2/9/06 Kan
Gail Young
Media Report
Draft
June 15, 2020
Part I Introduction
This report reviews electronically available news stories on Patricia Gail Young, candidate for the NC House.
The Table of Contents in Part II of the report is a useful guide to the entire report and can be used as a stand-alone summary. In one section, it surveys the bulk of the news file, through the headlines we have assigned to each item.
Part III, the Greatest Hits section, identifies key points taken from available media articles.
Parts IV, The News File, contain edited copies of the most relevant electronically available stories.
We hope you find this useful.
Part II Table of Contents
Part I Introduction 2
Part II Table of Contents 2
Part III Young - Greatest Hits from Media Review 3
Background 3
Activist 4
Indivisible Concord 4
“40 Years a Republican” Claim 5
Citizens For Action NC 6
2018 Campaign 7
2020 Campaign 10
Part IV Young – The News File, 2017-20 11
2017 11
FEB 2017 Organizes Pro-Obamacare Protest 11
MAR 2017 Letter to Editor Rips GOP Health Plan 13
MAY 2017 Calls GOP Members “Cowards” 13
JUN 2017 Calls Herself “Republican” in Letter to Editor 14
JUN 2017 Denies Threatening Hudson’s Family With Mock Funeral 14
JUL 2017 Ripping Hudson Again 15
JUL 2017 Calls Herself a Republican For 40 Years 15
AUG 2017 Again Claims Being Republican For 40 Years 16
SEP 2017 Protesting Gerrymandering 16
OCT 2017 Father Obituary 18
OCT 2017 Gerrymandering Protest 18
DEC 2017 Running For State House 18
2018 21
JAN 2018 Protesting Redistricting March 21
FEB 2018 Press Report Again Implies Former “Republican” 23
APR 2018 Three Candidates in Primary 24
MAY 2018 Wins Primary By 21 Votes 27
SEP 2018 State Employees Association Endorsement 31
OCT 2018 Educators Endorsement 31
OCT 2018 Candidate Questionnaire 32
NOV 2018 Overview of Race 34
NOV 2018 Loses Election 36
NOV 2018 Vote Breakdown 37
2019 39
JUN 2019 Running Again 39
JUL 2019 Outraising Pitman 40
Part III Young - Greatest Hits from Media Review
Background
A summary from when she declared her candidacy.
• Young is a native of North Carolina residing in Concord. She brings experience from her former career in Mecklenburg County local government and now as a consultant with Roger Schwarz & Associates; a company providing leadership and team development to international companies and federal government agencies. She holds a BA in Psychology from UNCC and an MEd in Education from the University of Arkansas. Young is also the director of Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization focused on educating and empowering local residents to engage with their state elected officials on issues like redistricting reform, equal protection, and healthcare. (Independent-Tribune, 2/19/18)
From a questionnaire, later in the 2018 campaign.
• I was born and raised in North Carolina. I love my state and chose to make my home in Concord twenty-eight years ago. I grew up in a working-class family and with a mother who knew how to stretch a dollar. We were fortunate in live in a time when our family of six could get by on my father’s salary alone. Dad was a Korean war veteran and Presbyterian elder who raised us to love God and our country. Mom is the rock of our family and instilled in us the importance of giving back to our community. Thanks to an excellent public-school system, I was the first woman in my family to graduate college; and go on to earn a masters’ degree. I built a career in Mecklenburg County and gained skills in budgeting and financial management as the Division Director for Land Use and Environmental Services Agency. Currently as a consultant, I teach leaders and executives a values-based leadership approach. I am a member of Crossroads Methodist Church. Over the years, I volunteered for Hospice, the Arts Council, Old Courthouse Theatre, Cabarrus Art Guild, Red Cross, and Present Age Ministries (a human trafficking non-profit). (Independent-Tribune, 10/22/18)
Her father, Henry Allen Young, died in 2017. His obituary clarifies the full immediate family details. (Young has never been married).
• Henry Allen Young, 85, of Pleasant Garden, passed away October 5 at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro. He is survived by his wife Mary and four children: Gail Young of Concord, Sarah Phillips of Virginia Beach, Paul and Joe Young of Pleasant Garden. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Anna and Alyssa Young, Emily Nguyen, Alyson, Audrey and Daniel Phillips. (Greensboro News and Record, 10/7/17)
Activist
Indivisible Concord
Young emerged as a political activist in early 2017, first with a group called “Indivisible Concord” aimed at organizing protests to defend Obamacare. The organization frequently targeted US Rep. Richard Hudson for harassment on this subject as alternatives to Obamacare were being drawn up in Congress. It was described as “non-partisan” when it was clearly from the outset a “Resist Trump” group.
• Concerned citizens wearing hearts and carrying signs that said “Have a heart. Stand up for the poor and elderly. Support ACA” and “Patients over Politics” gathered outside Rep. Richard Hudson’s office recently in hopes that the congressman would hear their opinion on the Affordable Care Act. The protest, which drew out about 30 people and was held on Valentine’s Day, was organized by Indivisible Concord, a non-partisan group that fights for Civil Rights for all people……
• Indivisible Concord was started a few weeks ago by Gail Young, who decided to organize the group after the election of President Donald Trump. “I became really concerned about what I heard in the rhetoric of the campaign and minimization of other people. And I’m really concerned that if we are silent now, then we are actually complicit in what goes on,” Young said. “So we aren’t going to be silent. We are going to be loud.”
• Indivisible Concord is a chapter of a larger, national Indivisible movement. Activists across the country are coalescing around the Indivisible Guide, a how-to manual written by ex-Democratic aids and modeled after tactics that helped the tea party block President Barack Obama’s agenda.
• The Indivisible Guide is “a practical guide for resisting the Trump agenda” where former congressional staffers reveal best practices for making Congress listen.
• “I think there are a lot of people that are concerned about their current administration and the direction it is going,” Young said. “This is only week three of our existence. We started with a few of my friends and about 12 people and we are up to almost 80. It keeps growing rather rapidly.” (Independent Times, 2/21/17)
This led to the frequent harassing of Rep. Hudson. Rep. Hudson at one point was concerned after a “mock funeral” was being held for him, that there was a threat on his family, which Young vehemently denied in a letter to the editor.
• Indivisible Concord held a mock funeral procession outside Hudson’s office for his political career. This is a fact. But someone told Mr. Hudson that we threatened his family. That is a lie.
• I do understand why he was upset as I too would be furious if someone threatened my family. I do not know why anyone would say such a thing and I am sorry for the angst that caused him. I suggest he check his inner circle.
• I know no one in my group threatened his family - in part because of who we are and in part because no one in my group has developed any relationships with his staff - despite close to 100 requests for meetings, some personal, some as a small group, a formal petition mailed to the DC office and an attempt by groups throughout his district to hold one district wide town hall. Most requests were ignored. A few were told that they would take down our name and get back with us.
• Please let me be clear: We held the mock funeral two days after Trumpcare was passed in the House, with no discussion, with no analysis by the budget office, and with a celebration at the White House. Thousands of North Carolinians from communities decimated by loss of textile mills and furniture factories are negatively affected by the bill he voted for and celebrated before the impact was assessed. It was indeed our hope that his political career will end with the 2018 election. (Salisbury Post, 6/25/17)
“40 Years a Republican” Claim
One thing that needs to be checked since it goes to the issue of Young’s overall credibility is that on numerous occasions in 2017, she claimed to be a Republican and had been one for forty years. Background research on her voting registration history indicates this may not be true. Here are the quotes where she specifically makes that assertion.
• According to Tatum Gibson, Mr. Hudson has been very accessible to hundreds of constituents with “three open houses, multiple telephone town halls with tens of thousands of constituents.” Wish I could fact check that. As a Republican, I am aware of his presence at Republican meetings, especially ones raising funds for his campaign. I get his newsletter and posts which focus on small business or base visits and photo ops with private-school children. I have not seen any forum that encouraged questions of his decisions or asked him to explain a vote. (Salisbury Post, 6/5/17)
• Where were Sens. Burr and Tillis? I have never witnessed the like of this in my 40 years as a Republican. We, the people, don’t have representatives. I could not believe that our senators lack the courage or the conviction to stand up for their constituents. They said we need a better health care plan and they have offered nothing. At least be honest. But no, they were willing to vote in a “simple repeal” when senators admitted it was a fraudulent bill. (Salisbury Post, 7/31/17)
• Something is seriously wrong with the Republican Party. And before you think disgruntled liberal, I have been Republican for 40 years. The Senate almost passed a bad bill just to say they had repealed Obamacare. They admitted it was bad. They expected us to think they could solve the problems with health care in two weeks. Something they have not accomplished in the past four months or the previous seven years. Senators Burr and Tillis voted for this insane plan which could have negatively affected millions of North Carolinians. So far the plans floated out by Republicans would have devastating effects to the rural areas of North Carolina. (Fayetteville Observer, 8/4/17)
When she announced her candidacy for the State House, she did not fall back on the “forty years a Republican” claim but only that she had been a registered one in 2016.
• Although a registered Republican at the time, Young became active in politics by campaigning for Gov. Roy Cooper in the 2016 election believing his progressive platform would bring balance back to the state. “Our elected leaders’ job is to meet the needs of the community; to put the people first,” Young said. But, what she saw following the Governor’s election was an immediate string of attempts by the legislature to strip powers away from the executive branch. “We the people had spoken, and the Republican legislature tried to override our voice,” Young said. (Independent Tribune, 2/19/18)
There is no indication that claims of being a “disaffected Republican” were used during her actual campaign.
Citizens For Action NC
After the Obamacare repeal effort failed, Young turned her attention to the issue of gerrymandering with a new group, Citizens For Action NC.
• On Oct. 4, a handful of Cabarrus County residents joined more than 100 activists from across the state to march through the streets of Raleigh with tape over their mouths to protest the General Assembly’s recent redistricting law, Bill 717. The march, titled Stolen Votes and Silenced Voices, was organized by Citizens for Action NC, a grassroots organization based in Cabarrus County.
