Elections 2020: Republican party and candidates for primary

This story was co-written with Cameron Huffman, Kaitlyn Brown, Jonah Weston

Republican Party Primaries

Election day is rapidly approaching Jackson County. Before filling out a ballot, voters must become educated on the candidates running for office. Voters should know what their candidates stand for, what are their moral values and even their background information like where they went to school. Candidate profiles are significant to voters when making the decision to participate in the election.

Republican Candidates for U.S. Congress, District 11

Joseph Osborne

Information from his web page.

Osborne is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. He resides in Hickory, North Carolina and is the CEO of Authority Franchise Systems LLC, a company he founded in 2009. This is Osborne’s first campaign and describes himself as a Washington outsider.

Osborne’s positions:

Osborne’s three key messages of his campaign are pushing for a balanced budget, cutting the “growth-stifling” regulations in government, and supporting President Trump in advocating for lower taxes.

Osborne has made it clear that he is passionate about reducing the size of government and is pro-life, pro-gun, and pro-constitution.

Daniel Driscoll

Information from his web page.

Driscoll is running for election into the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. Driscoll is a businessman from Winston-Salem, NC and he is running for congress for the first time. Before Driscoll was a businessman, he served as a Cavalry Scout Platoon leader stationed in Iraq.

Driscoll’s positions:

Driscoll is a supporter of President Trump and sees national security as a high priority.

He also wants to lower taxes and create more job opportunities for all.

He is also a supporter of the second-amendment as someone who “wants to protect the sanctity of life.”

 

Vance Patterson

Information from his web page.

Patterson is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. Patterson is a self-proclaimed constitutional conservative from Missouri, but has been residing in Morganton, NC for the past 26 years. Patterson is an American manufacturing entrepreneur that has started 21 companies. Patterson finished second in the 2012 district 11 primary behind Mark Meadows with 23.6 percent of the vote. The pro-life candidate also has a background in education by teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford, UK.

Patterson’s positions:

If elected, Patterson would work towards higher pay for teachers, reducing the national debt, and working with President Trump’s agenda in congress.

Albert Wiley Jr.

Information from Ballotpedia.

Wiley Jr. is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. Wiley Jr. is a native of Atlantic Beach, NC and served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He is a consultant for radiation medicine, and has been involved in politics since the 1980s. Wiley has run seven political campaigns ranging from the NC Senate in 2002 and 2004 to Governor of Wisconsin in 1986.

Wiley Jr.’s positions:

The North Carolina native does not support government funding for the development of renewable energy.

“I may support a few limited ideas” for gun control, said Wiley Jr.

Wiley Jr.’s priorities include building the border wall, fighting the use of illegal drugs, and training citizens to do technical high paying jobs.

Charles Wallace Archerd (Chuck Archerd)

Information from his web page.

Archerd is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District.  His name is on the ballot for March 3, 2020 as a primary candidate. Life-long Republican, Archerd is a strong supporter of President Trump. He is a businessman and as he considers himself, a political outsider.

Archerd’s positions:

Archerd is passionate about issues including immigration and border security.

He is a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and a strong supporter of the second amendment.

Steven Fekete Jr.

Information from Ballotpedia.

Fekete Jr. is running for North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. Fekete Jr. is a resident of Lenoir, NC. He served in the U.S. Air Force, and later worked at UPS for 27 years until he broke his back, forcing him to resign. After recovering from his back injury, Fekete then got a culinary degree. He is a strong supporter of President Trump, and trusts in his agenda for the U.S.

Fekete Jr.’s positions:

As a Republican, Fekete Jr. believes in minimal government involvement when creating jobs and providing healthcare for the citizens.

Lynda Bennett

Information from her web page.

Bennett is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. Her name is on the ballot for March 3 as a primary candidate. Bennett obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire. Bennett spent 33 years in the real-estate industry alongside her husband Pat Bennett. She is an avid community volunteer. She received the 2019 Golden Elephant Award for volunteerism. Bennett is an active member of the Haywood County Republican Party, currently serving as Vice-chair of the organization. Bennett is also the Freedom Caucus candidate. She is the only candidate pledged to join the Freedom Caucus since day one.

Bennett’s positions:

Not only an active Republican, Bennett is also a strong supporter of President Trump.

Lynda will continue the work of Congressman Meadows in supporting the President and his America First Agenda.

 

Madison Cawthorn

Information from his web page.

Cawthorn is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent NC’s 11th Congressional District. A native to Western North Carolina, Cawthorn grew up in Hendersonville, NC. Cawthorn is the owner and CEO of a real estate investment company as well as a motivational speaker. He was also appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by Rep. Mark Meadows in 2014, but his plans were derailed after a car accident left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair at the age of 19.

Cawthorn’s positions:

Cawthorn is passionate about key issues including healthcare reform, border control and national security, preventing tax increases and citizen debt, as well as congress reform.

