Retired Appeals Court Judge Doug McCullough (R): vote against power grabbing constitutional amendments to stop GOP’s court packing scheme
Judge Doug McCullough, a retired Republican judge who served on the NC Court of Appeals from 2001-2008 and 2010-2017, spoke out against constitutional amendments that would assist in the GOP’s court-packing scheme. He called the Republican legislature’s constitutional amendments a “blatant power grab” that would only further their scheme to court pack.
Below, Judge McCullough explains his story, describing his resume and his time on the NC Court of Appeals. While describing his time on the Court of Appeals, McCullough confirms that the NC GOP is trying to pack the courts.
North Carolina Legislator Profile Update: Rep. Scott Stone (R-Mecklenburg)
Scott Stone was appointed to House District 105 in May 2016 and won the election for the seat in November of the same year.He does not have any prior political experience, as he lost the race for Charlotte Mayor in both 2015 and 2011 and lost a race for Arlington County Board (VA) in 1996.
Stone is out-of-touch with his constituents. He added $287,000 worth of “housekeeping buildings” to his $459,500 home, meanwhile, he voted for bills that make it difficult for North Carolinians to get ahead. Stone blindly followed his party’s lead, voting to block an amendment that would have expanded Medicaid for several North Carolinians and voting in favor of several other bills that fail to protect working families in NC. He opposed raising the minimum wage and did not want to allow affordable housing near his south Charlotte neighborhood.
Despite boasting about the fact that he has children in the NC public school system, Stone has repeatedly voted for bills during his short time in office that fail to adequately fund public schools. He claims diversity in schools is a “politically driven issue” and opposes busing to increase diversity in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, claiming it is “not the answer.” Stone said, “the legislature is responsible for the education of students across the state,” but he has voted for Republican budgets that continue to fail NC’s education system.
Following the shooting in Parkland, FL, Stone followed his party’s lead and voted against amendments made by Democrats to a school safety bill that would have added gun-control restrictions. Stone prioritized gun rights over the safety of children at school. He once again proved he is out of touch with North Carolinians and will blindly follow the Republican party at any cost.
Click here for more about Stone's record.
Photo: WSOCTV
Read MoreNorth Carolina Legislator Profile Update: Rep. John Sauls (R-Harnett & Lee)
Rep. John Sauls is a Republican preacher representing House District 51. He served two terms from 2003-2006 and then retired, claiming to expand his congregation. However Sauls then retired from leading his congregation, handing over the pulpit to his higher-energy son, only to run for the NC House again in 2016. Since 2016 Sauls has served without distinction, sponsoring very few bills and missing many votes due to absences. He recently published Facebook ads listing the wrong district number and is known for being absent from floor votes and committee meetings. However, the votes he has been present for continue the Republican trend of prioritizing corporations and millionaires over the people in their districts.
Read on for more about Sauls’ record.
Photo: The Sanford Herald
Read MoreNorth Carolina Legislator Profile Update: Stephen Ross (R- Alamance)
Stephen Ross was first elected to public office in the early 1990s, serving on the Burlington City Council for 16 years. He went on to serve as Burlington’s mayor from 2003-2007, then won election to the NC House in 2012.
Read MoreNorth Carolina Legislator Profile Update: Debra Conrad (R-Forsyth)
Photo: Winston-Salem Journal Debra Conrad was on the Forsyth County Commission for 18 years and has been in office since 1994. While there, she caused tension between the County Commission and the school board. She repeatedly voted against funding more education, instead voting in favor of …
Read More19 unconstitutional laws passed under the cloud of a racial gerrymander
For five years now, Republican majorities in the North Carolina legislature have been elected under maps that have been found to violate the Constitutional rights of North Carolinians. The nation’s highest court – including a Justice appointed by President Donald Trump - found these legislators’ actions discriminatory yet they treat this news like another round of a child’s game. We have seen why fair and nondiscriminatory representation is important time and again.
Fourteen times, laws enacted by this unconstitutional General Assembly have been found unconstitutional. Laws that have rigged the system and earned North Carolina headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Whether it’s restricting women’s access to health care or the worst voter suppression law in the country, these unconscionable actions by the Republican led General Assembly have hurt every citizen of this state. In their decision striking down the voter suppression law, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called out North Carolina Republicans for targeting black voters “with almost surgical precision.” When will it end?
From the State Supreme Court to the Fourth Circuit and all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, courts have not been fooled by the actions of North Carolina Republicans who have enacted laws under the dark cloud of a racial gerrymander. The cases range from the drawing of district maps to coal ash to defunding Planned Parenthood to Elections and Ethics Reform, taking power away from the Governor. In each instance, the rulings have been clear that the partisan power grabs are wrong and they must end.
Campaign finance laws are a joke to the NC GOP
Chairman Robin Hayes’ recent comments indicate illegal campaign finance practices...again.
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North Carolina Legislator Profile Update: John Bradford (R-Mecklenburg)
John Bradford was first elected to the Cornelius Town Board in 2011. While there, he supported hiring a private contractor to operate and build I-77 toll lanes. However, when I-77 became a political liability after he was elected to the NCGA, he changed his position. This type of political “courage” is indicative of the rest of his political career.
Bradford repeatedly failed to protect North Carolina children and families while in the House. Bradford voted to block debate on several common sense gun law reforms, including a “red flag” law that would keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of domestic violence, rape or other violent crimes. Bradford failed to keep N.C. schools safe by blocking these amendments to a school safety bill that was criticized for not doing enough.
Bradford also failed give children the tools they need to succeed. Bradford said, “spending more in education will not magically solve the problems we are facing” despite years of failing to raise per student spending or teacher salaries to the national average.
Bradford pushed for laws that protect landlords like himself while putting every day North Carolinians at risk. Bradford is a property manager and owns Park Avenue Properties, which faced dozens of complaints according to Better Business Bureau, but still voted in favor of eviction practices that were deemed “unfair and deceptive”.
Bradford used his position in the House to protect himself and his own interests rather than helping the families in his district.
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