Comic Roger “Rog” Bates of Raleigh will be on hand to bring laughter, and writer Les Roark of Shelby will be the speaker. Roark, author of “Getting America Back on Track,” formerly worked on the staffs of U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan and U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford.
In addition to a barbecue dinner and entertainment, Democrats will have an opportunity to meet and talk with local candidates.
The Northern Moore Democratic headquarters is in the former Robbins Mill building, where vice-presidential candidate John Edwards once worked, as did his father, Wallace Edwards. Hours for the rally are 6 until 8 p.m.
Clare Ruggles, Cynthia Reeves and Mary Alice Wicker are making arrangements for the rally.
Admission will be free; however, voluntary contributions will be accepted.
NO MAYOR — Reports that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuiliani would appear at a couple of Moore County Republican events Monday night had people excited earlier this week.
But it’s not going to happen, according to George W. Little.
U.S. Senate candidate Richard Burr, Republican congressman from the 5th District, will be honored at a fund-raiser Monday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Whispering Pines Country Club. He is also expected to stop for a brief visit at a GOP rally that begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Russell’s Seafood Restaurant in Southern Pines.
Rumors were out that Burr would bring Giuiliani with him. An earlier rumor said former President George Bush would be with him.
Little said local supporters of Burr and President George W. Bush did try to get either Giuiliani or the president’s father, or both, to make an appearance here, but tight scheduling does not permit either campaigner to stop in Moore County this time. Giuiliani made a broadly favorable impression with his response to the 9/11 attacks and is now popular on the campaign circuit. He often campaigns for President Bush in company with the first President Bush.
The fund-raiser at Whispering Pines costs $125 a person. The rally at Russell’s costs $10.
Little expects the event at Whispering Pines to be successful. Republicans raised more than $50,000 for the Patrick Ballantine campaign for governor during a Sept. 29 fund-raiser held at the home of George and Teena Little in Southern Pines.
An irony of that success is Little’s loss to Ballantine in the Republican primary for governor in July.
Of the six candidates in that race, Little said he got along with Ballantine best of all. Ballantine, whose home is in New Hanover County, is a former state senator who was minority leader when he resigned to concentrate on his gubernatorial campaign.
EUREKA — Democrats in Eureka Precinct have lined up drivers for voters needing rides to polling places on Nov. 2.
Rides are also available for voters wanting to take advantage of the early voting opportunity, known as one-stop no-excuse absentee voting. One-stop voting ends Oct. 30 at 1 p.m.
“Tell them the day and the time that you wish to vote and let them know if you use a walker or need other assistance,” said Betty Frye in a notice on behalf of the precinct.
Interested persons can call Frye at 949-2147 or Democratic headquarters in Southern Pines at 692-4774.
MORGAN — Republican Rep. Richard Morgan, co-speaker of the state House of Representatives, is among those legislators earning 100 percent scores from the Conservation Council of North Carolina.
The council, one of the state’s oldest environmental groups, this week released its scorecard for the 2004 session of the North Carolina General Assembly. The council grades legislators on the basis of votes on key environmental bills.
“The people of Moore County are fortunate to have a legislator of this caliber representing them in the General Assembly,” said Michael Nelson, director of governmental relations for the council. “Morgan has done an excellent job of balancing economic interests with environmental protections. He believes that North Carolina deserves both a strong economy and a healthy environment.”
Morgan is one of 32 legislators who earned 100 percent scores in the 2004 session. They include representatives and senators from both parties.
