
The committee will focus on issues such as zoning, how to grow the organization and how to raise funds.
“We would like to be able to go out and select a candidate and really support them,” Browne said.
She said many of the issues would not be problems if Denver were a town.
“A lot of things we want require us to be a town, the problem is how to do this,” Browne said. “Stay tuned.”
by Amy Wadsworth