GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS!
April 7, 2016
YOUTH FEATURE – TANNER GLENN!
THE FIRST “DOWNEASTER” WAS A HAPPY SUCCESS!
Eastern North Carolina Democrats drew attention to their part of the state by staging a
successful and productive “Downeaster” at the New Bern Convention Center on April 2nd.
In the picture above Secretary of State Elaine Marshall is giving the first address
at the Saturday night banquet. More than 140 Democrats enjoyed the event.
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin joined the dynamic leaders who organized the
Downeaster: NCDP First Vice Chair Zack Hawkins, 3rd District Chair Betsy Leech,
1st District Chair Senator Don Davis, and 7th District Chair Francisco Rivas-Diaz.
These leaders and many more eastern NC Democrats have been having conference calls and
meetings since last August to organize this event to rally Democrats in their part of the state.
Zack Hawkins was emcee of the Saturday night banquet.
7th District Candidate for Congress J. Wesley Casteen
3rd District Candidate for Congress
is on the right with Johnston County Chair Sharon
Castleberry and Nicholas Bowen of Brunswick County.
Our strong Agriculture
Candidate Walter Smith
David Hurst as he spoke
at the Banquet.
New Hanover Democratic leaders Stephanie Fetzer and Richard Poole
with Executive Council Member Sarah Anderson of Johnston County
Pitt County Democrats!
Five Democratic Men: On the left is NC Court of Appeals Candidate Judge Vince Rozier.
Next is State Party Secretary Melvin Williams.
In the center is Chad Dance of Plymouth High School who will be attending Trinity International
University in Illinois on a football scholarship this fall. He will major in Exercise Science.
Second from the right is 27 year-old D. Cole Phelps, Chairman of the Washington County Board of
Commissioners. Even though he has been a County Commissioner for four years,
Cole is still the youngest County Commissioner in the state.
On the right is Raequan Purvis who is a Senior at Plymouth High School. He will be attending
East Carolina University on a football scholarship this Fall. He is planning to major in History.
Cole has been a mentor for Chad and Raequan since they were in the ninth grade.
Enthusiastic Democrats: Carmen and Fountain Odum. Fountain is Dare County Party Chair.
State Party Chair Patsy Keever
Barbara and Brad Harrison of Craven County
Carteret County Democrats at the Downeaster!
Pender County Commissioner Primary
Winner Sheree Shepard and State Treasurer
Our Democratic Candidate for US Senate,
Deborah Ross, addressed the banquet.
Candidate Dan Blue III joined me in this picture.
Attorneys Abe Jones of Raleigh and John Arrowood of Charlotte
brought their NC Court of Appeals campaigns to the heart of Eastern North Carolina Saturday.
These two outstanding gentlemen are running for two separate positions.
Judge Rickye McCoy-Mitchell of Charlotte
Linda Coleman made a reasoned presentation
is winning new supporters every day in her race
showing why she will be a great Lt. Governor.
for the NC Court of Appeals .
These two pictures from the same banquet table include State Representative Candidate
Rodney Alexander and Don Hoss.
J. Wesley Casteen is stirring a lot of
Carolyn Bryan and Judge Rickye McCoy-Mitchell
excitement among 7th District Democrats.
with Onslow County Party Chair Michael Morgan
He is joined by Carolyn Bryan, 2
and his wife, Janet Morgan.
nd
Vice Chair
of the Third District Democratic Party.
YOUNG DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW STATE OFFICERS!
At their State Convention in Raleigh during the weekend of April 1-3, the Young Democrats of
North Carolina elected Timothy Webster of Greensville to be their new President! Timothy is
sitting second from the right on the first row. His email address is: [email protected].
He currently holds five positions in the Democratic Party at various levels.
Left to right the lineup of new State YD Officers in the front row are:
Western Regional Vice President – Khaetlyn Grindell
Executive Vice President – Ebony West
President – Timothy Webster
Secretary – Isaiah Fletcher
Left to right in the second row are:
Treasurer – Matt Hughes
Piedmont Regional Vice President – Dave Wils
National Committeeman – Colby Moore
Eastern Regional Vice President – Wes Tripp
Seven of these eight Officers have already starred in the YOUTH FEATURE of this newsletter! Be
on the lookout for an upcoming YOUTH FEATURE about Khaetlyn Grindell.
Not pictured in this picture is National Committeewoman Bekah Whilden.
NEW OFFICERS – COLLEGE DEMOCRATS OF NORTH CAROLINA!
The College Dems held their Convention in conjunction with the Young Dems and the Teen
Dems. The College Democrats elected this strong lineup of new Officers:
Membership Director – John Easterling, UNC-Greensboro
Political Director – Aron Johnson, UNC-Greensboro
Communications Director – Anderson Clayton, Appalachian State
PRESIDENT – EMILY LOVETTE, UNC-GREENSBORO
Vice President – Anniken Williams, East Carolina
Programming Director – Alaina Doyle, Appalachian State
State Council Chair – Drew Tawes, East Carolina
State Council Secretary – Lindsay Macchio, East Carolina
State Council Vice Chair – Stacy Partin, NC State
Development Director – Blaike Bibbs, North Carolina A&T
Five of these new Officers have already starred in the YOUTH FEATURE of this newsletter!