• “It’s unacceptable for party and power to perpetuate itself and eliminate opposing views,” Gail Young, a Concord resident and director of Citizens for Action NC, said. “That, friends, is not democracy; that is corruption.” (Independent Tribune, 10/17/17)
After a January march, Young was willing to acknowledge that Democrats had been guilty of it in the past.
• Braving frigid temperatures and high winds, dozens of protestors marched through the streets of Uptown Charlotte, united in their silence and in their stance against state gerrymandering. Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization based out of Cabarrus County, organized the march Thursday, Jan. 4, just days before the General Assembly went back into session. The goal was to shine attention—both public and politician—on the way gerrymandering can silence voters, suppress turnout and even lead to civic inaction.
• “We believe one voice should equal one vote,” Gail Young, Concord resident and director of Citizens for Action NC, said. “Gerrymandering makes you, if you’re in a gerrymandered district, makes your voice essentially less than that, a fraction of that.”
• Citizens in Action NC has organized efforts against gerrymandering over the past several months. The group held a march in Raleigh back in October protesting redistricting of the court system, and several Concord-based members appealed to the Cabarrus County commissioners for support at a meeting last fall.
• Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate district lines to essentially split a particular group across several areas and dilute their voting power, giving advantage to a different group—typically the party of the person in power.
• “We are pushing back against voter suppression efforts,” Young said. “Gerrymandering is one of those. It either places people in districts or divides them from districts in order to provide a Republican advantage.”
• That doesn’t mean Democrats are innocent of the act, Young said. In fact, the extreme redistricting practice has been around in North Carolina since the 1880s with both parties leading the charge. The point is, Young said, that it doesn’t matter which party is in power—no one should be allowed to redraw districts for their own political advantage.
• “We really need to prevent gerrymandering by any party,” she said. “We need a non-partisan approach to prevent gerrymandering. I think one party in control of everything would be corrupt. It needs to be balanced in order for it to work.”
• Citizens in Action would like to see a bipartisan effort to redraw districts based on data, and then only when needed. “To draw districts that are competitive,” Young said. “We believe it benefits the voters most when you can hold your representatives accountable and when representatives have to compete over ideas and policy that voters can assess what is in your best interest.” (Independent-Tribune, 1/12/18)
2018 Campaign
Young narrowly won a three way primary contest by 21 votes.
• It came down to the final precinct reporting in Cabarrus County on Tuesday night, but Gail Young held on for a 21-vote win over Senah Andrews in the Democratic primary for the newly drawn N.C. House District 83. Young captured 1,041 votes (43.6 percent) to Andrews’ 1,020 votes (42.8 percent) in the district that covers parts of Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Because of the close margin, Andrews can ask for a recount. Earle Schecter came in a distant third in the Democratic race with 324 votes.
• Young’s vote totals in Rowan County proved to be the difference. Here, she outpaced Andrews 123-65. In Cabarrus County (both women live in Concord), Andrews topped Young by a 955-918 spread.
• Young is a political newcomer from Concord and formerly a longtime human resources employee with Mecklenburg County. She has been director of Citizens in Action NC, which works to inform and empower residents to engage with state elected officials. (Salisbury Post, 5/9/18)
The local Independent Tribune gave her this questionnaire she responded to.
• Why are you the best candidate?
o I am uniquely qualified for House Representative based on my skills and experience, my passion, and my faith. Working in local government I managed budgets, financial reporting, and personnel. I increased government effectiveness through process management, saving the agency time and taxpayers money. I will bring a values-based leadership approach to the General Assembly – an approach that emphasizes transparency, accountability, and honesty with fellow representatives and my constituents. My passion comes from a belief that government belongs to all the people. The role of government is to protect individual freedoms, provide equity and economic opportunity, and maintain security whether that is physical safety of citizens or safeguards for our veterans and retirees. Government is owned equally by all of us through the process of voting and holding our representatives accountable. I am motivated to run in large part because of my faith. I believe God commands us to treat all people fairly and to do what is right and just.
o Voters will determine the best candidate based on what they want for our community. My goal is to better position our district to draw jobs in cutting edge and new technologies by advocating for infrastructure and a skilled workforce. I can’t do that alone and I have been meeting with elected officials and local leaders to fully understand the goals of each of the communities in this district, and to establish relationships where we can work together to achieve the future vision. In this district there are two cities, three towns, two counties, and three school boards. Each is unique and I see the House Representative as uniquely positioned to weave together the goals and aspirations of each, to make us stronger by supporting one another. I also want to stay connected to the people and what you need, so I commit to maintaining an office in the district so you don’t have to drive to Raleigh to talk with your representative.
o My faith is central to who I am and I try to follow Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Throughout scripture his directive to nations is to feed the poor, care for the orphan and elderly, and to treat immigrants with justice – remembering when we too were strangers in this land. All people are made in the image of God and we should treat each other with love, tolerance, and kindness.
• What are the major issues you will work on?
o I have spent this last year talking with voters throughout District 83, about the issues that affect us most. Many have told me they are tired of politicians who are more concerned with party politics and getting re-elected, rather than working to solve problems that impact our day-to-day lives. I see many of the systems we have created, work against the very people they were designed to help – and I want to change that. We need to get back to American Values and work together with respect and civility to tackle our shared problems.
o We need a strong education system to prepare our children for the jobs of the future. We need to pay our teachers professional salaries, that match the value of their worth to our community. What touched my heart, is the number of teachers who advocate for more resources and funding for their students, rather than more money for themselves. In Concord, we need the support from the General Assembly to build new schools and renovate existing ones. In Kannapolis and Rowan County, we need a trained workforce that attracts businesses to locate in our community.
o And we need to draw cutting edge jobs that will enable a working family to cover bills on a 40-hour a week job. The second highest area of concern is rising healthcare costs. The state needs to ensure healthcare is affordable and that people have access to the care they need. We need more transparency in healthcare costs and how our money is being spent, and accountability in the funding formulas. Lastly, we need to protect the integrity of our vote. Voting rights, and access to free and fair elections, is fundamental to our freedom. (Independent-Tribune, 10/22/18)
She lost the election by a 53 to 47% margin. This was the voting breakdown.
• The new 83rd District also brought another new face into Rowan County this election year: Rep. Larry Pittman, a 3.5-term Republican incumbent who previously represented North Carolina’s 82nd District in Cabarrus County. The newly drawn district contains portions of central, southern Rowan and central northern Cabarrus. In Rowan, it contains portions of the Blackwelder Park, Bostian Crossroads, China Grove, East Kannapolis, Landis and Sumner precincts and the entire Bostian School precinct.
• Conservative Pittman claimed all but one District 83 precinct. Sumner, which is split between District 83 and District 76, went to Democratic challenger Gail Young. Young claimed the Cabarrus portion of the 83rd District with 10 out of 19 precincts, capturing just over 51 percent of the vote.
• Overall, the race was the closest of all those for Rowan County North Carolina House seats. Pittman finished with just under 53 percent of the vote to Young’s 47 percent. (Salisbury Post, 11/11/18)
2020 Campaign
She is running against Pitman again who had to face a primary challenge, and who has been criticized for his social conservatism.
• Gail Young announced her 2020 campaign for North Carolina's 83rd House District candidacy for NC House District 83. Young, a career public servant, retired as a Division Director in the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency of Mecklenburg County after 28 years in local government. She continues to consultant. In 2018, Young ran a competitive race against four-term incumbent, Rep. Larry Pittman. Young is a Democrat and Pittman a Republican.
• "The failures of the majority in the Legislature that first led me to make the decision to run still remain," Young said. "Our educators have to take to the streets to demand resources; our rural hospitals are in jeopardy of closing; and hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians lack healthcare because, for political reasons, we are leaving federal Medicaid expansion money on the table. North Carolinians deserve leaders dedicated to building a better future for the residents of our state, not petty partisan games."
• Young said she will also continue to focus on the current and future growth needs of the district. "Parts of our district are experiencing significant growth, and I want to ensure everyone sees a stronger, better future ahead. All of us want good schools, jobs that will not only support a family but allow us to save and plan for the future. We shouldn't have to worry about how to pay for prescriptions or if a medical emergency will lead to bankruptcy."
• While discussing how she would be different from Rep. Pittman, Young pointed to his failure to address issues that directly impact residents of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, while focusing on controversial bills that go nowhere in Raleigh.
• "He has voted against bi-partisan bills that passed with near unanimous support; such as expanding Pre-K enrollment, a much-needed school construction bond, and establishing suicide risk prevention measures in public schools," Young said, "And he refused to sponsor the Kannapolis annexation, which would spur economic growth in connection to the Old Beatty Ford Road interchange."
• "The working families of Cabarrus and Rowan are tired of the political blame game. We saw last year that people are ready for a fresh conversation about how our state can get back to being tops in quality education, healthcare affordability, and economic prosperity for everyone, not just the wealthy elite," Young concluded. "I'm excited to begin this campaign and focus on those issues for the people of the 83rd District." (Independent Tribune, 6/14/19)
Part IV Young – The News File, 2017-20
2017
FEB 2017 Organizes Pro-Obamacare Protest
Concerned citizens wearing hearts and carrying signs that said “Have a heart. Stand up for the poor and elderly. Support ACA” and “Patients over Politics” gathered outside Rep. Richard Hudson’s office recently in hopes that the congressman would hear their opinion on the Affordable Care Act.
The protest, which drew out about 30 people and was held on Valentine’s Day, was organized by Indivisible Concord, a non-partisan group that fights for Civil Rights for all people.
Doshia James, one of the leaders of the Cabarrus chapter of Indivisible, said the goal was to let Hudson know constituents strongly oppose any repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The group also presented Hudson’s representatives with a petition asking him to schedule a Town Hall to give constituents the opportunity to speak with him publicly and address concerns.
“Today is a national day of action. All across America constituents are going to representatives’ offices to protest that we went them to save the Affordable Care Act. The Republicans in Congress have voted 60 times to dismantle this legislation in seven years. You would think their efforts could have been better spent to actually come up with a way to fix problems that are with the legislation,” James said. “We are here today letting Congressman Hudson know that we want him to save the ACA, fix it, don’t repeal it.”
Indivisible Concord was started a few weeks ago by Gail Young, who decided to organize the group after the election of President Donald Trump.
