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Thursday, August 14, 2008 10:31 AM Democrats to rally at Silver Lake for 23rd year By Matt Shaw | Times Staff Writer Democratic candidates, supporters and party faithful will meet next month in Wilson for the annual Hot Air Fellowship. The event will be held Sept. 8 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Silver Lake Oyster Bar, N.C. 58, north of Wilson. Now in its 23rd year, the event always draws a slew of political officeholders and candidates, but in an election year, the turnout is expected to be even greater, said Chris Boykin, Democratic Party county chair. The party is inviting all the Democratic candidates running for federal, state and local office to come or send representatives, Boykin said. The event costs $30 per person at the door. Proceeds benefit the Wilson County Democratic Party. Environment award The Conservation Council of North Carolina named N.C. Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield its "Representative of the Year" at an event last month in Raleigh. The council selected the Wilson Democrat to acknowledge her long commitment and dedication to the environment and environmental justice issues, it said. In 2007, she proposed an amendment to a renewable energy bill that, if adopted, would have given preference to hog-to-energy systems that use cleaner technology. The amendment ultimately failed, but the council saluted her willingness to stand up to the powerful swine industry while advocating for cleaner energy technologies. Board president Nina Szlosberg said, "Jean Farmer-Butterfield is the ideal person to win this award because she doesn't consider herself an environmentalist, but year after year she earns high marks for her voting record because her passion for social justice is closely intertwined with protecting the environment." CCNC is a statewide lobbying organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing North Carolina's natural environment. Gop seeks to tie perdue to hudson The N.C. Republican Party is seeking copies of any communications between a former Wilson official and Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue. The party filed a public records request for any communication between Perdue and her staff and Boyce Alan Hudson, once Wilson's community development administrator and later Elm City town manager. Hudson was sentenced last week to three years in prison for soliciting and accepting a bribe to speed up a state-permitting process in 2005 when Hudson worked for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The party also asked for any letters or e-mails from or concerning Agri-Ethanol Products, the company Hudson agreed to help. Three individuals connected with the company -- Barry Lee Green, Ricky Wright and David Brady -- have contributed funds to Perdue's campaign for governor, the GOP charged. "A number of questions have been raised about Bev Perdue's involvement and relationship with those involved in the corruption that led to the conviction and sentencing of Boyce Allen Hudson," said executive director Chris McClure. "How does the lieutenant governor know these individuals? Why are they supporting her campaign?" |
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