He is also a strong supporter of the second amendment.

Jim Davis

Information from his web page.

Davis is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. Davis is a resident of Franklin, NC where he has been an orthodontist for over 40 years. Davis is currently a member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing District 50. He assumed office on January 26, 2011 as an NC State senator, his current term will end on December 31, 2020. In his campaign, Davis has emphasized that he is the only elected official that is running for this position.

Davis’s positions:

Davis wants to focus on issues including political correctness, securing traditional conservative family values, protecting the citizens constitutional rights.

He wants to work to keep taxes and spending low, and creating new jobs.

Davis is a supporter of President Trump and supports the agenda he has for the U.S.

Dillon Gentry

Information from ballotpedia.org.

Gentry is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. Native resident of Banner Elk, NC Gentry is a former Marine squad leader and is currently a tactical shooting school manager and human resources technology consultant. Gentry received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in human learning/ training from the University of Kentucky. According to Asheville Citizen Times  “I fully acknowledge I do not have the traditional pedigree of a federal legislator, which is precisely why I am running,” said Gentry.

Gentry’s positions:

An issue that Gentry is passionate about is the regulation of social media.

“Regulation is necessary at times, especially when it comes to the wild west of social media, the new “digital public square,” said Gentry.

Wayne King

Information from his web page.

King is running for election to the U.S. House to represent North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. King has had much experience in the realm of politics. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff Congressman to Mark Meadows for seven years, and he is the former Vice-Chairman of the NC Republican Party. King has received endorsements from several county commissioners and sheriffs and also received endorsements from former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. Due to his experience, King feels that he has a “unique understanding of the district’s needs and the relationships necessary to meet them.”

King’s positions:

King is passionate about issues such as border control and national security and strong military protection.

He supports defending religious freedom and the right to life, as well as reducing wasteful government spending and creating more job opportunities.

Republican Candidates for U.S. House, District 119

Ron Mau

Information from his web page.

Mau is running for election to the North Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 119. Mau is a businessman, family man and an educator. He resides in Cullowhee, NC and is a Jackson County Commissioner, serving District 3 since Dec. 2016. Before he was a county commissioner, Mau served for four years on the Village of Forest Hills Council. He is also a former faculty member of Western Carolina University where he earned tenure. Prior to working at WCU, he was a geotechnical engineer for over 10 years.

Mau’s positions:

Mau believes in economic development. He wants to have an efficient government and fiscal responsibility. In a Smoky Mountain News  Mau said:  “We’ve got to make sure we’re competitive in the region to attract businesses and make it easy for entrepreneurs to create jobs, which is good for everybody.”

Another issue Mau is passionate about is education and he said that because of his background he will work to make education better.

Mike Clampitt

Information from Ballotpedia.

Clampitt is running for election to the North Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 119. He was initially a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives District 119, leaving office on December 31, 2018.
Clampitt has ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in 2014 and 2012. He earned his degree in fire science and technology from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in 1976, and has professional experience as a retired fire captain for the Charlotte Fire Department. He also has experience working as Asst. Sergeant at Arms for the General Assembly of North Carolina.

Republican Candidates for NC Senate District 50

Sarah Conway

Information from her web page.

Conway is running for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent District 50. Dr. Conway, a retired diagnostic radiologist, is a newcomer to politics with this being her first campaign. Conway moved to Highlands a year and a half ago primarily by the abundance of natural beauty and the lifestyle change it would offer.

Conway’s positions:

In a story for the local paper The Mountaineer, Conway said her top priorities are:  quality healthcare, the opioid crisis, and mental health.

“Right now I feel like a doctor would be perfect because of the opioid epidemic that we have,” she said. “If we had an agricultural crisis, I would love to see a seasoned farmer or perhaps an agricultural Ph.D. I have a theory — right person, right crisis, at the right time,” said Conway for The Smoky Mountain News.

Kevin Corbin

Information from his web site.

Corbin is currently serving as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 120. He assumed office on  January 1, 2017. His current term ends on December 31, 2020.He previously served on the Macon County Board of Commissioners.

Corbin’s positions:

As a legislator he’s been active in K-12 education and his stance on it is: replacing Common core; teachers deserve a better and more competitive pay, and all children should have access to a quality education. Corbin believes NC can put more money into the classroom and that teachers should not have to spend their personal funds for classroom material.

On taxes, Corbin, as a legislator, lowered the property taxes and promises to lower the Corporate and Individual income tax, “which will put more money in the pockets of the citizens and further strengthen our state economy.”
According to The Smoky Mountain News, Corbin has been among the most active North Carolina legislator in addressing the opioid epidemic through several bills that have clamped down on the number of pills that can be prescribed by physicians, as well as removing obstacles to needle exchange programs that help stop the spread of infectious diseases.