“I became really concerned about what I heard in the rhetoric of the campaign and minimization of other people. And I’m really concerned that if we are silent now, then we are actually complicit in what goes on,” Young said. “So we aren’t going to be silent. We are going to be loud.”
Indivisible Concord is a chapter of a larger, national Indivisible movement. Activists across the country are coalescing around the Indivisible Guide, a how-to manual written by ex-Democratic aids and modeled after tactics that helped the tea party block President Barack Obama’s agenda.
The Indivisible Guide is “a practical guide for resisting the Trump agenda” where former congressional staffers reveal best practices for making Congress listen.
“I think there are a lot of people that are concerned about their current administration and the direction it is going,” Young said. “This is only week three of our existence. We started with a few of my friends and about 12 people and we are up to almost 80. It keeps growing rather rapidly.”
As the protestors held up their signs, members of Hudson’s staff came out to meet them. They requested the constituent’s names and phone numbers so they could be contacted about future events and Town Halls.
But Young said the group wants to make sure the Town Hall is productive.
“We aren’t interested in having a free-for-all Town Hall. We want an organized Town Hall in which we can hear his position and his views and why he has taken certain stands and he can hear from us what our concerns are. And we can have that kind of dialogue that we need to have as his constituents with our representative,” Young said. “Because he represents all of us. Some of us are Republican and some of us are Democrats and some are Independents, and he represents all of us and should be willing to listen to all of us.”
James said the group has called Hudson’s office and talked to his staff every day, yet he continues to take actions that members don’t agree with.
“This (Indivisible Concord) is to reach out to congressmen and senators and let them know the policies we don’t agree with and the actions that we want them to take instead,” James said. “We want them to meet with us and know that we are out here and we are going to be voting based on the actions they take.”
In January, Hudson released the following statement after Congress passed a resoluation to pave the way for repealing and replacing Obamacare:
“Today’s vote is the beginning of the end of Obamacare. For nearly seven years, we’ve dealt with a government-knows-best health care system. It has increased health care costs, restricted access to quality care and put bureaucrats between us and our doctors. We need to put Americans back in control of their own health care. This is the first step to do that and pave the way for patient-centered, affordable health care,” Hudson said. “I recognize repealing Obamacare could be divisive, but why can’t the replacement be bipartisan? We’re going to do this in an open, thoughtful and transparent way- with input from both sides of the aisle, from doctors and patients, from insurance companies and businesses and most importantly, from the American people.”
Indivisible Concord hope to be those American people who get to give their input. Young, who is actually a Republican, said the group is focusing on the Affordable Care Act because changes could have a big impact on the poor and elderly.
“We are probably most concerned with the Affordable Care Act as the chief piece of legislation that we feel if the Congress does what they have promised to do, is in direct contradiction to what Trump said during his campaign in terms of helping people to stay covered,” Young said. “Part if his campaign promise is to make sure that everyone has insurance and yet, in all honesty, the Congress doesn’t necessarily hold that same opinion. It’s not perfect now and we want it to be better, so it’s okay to repeal and replace with better. But it’s not okay, never has been okay to repeal it and not have a plan.”
In response to the protest, Hudson’s spokeswoman and communications director Tatum Gibson said the Congressman welcomes all constituents to share their ideas and priorities.
“He will continue to listen to them, be accessible and work as hard as he can to represent our community,” Gibson said.
For more information about Indivisible Concord like its page on Facebook. (Independent Times, 2/21/17)
MAR 2017 Letter to Editor Rips GOP Health Plan
GOP health-care plan is no dream for many in NC
Rep. Richard Hudson recently expressed “his dream has come true” in the March 15 article “Rep. Hudson: GOP bill represents good health care reform.” He must not have analyzed the impact to his constituents based on the CBO report. His dream is many North Carolinians’ nightmare. Projections say premiums will increase, tax credits will decrease, and the impact is hardest on the poor and elderly. As a result of the bill, you get more choice. But since you can’t afford the price, COB projects increases in uninsured in every age group.
One report I reviewed identified North Carolina as the second hardest hit state by the changes. As a native of North Carolina, I need Representative Hudson to dream a bit less and talk to his constituents a lot more.
- Gail Young
Concord (Salisbury Post, 3/20/17)
MAY 2017 Calls GOP Members “Cowards”
At first, I thought our representatives (Hudson, Burr, Tills, Budd) didn’t believe we existed. Then I assumed they knew we existed and just hoped to outlast us. Now, it is quite obvious we are not going away and we are not paid protesters. So why are our requests for conversations with our representatives still being ignored?
Our North Carolina representatives are afraid of us. They hide behind their “tele” town halls and their Facebook forums. They send us form letters or newsletters spinning truth in an effort to quiet our voices. They have us meet with their 20-something new hires in an attempt to placate us. The truth is that they are scared of us. They can’t bring themselves to meet with constituents who may have a different opinion or who may ask them to justify the position they hold.
Our elected officials are cowards. People who seek only the approval of others are not worthy opponents, they are cowards. People who have dubious motives that can’t withstand scrutiny are cowards. People who won’t meet with the very people they are pledged to represent are cowards.
Together we seem to terrify our elected officials. That is quite an achievement. FYI No longer am I addressing letters to the “honorable” representative. What an oxymoron!
- Gail Young
Concord (Salisbury Post, 5/7/17)
JUN 2017 Calls Herself “Republican” in Letter to Editor
In response to Josh Bergeron’s Political Notebook article, the Indivisible Groups within District 8 held a town hall in Pinehurst on Saturday with over 100 concerned citizens attending. Two doctors explained how Trumpcare would potentially affect North Carolinians. We heard from a potential challenger for District 8 representative and discussed initiatives to be implemented across the district.
Unfortunately, Mr. Hudson chose not to attend despite being invited by the leaders repeatedly and with offers to jointly design the event because we also wanted an orderly and productive event. We chose an area centrally located because in a newsletter he had explained that his district was too large to hold town halls, so we were making it easy for him. His office continued to postpone answering our request under the guise of difficulty scheduling. We were never turned down by his office but we learned his opinion in a comment to the Pilot (5/17) when he said “I don’t see what purpose that serves.”
According to Tatum Gibson, Mr Hudson has been very accessible to hundreds of constituents with “three open houses, multiple telephone town halls with tens of thousands of constituents.” Wish I could fact check that. As a Republican, I am aware of his presence at Republican meetings, especially ones raising funds for his campaign. I get his newsletter and posts which focus on small business or base visits and photo ops with private-school children. I have not seen any forum that encouraged questions of his decisions or asked him to explain a vote.
I may be a bit old school, but I think the Representative we send to Washington is accountable to the people at home. Not just those he expects to agree with him. Mr Hudson is pledged to do what is best for all North Carolinians. It feels like we have a professional politician, good at double speak and self-aggrandizement. How disappointing.
- Gail Young
Concord (Salisbury Post, 6/5/17)
JUN 2017 Denies Threatening Hudson’s Family With Mock Funeral
Indivisible Concord held a mock funeral procession outside Hudson’s office for his political career. This is a fact. But someone told Mr. Hudson that we threatened his family. That is a lie.
I do understand why he was upset as I too would be furious if someone threatened my family. I do not know why anyone would say such a thing and I am sorry for the angst that caused him. I suggest he check his inner circle.
I know no one in my group threatened his family - in part because of who we are and in part because no one in my group has developed any relationships with his staff - despite close to 100 requests for meetings, some personal, some as a small group, a formal petition mailed to the DC office and an attempt by groups throughout his district to hold one district wide town hall. Most requests were ignored. A few were told that they would take down our name and get back with us.
Please let me be clear: We held the mock funeral two days after Trumpcare was passed in the House, with no discussion, with no analysis by the budget office, and with a celebration at the White House. Thousands of North Carolinians from communities decimated by loss of textile mills and furniture factories are negatively affected by the bill he voted for and celebrated before the impact was assessed. It was indeed our hope that his political career will end with the 2018 election.
- Gail Young
Concord (Salisbury Post, 6/25/17)
JUL 2017 Ripping Hudson Again
Recently, four Indivisible groups tried to arrange a town hall with Richard Hudson in Southern Pines.
Mr. Hudson had stated in a newsletter that his district was too large to hold town halls. We attempted to accommodate him. In a response back to us examining why he would not attend, he inferred that Indivisible has a “mission to bring down the president.”
Please know that our local Indivisible groups do share a common mission, which is to educate citizens and oppose policies that we think are bad for the people of North Carolina (AHCA, for example.)
But Mr Hudson’s statement concerns me. Who does he work for? The president? Or the North Carolina people who put him in Washington? Whose interests is he looking out for?
Gail Young, Concord (Southern Pines Pilot, 7/1/17)
JUL 2017 Calls Herself a Republican For 40 Years
Where were Sens. Burr and Tillis? I have never witnessed the like of this in my 40 years as a Republican.
We, the people, don’t have representatives. I could not believe that our senators lack the courage or the conviction to stand up for their constituents. They said we need a better health care plan and they have offered nothing. At least be honest. But no, they were willing to vote in a “simple repeal” when senators admitted it was a fraudulent bill.
We were supposed to believe that they would pass this junk bill and then work in a committee to do in two weeks what they have been unable to do in seven years? Or even in the past four months? Millions of people in NC would have been affected by any of the proposals put forward so far.
It does not look like Burr and Tills are representing us. It looks like they are selling us out. Party loyalty is fine But not at our expense! Either step up or get out.
- Gail Young
Concord (Salisbury Post, 7/31/17)
AUG 2017 Again Claims Being Republican For 40 Years
Something is seriously wrong with the Republican Party. And before you think disgruntled liberal, I have been Republican for 40 years. The Senate almost passed a bad bill just to say they had repealed Obamacare. They admitted it was bad. They expected us to think they could solve the problems with health care in two weeks. Something they have not accomplished in the past four months or the previous seven years. Senators Burr and Tillis voted for this insane plan which could have negatively affected millions of North Carolinians. So far the plans floated out by Republicans would have devastating effects to the rural areas of North Carolina.
