2002 Endorsements & Results

Every election year, C-PAC will release our endorsements for pro-environmental candidates candidates for statewide offices and the NC General Assembly. These endorsements take the guesswork out of voting for candidates who will protect our clean air, clean water, and health. C-PAC staff and our volunteer committee members carefully evaluate every candidate for office based on a variety of criteria, including a candidate's responses to our written questionnaire, interviews, their environmental voting record and demonstrated leadership on environmental issues, and their commitment to improving environmental protection in North Carolina.

Below are C-PAC's results and endorsements for the 2002 elections.

For more information, contact Brownie Newman at newman@conservationcouncilnc.org.

FINAL CONSERVATION PAC RESULTS 2002

In a very challenging election year, CCNC's Conservation PAC made a notable impact on key contests across North Carolina.

Conservation PAC began 2002 by sending detailed environmental issue surveys to every candidate for the N.C. General Assembly. We evaluated their responses, reviewed the records of incumbents, and conferred with other conservation advocates in every region of our state. Based on this careful evaluation, we determined 72 candidates--25 for the Senate and 47 for the House-deserving of the CCNC Conservation PAC endorsement.

These endorsed candidates included 15 new faces along with 57 incumbents; and eight Republicans as well as 64 Democrats. In fact, nine of those newcomers were among the victors. They include several individuals who we believe will be not just environmental voters, but badly needed new environmental leaders-including one who we helped to a general election win of less than 100 votes!

Overall, of our endorsees, 57 won (20 Senate and 37 House) and will be among the decision-makers in the 2003 N.C. General Assembly. That's a powerful pro-conservation presence in Raleigh. It's a presence that will be sorely needed during the critical policy struggles we expect to see there over the next two years. Especially in view of the strong position of anti-environmental leaders in the U.S. Congress, state environmental protection programs will be more critical than ever.

Beyond mere endorsements, Conservation PAC was able to meet an ambitious goal of providing nearly $30,000 in direct candidate assistance. Most of those resources were concentrated in a few key contests involving conservation champions. Nine candidates received direct assistance of $1,000 or more.

In picking those targeted contests, CPAC didn't shy away from the tough races. Yet, even in this difficult year, four of those targeted races saw the pro-conservation candidate prevail: Rep. Jennifer Weiss (Wake), Sen. Steve Metcalf (Buncombe), Sen. Scott Thomas (Craven), and Sen. Eric Reeves (Wake).

Of those challenging contests, we're especially proud of our role in the inspiring victory of 100% pro-environment voter Eric Reeves. Conservation PAC provided substantial direct assistance, did an independent mailing to conservationists in his district, sponsored an event for Reeves campaign volunteers, recruited and led volunteers in door-to-door leafletting and canvassing, and more.

When the dust cleared from that one, conservation champion Eric Reeves had prevailed by fewer than 500 votes, successfully bucking an electoral tide which carried away many of his colleagues in the Senate.

Further, even in this year's unbelievably tough campaigns, three of the five targeted races that our candidates lost were decided by fewer than 300 votes apiece-in two cases, by fewer than 200 votes. All told, 2002's results demonstrate that clean air, water, and land are not only bedrock public concerns in our state, but also powerful issues at the ballot box.

CCNC's Conservation PAC has already started its preparation work to make an even greater positive impact on the 2004 state legislative elections in North Carolina.

GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS 2002

North Carolina State Senate:

