FRED SMITH GOVERNOR 2008 - "A Little Extra Effort" Statewide BBQ Tour
Monday, November 19, 2007...Alamance County! Ovations! What a way to reach Thanksgiving in our Extra Effort 100 County BBQ Tour. Our ride to Alamance was easy and we gave thanks for the rain as we traveled I-40. First stop - The Burlington Times News and a great interview for Fred with their editorial board. The publisher popped onto the RV for a look and we headed to lunch with Burlington business people; always a treat for Fred; he enjoys sharing "war stories" with fellow entrepreneurs. He addressed the needs of our state and offered concrete recommendations of how he will tackle them. By mid-afternoon we were in Graham visiting Sheriff Terry Johnson who toured Fred through the facilities and introduced him to staff and friends at the courthouse. While Fred attended a late afternoon appointment with a donor, we headed to Hawfields Middle School in Mebane. Would you believe we went via Caswell County - whoops! Yes, you really have to love the driver. We rushed to set up and thankfully two custodians helped us move tables and early guests helped set out literature. The tables filled up quickly and once again the attendance exceeded our expectations. Representative Cary Allred made the first introduction taking time to address several local issues and introduced Sheriff Johnson. The Sheriff said he doesn't vote lightly and doesn't support people just because they're "in the party." He'd been researching Fred and getting to know him for 18 months and Fred was his candidate for governor. Sheriff was so spontaneous and profusely passionate about Fred's abilities and commitment to North Carolina that I thought, "Wow, this guy has to introduce Fred at a convention." I wanted to go vote NOW! Fred's speech was energetic and spirited as he invited guests to dream with him of what a governor who is committed to the people of North Carolina could do. It's Fred's plan to do it! While applause is common during Fred's speeches, this crowd rose to their feet three times during Fred's presentation - first for the defense of marriage act. The last was a response to his comment "I'll work hard to help us elect a Republican governor." He reminded the folks of Alamance, as in every other county, that he cannot do it alone. It takes a team and Alamance is clearly a great "player" on Fred's team. I give thanks for all the people who see our candidate as we do - honest, hard-working, focused, concerned about the needs of our state and one who has put himself in the arena to change the management in Raleigh. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. God Bless!
IN THE NEWS
Smith brings gubernatorial campaign to Burlington
by Barry Smith, Burlington Times News
Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith on Monday said he hopes his campaign will draw a line in the sand.
Smith, a state senator from Johnston County, said one side would be the liberal Democrats who believe in more government, more taxes and more central planning.
"I want to clearly, unmistakably, boldly paint a picture on the other side of that line with what I believe is the strength of our state," Smith said. "And I believe the strength of our state is our people -- free, hard-working, risk-taking, self-reliant, God-loving, family-oriented people."
Government's role is to empower the people, protect the people and protect the values of our people, he said.
Smith spent the day campaigning in Alamance County. In addition to attending a homebuilders luncheon, he was to hold a campaign rally and barbecue Monday night at Hawfields Middle School.
Smith faces Salisbury attorney Bill Graham and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr for the Republican nomination for governor in next May's GOP primary.
He said his experience should give him the nod over his party rivals, including his experience as a military officer, farmer, attorney, businessman, county commissioner and state senator.
"I don't think being a governor is an entry-level position," Smith said.
If elected governor, Smith said he would work to change the culture at the Department of Transportation.
"The Department of Transportation is the poster child of what's wrong in Raleigh," Smith said. "The governor is in charge of the Department of Transportation. When you are the leader, you can't pass the buck."
Smith said a recent study found the DOT "inefficient, ineffective and unfocused." He said once he is able to get the department's focus in order, he would have leaders in place to carry out the DOT's mission.
He said he would urge the General Assembly to discontinue its annual $172-million transfer of Highway Trust Fund money into the general fund. He'd also tighten the state government budget by three-quarters of 1 percent and use it for transportation.
The two changes should produce enough money to issue up to $4 billion in highway construction bonds to go toward some immediate needs, Smith said.
Smith advocated putting controls on state spending by adopting a Taxpayer Protection Act, which would limit increases to growth in population plus inflation. He said the state should set priorities to meet the spending limits that such an act would require.
For example, he suggested combining the state's Smart Start and More at Four programs. He also suggested more efficiencies in the Medicaid program, looking at benefits covered under the program and trying to get a better handle on Medicaid fraud.
"There is no silver bullet," Smith said. "No one's going to go in and slash the state budget."
He said he's open to proposals to change the tax code, but doesn't believe that the state's budget problems are a result of too little taxes.
Smith said that the state should limit economic incentive deals by applying a three-pronged test:
1. Is it fair?
2. Does it make economic sense?
3. Is it a win-win situation?
He wants to see more discipline in the classroom to provide for a better learning environment. He suggested paying more for certain teaching specialties, such as science and math teachers, changing the state's testing program, having an enhanced career and technical school system and lifting the cap on the number of charter schools.
He also said the state needs to work with the community college system to meet needs and work better with home schools.
Smith wants to help every sheriff's department in the state get involved in immigration enforcement, require everyone who gets a driver's license to be in the state legally and require local institutes providing benefits to enforce federal immigration law.
Article by Barry Smith, Burlington Times News, published November 19, 2007, available online HERE.