The Senate was going to trust the House to manage creating a bill. This is the same house (Representatives Hudson and Pittenger for us) who celebrated their plan at the White House before they even knew the impact. A bill that was later called cruel by the president. What on earth is happening? Loyalty to party is fine but not at the expense of the people who sent them to Washington. It is unacceptable to vote for something before they even know the impact it has on North Carolina. I think it is bad judgment and irresponsible behavior. No wonder they won't meet with constituents.
Gail Young, Concord (Fayetteville Observer, 8/4/17)
SEP 2017 Protesting Gerrymandering
With North Carolina in the spotlight for gerrymandering based on racial lines, a local nonpartisan group has appealed to commissioners for their support in advocating for an improved process for drawing state districts.
Concord-based residents of Citizens in Action NC took turns addressing the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners during the public comment section of the Monday, Sept. 18, regular meeting. They presented the board a sample resolution in support of redistricting reform and provided a list of signatures of those who condone the endeavor.
“I’m here to ask you to vote for a resolution urging our state legislature to reform our deeply flawed redistricting process, which I feel the way it’s currently set up undermines our fundamental democracy,” Doshia James, assistant director of Citizens in Action NC, said. “I really think it’s important. I’ve been giving up my weekends. I’m very passionate about this issue.”
Citizens in Action NC is a locally based nonpartisan civic organization that seeks to educate the public of their constitutional rights, advocate for equal protection and access to those rights and create a climate of respect and tolerance within the community.
Part of that mission involves promoting a more fair and equitable process for determining voting districts. Gerrymandering, which means changing district lines to favor one party or group over the other, is a political tradition going back generations. When it comes time for a state legislature to redraw the districts, the party in power has often done so to their advantage.
A recent court case determined that the North Carolina district plans drawn in 2011 were illegal and that Republican legislators used race to set the lines, according to a report by National Public Radio. The state is currently going through the process of redoing the district maps.
“The court said that the redistricting or that the gerrymandering was carried out with surgical precision to disenfranchise minorities from voting,” Monty Coggins, a member of Citizens in Action NC and Concord resident, said to commissioners at the September meeting. “And that’s a court finding. I am sure that you all do not stand for that. I see the inclusive nature of what’s going on in Cabarrus County, and I would love for you all to speak out to our legislators.”
Before coming to the board, the organization first went out into the community. Members knocked on doors and stopped people in the street, initiating conversations about gerrymandering in North Carolina.
“We took on this as a project, and we went around and talked to the constituents within your areas to find out how they felt about fair districting and if they understood gerrymandering and what that involved,” Gail Young, a Concord resident, said. “A good bit of them already knew the issue.”
Citizens in Action NC got more than 240 signatures from locals in support of a resolution from commissioners to the state General Assembly. They also asked residents to fill out cards for state legislators, which organization members delivered to Raleigh.
“I won’t say who, but one of our legislators said, and I’ll quote him, ‘The Democrats have been doing this for a long time, and now it’s the Republicans’ turns,’ ” Young said. “I was actually appalled by that comment. My mom taught me that two wrongs do not make a right, and it should be the citizens’ right to hold their public officials accountable for what they’re doing in the community.”
Citizens in Action NC has already approached the Concord City Council, which passed a resolution already, and plans to approach other municipalities in the county, as well. The resolution outlines a transparent and open-door redistricting process that allows for public dialogue and feedback. The group suggests the General Assembly establish an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process and pass legislation to do so.
The resolution goes on to say that the current process essentially allows legislators to pick their own constituents, split common communities and form districts that aren’t compact. One problem with that, the resolution said, is voters who think the election is already decided tend to not go to the polls, and representatives who have to compete for their seat might be more responsive to residents.
“Partisan gerrymandering has tremendously corrosive effects on our democratic system,” Samantha Stiehl of Concord, a member of Citizens in Action NC, said. “It is evident to the electorate that the system is rigged and therefore corrodes the voter’s faith in our elections. The near certainty of incumbent reelection in gerrymandered districts depresses voter turnout, discourages challengers from running, and it means that many elections are determined by a small percentage of voters in increasingly partisan primaries.”
Technology has advanced since the 2011 maps were drawn, Stiehl said, which will only make matters worse. But she said those in the General Assembly don’t seem to have a problem with it.
“Politicians struggle to defend this systematic election rigging,” she said. “In fact, a couple months ago when we went to Raleigh to meet with our General Assembly members, one of them told us he considered this ability to rig our electoral system the prize they got for winning the election. I find this deeply disturbing as I’ve always considered the prize that politicians get for winning an election is the privilege of serving and representing their constituents regardless of party.”
Backed by other Cabarrus County residents, Citizens in Action NC members told commissioners they hoped the elected officials would help advocate at the state level for change.
“Racial and partisan gerrymandering has had a very large impact on the voting rights of people in North Carolina,” Anna Roman of Concord, a member of Citizens in Action NC, said. “People have the right to vote, to have their voice heard regardless of party affiliation, and racial and partisan gerrymandering dilutes this right and more importantly their voice. We can no longer as citizens sit idly by and allow this to continue. We should be able to elect our officials and representatives who are public servants to the people and not have the office as a prize or grab for power. Our redistricting reform will ensure the citizens’ voice has been heard loud and clear.” (Independent Tribune, 9/28/17)
OCT 2017 Father Obituary
PLEASANT GARDEN Henry Allen Young, 85, of Pleasant Garden, passed away October 5 at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro. He is survived by his wife Mary and four children: Gail Young of Concord, Sarah Phillips of Virginia Beach, Paul and Joe Young of Pleasant Garden. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Anna and Alyssa Young, Emily Nguyen, Alyson, Audrey and Daniel Phillips. Please send any donations to Disabled American Veterans. Arrangements entrusted to Triad Cremation Society & Chapel, 2110 Veasley Street, Greensboro, NC 27407. (Greensboro News and Record, 10/7/17)
OCT 2017 Gerrymandering Protest
On Oct. 4, a handful of Cabarrus County residents joined more than 100 activists from across the state to march through the streets of Raleigh with tape over their mouths to protest the General Assembly’s recent redistricting law, Bill 717.
The march, titled Stolen Votes and Silenced Voices, was organized by Citizens for Action NC, a grassroots organization based in Cabarrus County.
“It’s unacceptable for party and power to perpetuate itself and eliminate opposing views,” Gail Young, a Concord resident and director of Citizens for Action NC, said. “That, friends, is not democracy; that is corruption.” (Independent Tribune, 10/17/17)
DEC 2017 Running For State House
In Concord, the 82nd district was redrawn so that its incumbent, Republican Rep. Larry Pittman, was put into a neighboring district. The new 82nd district is home to a different Republican incumbent, Rep. Linda Johnson.
Johnson could face Aimy Steele, an elementary school principal and former Spanish teacher who announced her candidacy Monday.
In Pittman’s new House District 83, he could face a challenger who also announced Monday, Gail Young.
Young is the leader of a liberal advocacy group called Citizens in Action NC that organizes protests in Cabarrus County. Young also worked for a long time for the Mecklenburg County government. (RNO, 12/11/17)
Gail Young, a local advocate for government reform and accountability and retired career public servant, announced her candidacy for North Carolina House of Representatives District 83.
Young is currently the director of Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization that works to inform and empower citizens to engage with their state elected officials on issues like redistricting reform, the state budget and healthcare.
”This campaign is about the needs of our community,” Young said. “The politicians in Raleigh are not listening to the people they represent. I have seen firsthand how frustrated people are after they met with their elected officials. Time and again I have heard that the elected officials don’t really listen and don’t care about the thoughts and priorities of their constituents. That must end.”
Young has worked in local government for many years, most recently serving as a Division Director of the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency in Mecklenburg County. During her time in local government, she said she learned that the government closest to the people typically governs the best. However, recent attempts by the state legislature to strip localities of their rights while also attempting to grab power from the executive and judicial branches pushed Young to run for elected office, she said.
Redistricting reform also played a large role in Young’s decision to run for the state House. She said she sees the legislature’s redistricting process as more an attempt to protect incumbents rather than an effort to protect the voice of the people of North Carolina.
”I don’t believe they redrew maps in a way that was fair,” she said. “They redrew maps in a way that could get them re-elected. The priority of our elected officials is winning elections instead of solving the problems we face here in North Carolina.”
Young is a native North Carolinian. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduate work at the University of Arkansas; and spent 28 years working in local government. She lives in Concord.
”I know that ‘we the people’ own our government, and I am running for office to help solve the problems facing our families and our communities�improving education, making healthcare more accessible for families, protecting our environment, and caring for our veterans,” Young said. “This is what our legislature should be focused on and these will be my priorities in the state House.” (Press Release, 12/12/17)
CONCORD –Gail Young, a local advocate for government reform and accountability and retired career public servant, announced her candidacy for North Carolina House of Representatives District 83.
Young is currently the director of Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization that works to inform and empower citizens to engage with their state elected officials on issues like redistricting reform, the state budget and healthcare.
“This campaign is about the needs of our community,” Young said. “The politicians in Raleigh are not listening to the people they represent. I have seen firsthand how frustrated people are after they met with their elected officials. Time and again I have heard that the elected officials don’t really listen and don’t care about the thoughts and priorities of their constituents. That must end.”
Young has worked in local government for many years, most recently serving as a Division Director of the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency in Mecklenburg County. During her time in local government, she said she learned that the government closest to the people typically governs the best. However, recent attempts by the state legislature to strip localities of their rights while also attempting to grab power from the executive and judicial branches pushed Young to run for elected office, she said.
Redistricting reform also played a large role in Young’s decision to run for the state House. She said she sees the legislature’s redistricting process as more an attempt to protect incumbents rather than an effort to protect the voice of the people of North Carolina.
“I don’t believe they redrew maps in a way that was fair,” she said. “They redrew maps in a way that could get them re-elected. The priority of our elected officials is winning elections instead of solving the problems we face here in North Carolina.”
Young is a native North Carolinian. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduate work at the University of Arkansas; and spent 28 years working in local government. She lives in Concord.