• District 1 --Sen. Marc Basnight (D-Dare, Beaufort, Hyde, Currituck, Campden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan) WIN!
• District 2 --Sen. Scott Thomas (D-Craven, Carteret, Pamlico) WIN!
• District 11 --Sen. A.B. Swindell (D-Nash, Franklin, Vance) WIN!
• District 12 --Sen. Allen Wellons (D-Johnston, part Wayne)
• District 15 --Gerry Bowles (D-Wake)
• District 16 --Sen. Eric Reeves (D-Wake) WIN!
• District 18 --Sen. Wib Gulley (D-Person, Granville, Durham) WIN!
• District 19 --Sen. Tony Rand (D-Bladen, Cumberland) WIN!
• District 20 --Sen. Jeanne Lucas (D-Durham) WIN!
• District 21 --Sen. Larry Shaw (D-Cumberland) WIN!
• District 23 --Sen. Ellie Kinnaird (D-Orange, Chatham) WIN!
• District 25 --Sen. William Purcell (D-Stanly, Anson, Scotland, Richmond) WIN!
• District 27 --Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) WIN!
• District 28 --Katie Dorsett (D-Guilford) WIN!
• District 29 --Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph, Montgomery) WIN!
• District 30 --Sen. John Garwood (R-Stokes, Surry, Wilkes) WIN!
• District 31 --Sen. Ham Horton (R-Forsyth) WIN!
• District 32 --Sen. Linda Garrou (D-Forsyth) WIN!
• District 36 --Sen. Fletcher Harsell (R-Cabarrus, Rowan) WIN!
• District 37 --Sen. Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 38 --Sen. Charlie Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 40 --Sen. Fountain Odom (D-Mecklenburg)
• District 49 --Sen. Steve Metcalf (D-Buncombe) WIN!
• District 50 --Sen. Dan Robinson (D-Jackson, macon, Transylvania, Cherokee, Swain, Haywood, Clay, Graham)
  

North Carolina State House of Representatives:

• District 3 -- Rep. Alice Graham Underhill (D-Craven, Pamlico)
• District 7 -- Rep. John Hall (D-part Halifax and Nash) WIN!
• District 9 -- Rep. Marion McLawhorn (D-Pitt) WIN!
• District 11 --Rep. Phil Baddour (D-Wayne)
• District 12 --Rep. William Wainwright (D-Craven, Jones, Lenoir) WIN!
• District 14 --Dolores Jones Faison (D-Onslow)
• District 16 --Carolyn Justice (R-Pender, New Hanover) WIN!
• District 19 --Rep. Danny McComas (R-New Hanover) WIN!
• District 21 --Rep. Larry Bell (D-Wayne, Sampson, Duplin) WIN!
• District 23 --Rep. Joe Tolson (D-Edgecombe, Wilson) WIN!
• District 25 --Mary Alice Wells (D-Nash)
• District 29 --Rep. Paul Miller (D-Durham) WIN!
• District 30 --Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Durham) WIN!
• District 31 --Rep. H.M. Michaux (D-Durham) WIN!
• District 35 --Rep. Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake) WIN!
• District 38 --Deborah Ross (D-Wake) WIN!
• District 41 --Margaret Dickson (D-Harnett, Cumberland) WIN!
• District 43 --Rep. Mary McAllister (D-Cumberland) WIN!
• District 44 --Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland) WIN!
• District 45 --Rep. Alex Warner (D-Cumberland) WIN!
• District 46 --Rep. Douglas Yongue (D-Scotland, Robeson, Hoke) WIN!
• District 47 --Rep. Ronnie Sutton (D-Robeson, Hoke) WIN!
• District 48 --Rep. Donald Bonner (D-Robeson, Hoke, Scotland) WIN!
• District 49 --Lucy Allen (D-Franklin, Warren) WIN!
• District 54 --Rep. Joe Hackney (D-Chatham, Orange) WIN!
• District 55 --Rep. Gordon Allen (D-Person, Orange) WIN!
• District 56 --Rep. Verla Insko (D-Orange) WIN!
• District 57 --Rep. Joanne Bowie (R-Guilford) WIN!
• District 59 --Rep. Maggie Jeffus (D-Guilford) WIN!
• District 62 --Rep. Flossie Boyd-McIntyre (D-Guilford)
• District 63 --Alice Bordsen (D-Alamance) WIN!
• District 68 --Rep. Wayne Goodwin (D-Richmond, Stanly) WIN!
• District 70 --Max Melton (D-Union, Stanly)
• District 71 --Rep. Larry Womble (D-Forsyth)WIN!
• District 93 --Becky Johnson (D-Forsyth)
• District 99 --Rep. Drew Saunders (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 101 --Rep. Beverly Earle (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 102 --Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 106 --Rep. Martha Alexander (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 107 --Rep. Pete Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) WIN!
• District 109 --John Eaker (D-Gaston)
• District 114 --Rep. Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe) WIN!
• District 119 --Rep. Phil Haire (D-Jackson, Swain, Haywood, Macon) WIN!