Blaike Bibbs has been featured many times in the “GOOD NEWS.” She is the granddaughter
of Anson County Democratic Party Chair Vancine Sturdivant. It’s hard to believe Blaike is already
in college!
NEW OFFICERS – NC TEEN DEMOCRATS!
At their big Raleigh Convention, the Teen Democrats of North Carolina elected these
outstanding high school Democrats to lead them:
Director of Fundraising – Jack Swanson, Freedom High School, Burke County
President – Ryan J. Golden, North Mecklenburg High School, Mecklenburg County
Vice President – Jake Morgan, Providence High School, Mecklenburg County
Director of Membership – Jarrett Patrick, Freedom High School, Burke County
Democratic leaders in every county are invited to send contact information for high school
students in your county to President Ryan Golden at: [email protected].
Three Presidents: In this picture new President Ryan Golden is joined by his predecessors,
Aron Johnson and John Easterling III. After getting their political careers off to a good start
as Teen Dems, Aron and John were elected to Officer positions in the College Dems last weekend.
The new Teen Dems Officers were joined by some of the Teen Dems delegates
at the Raleigh Convention last weekend.
New Vice President Jake Morgan (second from left) is a young man of many talents.
He has developed a new smart phone app which has great potential.
Director of Fundraising Jack Swanson enjoyed talking with our next Governor,
Attorney General Roy Cooper, at the Convention.
SENIOR DEMOCRATS CONVENTION!
APRIL 29 – 30, RALEIGH
Under the leadership of their beloved President, Matilda Phillips of Winston-Salem, the
Senior Democrats of North Carolina will hold their 38th Annual Convention on April 29-30 at the
newly renovated Marriott Crabree Valley in Raleigh.
They will have lots of activities going on and you can learn about them by going to
WWW.NCSENIORDEMOCRAT.COM
A big turnout is expected and President Phillips invites Democrats of all ages to come!
The Convention speakers will include:
Dr. Gene Nichol
Dr. Paul Luebke
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin
Rick Glazier of the NC Justice Center
All Democratic candidates are invited to come to the Senior Democrats Breakfast
on Saturday morning.
President Matilda Phillips continues to have a fascinating career in the Democratic Party.
She generates excitement and enthusiasm everywhere she goes.
Did you know this? Matilda previously lived in Randolph County where
she was the last Democrat elected to serve as a Randolph County Commissioner!
SUSAN OLLER HOSTS A RECEPTION FOR ELAINE MARSHALL!
Susan Oller graciously hosted a fundraising reception for Secretary of State Elaine Marshall
at her elegant Raleigh home on April 5th. Many speakers saluted Elaine as the best Secretary of
State in America.
Joining Elaine in the picture above are NC Court of Appeals Candidate Judge Vince Rozier,
State Democratic Party Chair Patsy Keever, hostess Susan Oller, Wake County Commissioner Matt
Calabria, and State Supreme Court Candidate Judge Mike Morgan.
Former Wake County District Attorney
Colon Willoughby with Elaine
Susan with popular Wake County Soil and Water
Board Member Jenna Wadsworth
The pictures for this article were taken by State Representative Duane Hall.
Elaine spoke to the guests from the stairs of Susan Oller’s home.
Cathy Wilson, Doug Sutton, and Ronnie Condrey
Walter Smith, our strong candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture is everywhere
these days. Here he is talking with Ronnie Condrey and Susan Oller.
NC DEMOCRATS ON EASTER WEEKEND!
Sarah and Dan Crawford of Raleigh
with their daughters
State Senate Candidate Dannie Montgomery
of Anson County with her grandson
With Their Easter Bunnies:
Jacob Verdejo of Raleigh – Violet Crespo of Randolph County
Cumberland County Commissioner
Jacques The Wonder Dog with Bunny ears
Charles Evans with the Easter Bunny
Jacques is the pride and joy of
AAPI Caucus President Dr. Grace Galloway
Joseph Earl Levy with a big bunny. He is the son of NCDP 2 nd Vice Chair Veleria Levy.
Jenna Fontaine of Brunswick County
entitled this picture
Jackson Goodwin at the
Marble Kids Museum in Raleigh
“Democratic Diversity At Easter!”
The grandchildren of 13th Congressional District Chair Doug Berger
hunting for Easter eggs!
YOUTH FEATURE:
TANNER GLENN IN BOSTON!
Tanner Glenn continues to “stay on the go.” On April 1st he participated in the “Senator-InTraining” program of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate.
This Boston institute is located next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and
Museum. It has a room which is a life size replica of the US Senate chamber in Washington.
Tanner’s arm is resting on the North Carolina column at the Institute.
Tanner tries to enroll in every educationally enriching experience he can find – no matter
where it is located. Despite all his travels, Tanner continues to make good grades at UNC-Chapel
Hill.
Your Democratic Friend,
Melvin Williams, Secretary
North Carolina Democratic Party
Send Your GOOD NEWS To Me At: [email protected]