“I know that ‘we the people’ own our government, and I am running for office to help solve the problems facing our families and our communities—improving education, making healthcare more accessible for families, protecting our environment, and caring for our veterans,” Young said. “This is what our legislature should be focused on and these will be my priorities in the state House.” (Independent-Tribune, 12/11/17)
2018
JAN 2018 Protesting Redistricting March
A “silent march” protesting proposed judicial redistricting and changes to the way judges are seated was held in Charlotte on Thursday.
The march was a collaboration among Citizens in Action NC, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections, the North Carolina NAACP, Progress North Carolina, and the League of Women Voters Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
It was held a week before a special session of the General Assembly.
The proposed redistricting could cut Mecklenburg County into nine judicial districts. Lawmakers have also proposed a merit-based selection system for judges.
Protesters said the changes would move control of judicial choices into the hands of lawmakers rather than voters.
Some 42 people participated in the march, despite late-morning temperatures that hovered around 30 degrees.
Gail Young, director of Citizens in Action NC, said the march was an effort to speak out about legislators trying to “stack the deck in their favor.”
”We’re here today because we’re frustrated with what the General Assembly is trying to do to the judiciary system in North Carolina,” Young said. “ We’re trying to keep from having the death of democracy here in North Carolina.”
Protesters walked two by two from Romare Bearden Park to the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, where a news conference was held at noon.
Delores Hurt, president of the League of Women Voters Charlotte-Mecklenburg, called the proposed legislation “the General Assembly’s attack on an independent judiciary.”
”The goal is not to improve the condition of the judiciary of the state, but (to) destroy the pillar of the separation of powers we have long cherished in this country,” said Hurt.
Both Hurt and Young said the proposed changes are in response to recent rulings that blocked illegal actions and laws that would have hindered minority voters. Young said lawmakers are trying to rig the system in their favor.
”It’s kind of like ‘We can’t win the game, so let’s hire all the referees in our favor,’” said Young.
Other speakers at the news conference included retired District Court Judge Jane Harper; former District Judge Nancy Norelli and Corine Mack of the North Carolina NAACP; Jade X. Jackson, a Charlotte leader with the Rev. William Barber’s Poor People’s Campaign; and state Sen. Jeff Jackson, D-37.
Whether or not the General Assembly will address judicial redistricting in the special session that starts next Wednesday remains uncertain.
House Speaker Tim Moore said redistricting should take precedence over judicial reform and should be handled in the House on Wednesday.
The maps need to be settled upon before filing, which is slated for June after February primaries were canceled last October.
In contrast, Senate leader, Phil Berger, said that there is too much work to be done on redistricting maps for them to be considered next week. (Salisbury Post, 1/5/18)
Braving frigid temperatures and high winds, dozens of protestors marched through the streets of Uptown Charlotte, united in their silence and in their stance against state gerrymandering.
Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization based out of Cabarrus County, organized the march Thursday, Jan. 4, just days before the General Assembly went back into session. The goal was to shine attention—both public and politician—on the way gerrymandering can silence voters, suppress turnout and even lead to civic inaction.
“We believe one voice should equal one vote,” Gail Young, Concord resident and director of Citizens for Action NC, said. “Gerrymandering makes you, if you’re in a gerrymandered district, makes your voice essentially less than that, a fraction of that.”
Citizens in Action NC has organized efforts against gerrymandering over the past several months. The group held a march in Raleigh back in October protesting redistricting of the court system, and several Concord-based members appealed to the Cabarrus County commissioners for support at a meeting last fall.
Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate district lines to essentially split a particular group across several areas and dilute their voting power, giving advantage to a different group—typically the party of the person in power.
“We are pushing back against voter suppression efforts,” Young said. “Gerrymandering is one of those. It either places people in districts or divides them from districts in order to provide a Republican advantage.”
That doesn’t mean Democrats are innocent of the act, Young said. In fact, the extreme redistricting practice has been around in North Carolina since the 1880s with both parties leading the charge.
The point is, Young said, that it doesn’t matter which party is in power—no one should be allowed to redraw districts for their own political advantage.
“We really need to prevent gerrymandering by any party,” she said. “We need a non-partisan approach to prevent gerrymandering. I think one party in control of everything would be corrupt. It needs to be balanced in order for it to work.”
Citizens in Action would like to see a bipartisan effort to redraw districts based on data, and then only when needed.
“To draw districts that are competitive,” Young said. “We believe it benefits the voters most when you can hold your representatives accountable and when representatives have to compete over ideas and policy that voters can assess what is in your best interest.”
Recently the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that North Carolina’s Congressional districts are unconstitutional and must be redrawn before the next election. While Citizens in Action focuses mostly on state districts, the N.C. General Assembly does draw the federal districts, and Young said the decision is a step in the right direction.
“The reading of the court was that partisan bias in drawing districts is minimizing free speech,” she said. “I found that to be an interesting court case. The courts fortunately are the branch of government that holds things in check, and I think that to date the courts are working. My fear is if you can’t win in court, then let’s just change the justices and put in Republican justices that will support us. That’s what I fear is happening.”
But the people of North Carolina aren’t done speaking yet, Young said. Every time Citizens in Action holds a march, it gets the word out that the voters aren’t happy with the current status quo of gerrymandered districts. Young said one clear sign their message was spreading was the slogan from one handmade sign from their first march that read “North Carolina, we are better than this” has popped up in rallies all across the state.
“It’s showing me that other places in North Carolina people are standing up, speaking out and saying we are done with this,” she said. “No more.” (Independent-Tribune, 1/12/18)
FEB 2018 Press Report Again Implies Former “Republican”
Democrats Gail Young, Senah Andrews and Earl Sechter and Republicans Larry Pittman and Michael Anderson, are the candidates in the N.C. 83nd House District race.
The seat is currently held by Johnson, a long-time representative from Kannapolis. Filing continues through noon Feb. 28.
Young issued the following statement after filing to run for the 83nd House District:
Gail Young, a local advocate for government reform and accountability and retired/career public servant, filed Monday February 12 as a Democratic candidate for NC House District 83, which includes parts of south Rowan County.
“I never aspired or intended to run for political office,” Young said after her filing. “But looking at the legislation coming from Raleigh, I don’t see a positive, creative vision for our future. I see brazen attempts to grab power and push a partisan agenda that has a devastating impact to lower income citizens. North Carolinians deserve better.”
Although a registered Republican at the time, Young became active in politics by campaigning for Gov. Roy Cooper in the 2016 election believing his progressive platform would bring balance back to the state. “Our elected leaders’ job is to meet the needs of the community; to put the people first,” Young said. But, what she saw following the Governor’s election was an immediate string of attempts by the legislature to strip powers away from the executive branch. “We the people had spoken, and the Republican legislature tried to override our voice,” Young said.
“Our elected officials have prioritized their re-election over the needs of the community. I see a focus on maintaining one party’s control of government, rather than a commitment to solving issues.” Young stated. “We face systemic problems here in North Carolina that I don’t see our elected officials addressing,” Young said. “And whether we’re looking at policies in education, housing, employment, healthcare – you can’t band-aid the existing structures and expect to see marked improvements in people’s lives. It is time for fundamental change; it’s time to create something new and sustainable.” Young is committed to run to affect that change from within the General Assembly.
“We need a variety of experiences and perspectives to make sound decisions.” For Young, the best approach is typically born out of collaboration. “I think policies are best created by bringing people together - elected officials, local leaders, and affected community members,” she said. “You can’t solve problems by telling a community ‘here’s what I think your issue is, and here’s how we’re going to fix it.’ We have to welcome all people to the table and listen to those living with these issues day-in and day-out.”
Young is a native of North Carolina residing in Concord. She brings experience from her former career in Mecklenburg County local government and now as a consultant with Roger Schwarz & Associates; a company providing leadership and team development to international companies and federal government agencies. She holds a BA in Psychology from UNCC and an MEd in Education from the University of Arkansas. Young is also the director of Citizens in Action NC, a grassroots organization focused on educating and empowering local residents to engage with their state elected officials on issues like redistricting reform, equal protection, and healthcare. You can find out more about her candidacy at . (Independent Tribune, 2/19/18)
APR 2018 Three Candidates in Primary
In hopes to take advantage of a so-called “blue wave,” three Concord Democrats are running for the chance to represent the 83rd District in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Senah Andrews and Gail Young are making their first forays into public office, though Young brings with her 26 years of experience working for Mecklenburg County in human resources.
Earle Schecter, a North Carolina transplant from New York, has campaigned against incumbent Rep. Larry Pittman before.
Each approaches the seat with their own focuses and inspirations.
Senah Andrews
Andrews comes to the House race with a background in psychology and education. She has taught classes at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and owns her own psychology practice in Concord.
She said it’s her background in mental health that sets her apart from other candidates in the 83rd District.
”In serving some of the most vulnerable people in our community, I have spent countless hours listening to the issues that concern people the most,” said Andrews.
Those issues, she said, range from lack of a living wage to inadequate transportation to inadequate funding for health care.
”At some point, I realized I was working harder and harder every year and getting fewer results,” she said. “ I understood that I was going to have to be a part of a bigger picture and try to make some changes at a state level that might alleviate some of those barriers.”
Andrews said she sees three foundational areas that “make a community healthy and bright”: education, health care and jobs. She likened that to a three-legged stool: it’s going to topple over if one of these key areas is not addressed, she said.
This means she is not choosing one area of focus over the others, she said, because they’re all interconnected. She said high-quality education and health care attract new business to an area.
”We need to train and educate the community to be able to meet the needs of new companies,” she said. “There can’t be a mismatch of what we are prepared to go do in our jobs and what the new jobs that are coming in require.”
Outside this three-legged stool, Andrews voiced concern about gerrymandering. She said it would be one of the first things she addresses if elected, alongside health care and education.
”Everyone in the state, everyone in the country deserves to have a voice that gets heard,” said Andrews.
Earle Schecter
Making his third bid for public office, Schecter has faced Larry Pittman in the past two general elections.
Both were then campaigning in the 82nd District, with Schecter falling short by 19 percent of the vote in 2014 and just under 16 percent in 2016.
The former school counselor and truck stop owner said he sees a change in the proverbial tide this year.
”This year, I hope to win with the Democratic wave,” he said. “Two years ago, the Democrats didn’t come out to vote. People were turned off by Hillary Clinton.”
He said he was inspired to run after learning that Cabarrus County schools are not receiving as much state funding as other counties.
”That’s probably due to the political representatives that we have here,” he said.
Schecter said research led him to discover startling things about the Cabarrus County criminal justice system.
”It’s horrible,” he said. “We have people who have been in there a couple years who have never seen a judge. When I started finding these things out, I said I always like to try and change things.”
Across the state, Schecter said, he sees a need to raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid.
”(I)t’s so important that we get a grip with these problems in North Carolina,” said Schecter. “ If we get three more seats for Democrats, the General Assembly can turn over frivolous bills and dangerous bills that are arbitrarily denying people medical coverage.”
If elected, Schecter said his first steps would involve “mend(ing) the fences” between Cabarrus County and its representatives.
He wants to create a coalition of community leaders, he said.
”I want to immediately try to get people together, a philosophically different group so we can work to improve,” he said. “They all know what the problems are, but without the money from Raleigh, what are they going to do?”
Gail Young
For Young, community activism came naturally through life lessons and spiritual beliefs.
”(M)y parents taught me if you are not part of the solution, you are contributing to the problem,” she said. “My spiritual belief is we have a moral responsibility to help the poor, care for the elderly and the orphan, and welcome the immigrant into our land.”
Young has been director of Citizens in Action NC, a group working to inform and empower residents to engage with state elected officials.
”I believe government is the one thing we all collectively own,” she said. “Each of us doing our part can make government work, whether your part is to run for office, support your candidate of choice, or vote.”
She’s appealing to voters who “crave fundamental change, feel we need to address basic moral issues and desire to create a North Carolina based on shared values.”
Current representatives do little to uphold these values, she said.
”I think the current representative does a poor job representing all constituents of the district,” said Young. “We need a representative who works to ensure the district receives our share of state resources.”
In the 83rd District, Young stressed a need to address problems in public education, basic human rights, opioid addiction, and overt and systemic racism.
Statewide, she identified needs for comprehensive veterans’ support in the event of federal gaps and job growth following the business-discouraging passage of HB2.
At the forefront, she said, is the issue of gerrymandering - which she intends to address first if elected alongside public safety in gun laws and education equity.
”In order to be effective, representatives must demonstrate they put the people first,” said Young. “The first order of business should be to end gerrymandering. Both parties have tried to use this for partisan favor. That practice needs to end.” (Salisbury Post, 4/14/18)
MAY 2018 Wins Primary By 21 Votes
It came down to the final precinct reporting in Cabarrus County on Tuesday night, but Gail Young held on for a 21-vote win over Senah Andrews in the Democratic primary for the newly drawn N.C. House District 83.
Young captured 1,041 votes (43.6 percent) to Andrews’ 1,020 votes (42.8 percent) in the district that covers parts of Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Because of the close margin, Andrews can ask for a recount.
Earle Schecter came in a distant third in the Democratic race with 324 votes.
Young’s vote totals in Rowan County proved to be the difference. Here, she outpaced Andrews 123-65. In Cabarrus County (both women live in Concord), Andrews topped Young by a 955-918 spread.
Young is a political newcomer from Concord and formerly a longtime human resources employee with Mecklenburg County. She has been director of Citizens in Action NC, which works to inform and empower residents to engage with state elected officials.
Meanwhile, on the Republican side Tuesday, N.C. Rep. Larry Pittman, won convincingly over photographer Michael Anderson by a 2,590-1,481 margin. He garnered 63.6 percent of the GOP vote in the redrawn 83rd District.
”Very good,” Pittman said after the primary win. “Vindication is nice.”
Pittman said voters showed once again they would not be taken in by dirty campaigns of people who oppose him.
Pittman, a Presbyterian minister, said voters realized he is a man standing up for their rights and the Constitution.
”I had a clear message,” he said, adding that he rebutted claims he was ineffective in Raleigh by demonstrating all he had accomplished. “And people understood that.”
The newly drawn 83rd N.C. House District is dominated by Concord and Cabarrus County precincts, with a smattering of southern Rowan precincts thrown in. The previous 83rd House District was - and still is for the remainder of this year - represented by Rep. Linda P. Johnson, a nine-term member from Kannapolis.
She was placed in the redrawn 82nd District.
Of the new 83rd District’s 26 precincts, 19 lie in Cabarrus County, and 18 of those have Concord addresses. The other is part of Kannapolis.
In Rowan County, the district precincts include Bostian School and parts of Bostian Crossroads, Sumner, Blackwelder Park, China Grove, East Kannapolis and Landis.
In her campaign, Young said she was reaching out to voters who crave fundamental change, want to address basic moral issues and have a desire for a state based on shared values.
She spoke of taking on problems in public education, human rights, opioid addiction, and overt and systemic racism. She said she wants to address district gerrymandering, public safety in gun laws and education equity.
Andrews emphasized issues such as health care, education and job creation and said they are all connected. High quality education and health care attract new business, she said.
Andrews touted her background in mental health and education - she has a psychology practice in Concord and has taught classes at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - as setting her apart from Young and Schecter.
A New York transplant who has lived in Concord 10 years, Schecter ran twice previously against Pittman in the general election and was unsuccessful. He is a former counselor for at-risk students in high school and a onetime state probation officer in Florida. He also has been a truck stop owner.
Pittman often speaks about getting government out of the way of business. He calls for better education opportunities for children, better pay for law officers and improved mental health care.
Pittman touts his conservative credentials and speaks strongly for gun owner rights, property rights, lower taxes, offshore oil exploration and responsible government, while speaking against abortion, illegal immigration, taxpayer incentives to corporations, and aggressive municipal annexation.
One of his continuing tag lines in campaign materials is “Because the people matter.”
Pittman has characterized himself as a champion for removing wasteful and inappropriate spending from the state budget. He has advocated reducing and eliminating personal income taxes and corporate income taxes.
He said he also has supported every raise given to teachers over the past several years, as well as keeping teacher assistants. He has worked for enhanced gun rights for concealed-carry permit-holders.
Anderson, running for public office for the first time, has a photography business in Concord. He said Pittman was not a positive role model or influence in Raleigh. He touted incentives for small business and more funding for the arts.
Anderson also spoke for improving infrastructure, school funding, mental health funding and addressing unaffordable healthcare.
In 2016, Pittman was the sponsor of Sheyenne’s Law, which equalized boating-while-impaired infractions with driving while impaired when it causes death or serious injury.
Pittman was appointed to N.C. House District 82 in 2011 to fill a spot vacated by Rep. Jeff Barnhart. He has won election to that seat three times since then. But the redrawn 83rd House District is a new territory to conquer politically, though it’s still heavily Republican.
This new district, because it reaches into Rowan County as far north as China Grove, represents a lot more travel than his former district, “but those people were worth it,” Pittman said.
He has attended town board meetings in China Grove, Landis and Kannapolis during the primary season and plans to do so in Concord on Thursday. (Salisbury Post, 5/9/18)
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CONCORD— Republican Larry Pittman and Democrat Gail Young will now go on to face each other in the General Election in November after winning their respective NC House of Representatives District 83 primaries Tuesday evening.
Pittman, who was appointed to the NC House of Representatives in October 2011 after Jeff Barnhart resigned, has remained in that position for the past three elections.
In the Republican primary, Pittman was challenged by newcomer Michael Anderson who is well-known in the county as owner of Michael A. Anderson Photography located in downtown Concord. When all of the precincts reported, Pittman came out on top with 63.62 percent of the votes with 2,590 while Anderson received 36.38 percent with 1,481 votes.
In Cabarrus County, Pittman received 60.67 percent of the ballots and Anderson came in at 39.33 percent. Over in Rowan County, Pittman brought in 77.29 percent of the votes and Anderson got 22.71 percent.
Pittman has lived in Concord since 1990 and worked at Snyder Packaging for 14 years.
In a questionnaire submitted to The Independent Tribune, Pittman said he was the better candidate for this position because he is committed to upholding the North Carolina and United States Constitutions.
“I appreciate the people supporting me. One more time the people in this area have shown they don’t respond positively to dirty campaigning by my opponents,” Pittman said after the win.
While serving and leading up to the General Election, Pittman said he’s going to continue working to uphold citizen’s rights and the Constitution.
Young barely scraped by in the democratic primary race with 43.65 percent of the votes— 1,041 ballots—while competitor Senah Andrews got 1,020 ballots and came in at 42.77 percent.
Andrews actually received the most votes in Cabarrus County— with 43.91 percent—and Young received 42.21 percent. Broken down into actual votes, Andrews got 955 and Young received 918.
In Rowan County, Young received 123 total votes at 58.57 percent while Andrews was at 30.95 percent with 65 votes.
Young has lived in Concord for 28 years and has served as a Disaster Action Team member for the American Red Cross, helped with the annual Hospice fundraiser, volunteered and raised money for Kitty City, managed ushers at the Old Courthouse Theater and held smoking cessation classes for the American Cancer Society. She is the vice president of the Cabarrus Art Guild and educational advocate for Present Age Ministries.
When asked what the biggest issues are for this position, Young said there is a need to restore faith in state government and to listen to the people and create solutions to the real problems such as poverty, public education, healthcare and sentencing reform. (Independent-Tribune, 5/8/18)
SEP 2018 State Employees Association Endorsement
State Employees Association endorses Democratic candidate in N.C. House District 83
The State Employees Association of North Carolina has endorsed Democrat Gail Young in her bid to unseat a Republican incumbent in state House District 83.
The association’s political arm, Employees Political Action Committee, voted to endorse Young and recognized her Sept. 7 at its annual banquet in Greensboro.
Young is challenging Republican incumbent Larry Pittman in the Nov. 6 election.
Before beginning her campaign, Young devoted her career to public service and has long been an advocate for government reform and accountability, according to the association.
She says she understands the challenges facing state employees and retirees, including rising health care costs, job and retirement security, and the increased cost of living.
”SEANC has over 55,000 members in diverse roles from parole and corrections officers to school bus drivers and environmental specialists,” Young said. “I look forward to working with them on common goals to improve the lives and working conditions of employees across our state.”
Before retiring in 2014, Young had worked in government nearly 27 years. She was a division director in Mecklenburg County government, overseeing budgets and financial reporting for Land Use and Environmental Services.
Young also has been a management training instructor and local government retreat facilitator at the UNC School of Government. She currently is a professional consultant, providing leadership and team development for international companies and federal government agencies.
According to a news release, Young’s record, reputation and qualifications assured the committee that she would be a consistent advocate for state employees and retirees in the legislature.
”I am honored to receive the endorsement of the State Employees Association,” said Young. “As a state representative, I will champion policies to protect North Carolina residents who have devoted their lives and careers to serving the public.” (Salisbury Post, 9/24/18)
OCT 2018 Educators Endorsement
State Association of Educators endorses Gail Young
The North Carolina Association of Educators has endorsed Democrat Gail Young for N.C. House District 83, which includes southern portions of Rowan and central portions of Cabarrus counties. She will challenge Republican incumbent Larry Pittman in the Nov. 6 election.
Young is a native North Carolinian and a product of the public school and state university system. She has a record of supporting public schools and worked in local government advocating accountability and transparency.
In her campaign, Young said she is focused on the need for North Carolina to return to the days when quality education was a priority.
”Most of us grew up in a time when North Carolina was considered tops in education,” Young said in announcing the endorsement. “The foundational education I received helped me get to where I am today. I want to ensure every child in District 83, and across North Carolina, has access to the same opportunities I had.”
According to a news release, the selection committee based its endorsement on her career record of advocacy and government accountability. It endorses candidates who will work to fully restore education funding to North Carolina public schools, with organizational priorities including increasing per-pupil spending; strengthening accountability standards for charter and private schools receiving public funds; ensuring school safety by funding nurses and counselors to national recommendations; and retaining and recruiting quality teachers with pay that matches the value they provide our state.
”I am proud to have the endorsement and backing of the North Carolina Association of Educators. In the legislature, I will work to ensure every child has access to a quality public education,” Young said.
In her campaign, Young has said she wants to raise per-pupil spending from 39th in the nation so that students have needed textbooks and technology.
She also said she wants to bring teacher salaries to the national average and provide an appropriate level of school support personnel to ensure student safety and well-being.
Young said the teachers she has spoken with throughout the campaign are advocating not so much for themselves as for their students.
”Our educators are qualified, dedicated, and inspiring contributors to our community,” she said. “We entrust them with our most valuable resource, the future of our children. And since 2011, year after year, we require them to do more with fewer resources and less support.”
Young has an undergraduate in psychology from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and a master’s in education from the University of Arkansas. (Salisbury Post, 10/8/18)
OCT 2018 Candidate Questionnaire
Gail Young
Background:
I was born and raised in North Carolina. I love my state and chose to make my home in Concord twenty-eight years ago. I grew up in a working-class family and with a mother who knew how to stretch a dollar. We were fortunate in live in a time when our family of six could get by on my father’s salary alone. Dad was a Korean war veteran and Presbyterian elder who raised us to love God and our country. Mom is the rock of our family and instilled in us the importance of giving back to our community. Thanks to an excellent public-school system, I was the first woman in my family to graduate college; and go on to earn a masters’ degree. I built a career in Mecklenburg County and gained skills in budgeting and financial management as the Division Director for Land Use and Environmental Services Agency. Currently as a consultant, I teach leaders and executives a values-based leadership approach. I am a member of Crossroads Methodist Church. Over the years, I volunteered for Hospice, the Arts Council, Old Courthouse Theatre, Cabarrus Art Guild, Red Cross, and Present Age Ministries (a human trafficking non-profit).
Why are you the best candidate?
I am uniquely qualified for House Representative based on my skills and experience, my passion, and my faith. Working in local government I managed budgets, financial reporting, and personnel. I increased government effectiveness through process management, saving the agency time and taxpayers money. I will bring a values-based leadership approach to the General Assembly – an approach that emphasizes transparency, accountability, and honesty with fellow representatives and my constituents. My passion comes from a belief that government belongs to all the people. The role of government is to protect individual freedoms, provide equity and economic opportunity, and maintain security whether that is physical safety of citizens or safeguards for our veterans and retirees. Government is owned equally by all of us through the process of voting and holding our representatives accountable. I am motivated to run in large part because of my faith. I believe God commands us to treat all people fairly and to do what is right and just.
Voters will determine the best candidate based on what they want for our community. My goal is to better position our district to draw jobs in cutting edge and new technologies by advocating for infrastructure and a skilled workforce. I can’t do that alone and I have been meeting with elected officials and local leaders to fully understand the goals of each of the communities in this district, and to establish relationships where we can work together to achieve the future vision. In this district there are two cities, three towns, two counties, and three school boards. Each is unique and I see the House Representative as uniquely positioned to weave together the goals and aspirations of each, to make us stronger by supporting one another. I also want to stay connected to the people and what you need, so I commit to maintaining an office in the district so you don’t have to drive to Raleigh to talk with your representative.
My faith is central to who I am and I try to follow Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Throughout scripture his directive to nations is to feed the poor, care for the orphan and elderly, and to treat immigrants with justice – remembering when we too were strangers in this land. All people are made in the image of God and we should treat each other with love, tolerance, and kindness.
What are the major issues you will work on?
I have spent this last year talking with voters throughout District 83, about the issues that affect us most. Many have told me they are tired of politicians who are more concerned with party politics and getting re-elected, rather than working to solve problems that impact our day-to-day lives. I see many of the systems we have created, work against the very people they were designed to help – and I want to change that. We need to get back to American Values and work together with respect and civility to tackle our shared problems. We need a strong education system to prepare our children for the jobs of the future. We need to pay our teachers professional salaries, that match the value of their worth to our community. What touched my heart, is the number of teachers who advocate for more resources and funding for their students, rather than more money for themselves. In Concord, we need the support from the General Assembly to build new schools and renovate existing ones. In Kannapolis and Rowan County, we need a trained workforce that attracts businesses to locate in our community. And we need to draw cutting edge jobs that will enable a working family to cover bills on a 40-hour a week job. The second highest area of concern is rising healthcare costs. The state needs to ensure healthcare is affordable and that people have access to the care they need. We need more transparency in healthcare costs and how our money is being spent, and accountability in the funding formulas. Lastly, we need to protect the integrity of our vote. Voting rights, and access to free and fair elections, is fundamental to our freedom. (Independent-Tribune, 10/22/18)
NOV 2018 Overview of Race
Republican N.C. Rep. Larry Pittman is being challenged by Democrat Gail Young to represent House District 83, which includes part of Rowan County, in the General Assembly.
A consultant for Roger Schwarz & Associates who has worked in local government for 26 years, Young said she is a better qualified candidate for the district.
”Our new district encompasses two county commissions, three town councils, two city councils and three school boards,” Young said. “Our local leaders work hard every day to solve problems with school construction needs; balancing existing infrastructure, continued growth, and maintaining quality of life; attracting new businesses, in new sectors; ensuring our community colleges have the support to retrain workers for jobs in new industries.
”We need a representative who will work closely with local officials to fix problems here, not to legislate power or their view of morality,” she said.
Pittman, a pastor, currently represents District 82 in Cabarrus County.
”I intend to continue my efforts to defend our citizens’ property rights, gun rights, parental rights, freedom of religious expression, and the right to life and to uphold the state and federal constitutions,” he said. “I will keep working toward the goal of eliminating corporate and personal income taxes.
”The turnaround of our state economy due to the reduction of taxes and regulations has been astounding and has made North Carolina the No. 1 place in the country to start a new business, according to Forbes Magazine,” he said. “Eliminating these taxes will take us even further in the direction of this success.”
Young initially decided to run for the N.C. House to fight gerrymandering, but her reason has evolved.
”I believe in neutral districts so voters can select and hold their representatives accountable,” Young said. “However, after spending much time talking with voters, I understand the need to tackle systemic problems that keep people trapped in poverty or that have a discriminatory effect. Throughout this campaign, I have built many relationships with people from all walks of life, and I look forward to representing them in Raleigh.”
Pittman said he wanted to become a state legislator to support average people.
”I ran in the first place because I was sick and tired of seeing average, hardworking, taxpaying citizens neglected and their rights violated for the sake of special interests,” he said. “Thus, my campaign slogan is, ‘Because the people matter.’”
Young said as a representative, she would concentrate on restoring public education.
”I remember when our state had an excellent reputation in the nation, and I want to us work to regain that reputation,” Young said. “My concern is the charter school system has provided choice at the expense of accountability and performance. We need to invest in our public schools, consistent with our constitutional goal to provide equitable education to all students. We need to raise teacher pay to the national average, and we need to expand pre-K programs.”
She also wants to provide affordable health care by adding transparency in costs and to ensure a skilled workforce by adequately training students.
Statewide, she would focus on addiction and environmental issues, such as coal ash and proposals for fracking and off-shore oil drilling.
Pittman said controlling growth is an important issue.
”The growth we are seeing is outpacing our ability to absorb it,” he said. “Our schools in some parts of the district are getting overcrowded and our infrastructure overburdened. We are losing rural and agricultural territory at an alarming rate compared to some other parts of the state.
”Overdevelopment, allowing too many homes to an acre in some places, increases the problems with overcrowding schools and traffic congestion and contributes to problems with drainage, increasing problems with flooding in some places,” he said. “More care needs to be taken in making zoning changes to slow this down. Job creation needs to be more focused on jobs for the people we already have, not so much on bringing in people from outside the state for those jobs.”
Pittman said he is proud of the work he has done in the General Assembly, like sponsoring Sheyenne’s Law and supporting House Bill 2, the so-called Bathroom Bill. He said he would like to continue to work on concealed-carry gun legislation, increasing pay for Highway Patrol troopers, eliminating Common Core and strengthening Sheyenne’s Law.
”I am a constitutional conservative,” Pittman said. “I have committed not to run for more than five full terms and am running now for my fourth. I have enjoyed helping people solve problems through constituent services.”
Young said she wants voters to know she is a Christian
”And that doesn’t mean I want to legislate my view of morality,” she said. “Instead, I follow God’s teachings that we are to be loving, merciful and just. These are the tenets I live my life by.”
Early voting continues through Saturday. Election Day is Nov. 6. (Salisbury Post, 11/1/18)
NOV 2018 Loses Election
Despite legislative redistricting, state House incumbents Harry Warren in District 76 and Larry Pittman in District 83 will be returning to the General Assembly.
Warren beat Democrat Joe Fowler, a business owner and former wildlife resource officer, receiving 61 percent of the vote.
Warren, who currently represents District 77, said he plans to concentrate on economic development, quality of life and health care in his next term.
Pittman was up against Democrat Gail Young, a leadership training consultant, in a split county district. Pittman received 73 percent of the vote in Rowan County, but in Cabarrus County, Young won 51 percent.
With the combination of the counties, Pittman received 52 percent of the vote.
”I’m pretty happy,” Pittman said. “Hard work was put in both counties.”
He said he is ready to work on passing a minimum sentence on Sheyenne’s Law, which increases the penalty for impaired boating from a misdemeanor to a felony. He also wants to work on gun legislation for concealed-carry permits.
Pittman said the changes of the district - he currently represents District 82 in Cabarrus County - were meant to pit him and state Rep. Carl Ford against one another. Ford ran for the state Senate from District 33.
Pittman said the plan backfired. Both Ford and Pittman won their races Tuesday. (Salisbury Post, 11/7/18)
Larry Pittman will keep his seat for N.C. House of Representative's 83rd district.
Pittman, who was appointed to the seat in 2011 by the Cabarrus County GOP after Republican Jeff Barnhart stepped down, has served three-and-a-half terms in office. He was elected in 2012 and has controlled the seat ever since.
This time around, Pittman earned about 14,600 votes, or almost 53 percent of ballots cast. He edged out Democratic challenger Gail Young, who earned 47 percent of the votes at 13,000 ballots.
"I feel pretty good," Pittman said. "It was a big effort to get rid of me, and it fell short, and that always feels good."
In Cabarrus County, Pittman earned just 48.6 percent of the vote while Young garnered 51 percent.
Looking forward, Pittman said he hopes to continue working on several bills in the General Assembly that have already begun to move forward, spanning from concealed carry to common core.
"I'm just going to basically keep doing what I've been doing, which is looking out for citizens' rights as opposed to special interest concerns, fiscal responsibility and upholding the constitution," he said. (Independent Tribune, 11/8/18)
NOV 2018 Vote Breakdown
The new 83rd District also brought another new face into Rowan County this election year: Rep. Larry Pittman, a 3.5-term Republican incumbent who previously represented North Carolina’s 82nd District in Cabarrus County.
The newly drawn district contains portions of central, southern Rowan and central northern Cabarrus.
In Rowan, it contains portions of the Blackwelder Park, Bostian Crossroads, China Grove, East Kannapolis, Landis and Sumner precincts and the entire Bostian School precinct.
Conservative Pittman claimed all but one District 83 precinct. Sumner, which is split between District 83 and District 76, went to Democratic challenger Gail Young.
Young claimed the Cabarrus portion of the 83rd District with 10 out of 19 precincts, capturing just over 51 percent of the vote.
Overall, the race was the closest of all those for Rowan County North Carolina House seats. Pittman finished with just under 53 percent of the vote to Young’s 47 percent.
Unofficial Rowan County tallies for the race are as follows:
* Blackwelder Park: Pittman, 16; Young , 7
* Bostian Crossroads: Pittman, 20; Young , 5
* China Grove: Pittman, 1,491; Young, 586
* East Kannapolis: Pittman, 686; Young, 399
* Landis: Pittman, 539; Young, 175
* Sumner: Pittman, 1; Young, 5
* Bostian School: Pittman, 819; Young, 130 (Salisbury Post, 11/11/18)
2019
JUN 2019 Running Again
Democrat Gail Young will try for a second time to win a seat in the N.C. House.
Young announced last week she will run in District 83 in the 2020 election. She ran unsuccessfully in 2018 against incumbent Rep. Larry Pittman, a Republican, and lost with 47 percent of the vote.
Young said her campaign will focus on education, health care and job creation.
”The failures of the majority in the Legislature that first led me to make the decision to run still remain,” Young said. “Our educators have to take to the streets to demand resources; our rural hospitals are in jeopardy of closing; and hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians lack health care because, for political reasons, we are leaving federal Medicaid expansion money on the table. North Carolinians deserve leaders dedicated to building a better future for the residents of our state, not petty partisan games.”
Young said she would be a different representative than Pittman. She said Pittman has failed to address issues that affect residents of Cabarrus and Rowan counties but instead has focused on controversial bills that have gone nowhere.
”He has voted against bipartisan bills that passed with near unanimous support, such as expanding pre-K enrollment, a much-needed school construction bond, and establishing suicide risk prevention measures in public schools,” Young said. “And he refused to sponsor the Kannapolis annexation, which would spur economic growth in connection to the Old Beatty Ford Road interchange.”
Pittman has been the primary sponsor of 12 bills. Of those, one has passed in the House and is currently being considered by a Senate committee. House Bill 66 wild require an active sentence for anyone convicted of felony death by vehicle or death by impaired boating.
Pittman said he plans to run for re-election. He says he will keep his promise and not run for more than five full terms, so 2020 will be his last campaign. Pittman said he and Young likely will have a primary challenger.
Young said she will focus on current and future growth needs of the district.
”Parts of our district are experiencing significant growth, and I want to ensure everyone sees a stronger, better future ahead,” Young said. “All of us want good schools, jobs that will not only support a family but allow us to save and plan for the future. We shouldn’t have to worry about how to pay for prescriptions or if a medical emergency will lead to bankruptcy.”
Young retired as a division director in the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency of Mecklenburg County after 28 years in local government.
Her campaign website is . (Salisbury Post, 6/17/19)
Gail Young announced her 2020 campaign for North Carolina's 83rd House District candidacy for NC House District 83.
Young, a career public servant, retired as a Division Director in the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency of Mecklenburg County after 28 years in local government. She continues to consultant.
In 2018, Young ran a competitive race against four-term incumbent, Rep. Larry Pittman. Young is a Democrat and Pittman a Republican.
"The failures of the majority in the Legislature that first led me to make the decision to run still remain," Young said. "Our educators have to take to the streets to demand resources; our rural hospitals are in jeopardy of closing; and hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians lack healthcare because, for political reasons, we are leaving federal Medicaid expansion money on the table. North Carolinians deserve leaders dedicated to building a better future for the residents of our state, not petty partisan games."
Young said she will also continue to focus on the current and future growth needs of the district. "Parts of our district are experiencing significant growth, and I want to ensure everyone sees a stronger, better future ahead. All of us want good schools, jobs that will not only support a family but allow us to save and plan for the future. We shouldn't have to worry about how to pay for prescriptions or if a medical emergency will lead to bankruptcy."
While discussing how she would be different from Rep. Pittman, Young pointed to his failure to address issues that directly impact residents of Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, while focusing on controversial bills that go nowhere in Raleigh.
"He has voted against bi-partisan bills that passed with near unanimous support; such as expanding Pre-K enrollment, a much-needed school construction bond, and establishing suicide risk prevention measures in public schools," Young said, "And he refused to sponsor the Kannapolis annexation, which would spur economic growth in connection to the Old Beatty Ford Road interchange."
"The working families of Cabarrus and Rowan are tired of the political blame game. We saw last year that people are ready for a fresh conversation about how our state can get back to being tops in quality education, healthcare affordability, and economic prosperity for everyone, not just the wealthy elite," Young concluded. "I'm excited to begin this campaign and focus on those issues for the people of the 83rd District."
Another Democrat, Aimy Steele, is already campaigning in the 82nd District for the 2020 race. That is the seat held by Republican Rep. Linda Johnson of Kannapolis. (Independent Tribune, 6/14/19)
JUL 2019 Outraising Pitman
Since announcing her campaign for the N.C. House seat in District 83 on June 15, Democrat Gail Young has raised more than three times the amount of money as her opponent, incumbent Republican Rep. Larry Pittman.
As of the June 30 finance reporting deadline, Young’s campaign had $17,954 in cash on hand, compared to $5,382 for Pittman’s campaign.
Young’s campaign started the period with $6,072 in cash on hand.
Doshia James, Young’s campaign manager, said the campaign is not doing anything particularly innovative to raise money but is concentrating on building relationships with individual voters in District 83.
The campaign reported 125 individual donors with an average contribution of $104, with 76% coming from Cabarrus or Rowan counties and 98% from within the state.
Pittman’s campaign reported donations from 26 people.
James said Young decided to announce the campaign last month despite a municipal election in November and the filing period for the 2020 election not opening until December. She said the campaign has been questioned about that on the campaign trail.
”2020 is going to be an incredibly crowded field,” James said, adding that voters are paying attention to N.C. House races because they understand that change mostly comes from Raleigh, not Washington.
”I am humbled to have such strong support from residents across House District 83 and our great state,” Young said in a statement. “Our strength is reflective of not only the hard work of our grassroots campaign but also of the enthusiasm we are seeing on the ground for real change in Raleigh.”
Young said her campaign is focused on a strong public education system, access to affordable health care and fair elections. James said those issues affect voters regardless if they are conservative or liberal. Young gives voters an alternative to Pittman’s conservative views, which may turn off even Republicans, James said.
To keep the momentum going into November 2020, Young will continue to have grassroots fundraising and small-scale events such as get-togethers at individual homes.
Young unsuccessfully ran for Pittman’s seat in 2018. In that race, Pittman received 52.7% of the vote to Young’s 47.2%.
The campaign is using tactics learned in her first run and expanding the base of support by explaining that things can be different for Cabarrus and Rowan counties as growth comes, James said.
”North Carolina can have a positive and better future,” she said.
James said the 2020 election will be unprecedented, and Young hopes to continue building momentum.
”We’re excited about the enthusiasm at the start,” James said.
Pittman has been a House member for 41/2 years. He has said the 2020 run will be his last regardless if he wins or loses. (Salisbury Post, 7/28/19)
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