The other thread was only talking national politics, this thread will be talking about races concerning just our state.

Josh Stein has filed for reelection to the NC Senate (16th district/Wake County). He received 60% of the vote in 2008, should be pretty easy for him to win again.

2/15/2010 3:37:33 PM

http://www.indyweekblogs.com/triangulator/2010/02/11/sen-josh-stein-goes-for-2nd-term-in-wake/

Quote :

"Sen. Josh Stein goes for 2nd term in Wake State Sen. Josh Stein, a Democrat whose 16th district covers the western portions of Raleigh and much of western Wake County, filed for a second term today. So far, he’s unopposed. His statement: “I hope to continue serving my constituents in Wake County,” said Stein. “In this economy, job creation must be our top priority. We must also lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth by supporting our public K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities.” In his first term as Senator, Stein received awards and recognition for his efforts on a variety of issues. For his efforts to create clean energy jobs and to extend the renewable energy tax credit, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association named Stein its 2009 Legislator of the Year. The AARP selected Stein its Legislator of the Year for his steadfast work as a consumer advocate, particularly on behalf of senior citizens, with his legislation to strengthen the state’s identity theft law and to establish a financial literacy council. Stein also received awards from the Metro Mayors’ Association for his work on transit and transportation issues and WakeUp Wake County for his legislation to clean Falls Lake. Stein serves as vice-chairman of the Judiciary I committee and serves on the Commerce and Finance Committees, among other committee and commission assignments. He had the 3rd highest percentage of public bills enacted into law among all 50 Senators from across the state. “It is an honor to serve as State Senator. I look forward to working with legislative colleagues to make the critical investments needed to get our economy moving forward again,” Stein said. "

From his website he looks to be well liked from all the endorsements he got last time:

Quote :

" * Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Robison * Cary Town Councilor Gale Adcock and Town Councilor Erv Portman * Conservation Council of NC (CCNC) * Equality NC (ENC) * The Independent Weekly * Morrisville Mayor Jan Faulkner and Mayor Pro Tem Liz Johnson * NARAL-NC * NC AFL-CIO * NCATL * NC Chapter of American Federation of Teachers (AFT-NC) * North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NCNOW) * Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Central NC * Raleigh-Cary Chapters of the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association * Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and Raleigh City Councilmember Rodger Koopman * Raleigh Police Protective Association * Raleigh Professional Firefighters Association (RPFFA) * Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association (RWCA) * Rural Electric Action Program (REAP) * Sierra Club Capital Group * State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC-EMPAC) * Triangle Labor Council * Wake County Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators (Wake NCAE) * Wake County Voter Education Coalition "

I just got a message from their facebook group that they are closing the group and switching over to a page. Here is the link for said page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Josh-Stein/119875179042

I agree that he has an easy win coming to him, but I'm glad he's out there doing interviews, being active online, and not taking anything for granted.

2/15/2010 4:19:26 PM

He's the only local politician I've heard anything from so far. Anyone have news on other seats or positions?

2/16/2010 12:22:10 PM

Sweet, I'll be home in time for this election

2/17/2010 2:24:10 AM

are they electing people in cary this year?

2/17/2010 2:08:09 PM

Candidates filed in Wake County:

http://msweb03.co.wake.nc.us/bordelec/downloads/6candidate/6candidatelist/2010CandidateList.pdf

2/18/2010 10:13:01 AM

Just got an e-mail from the Stein campaign. They've been pretty silent until now.

Quote :

"With three weeks until election day and two days until early voting starts, Josh is kicking the campaign into full gear. We need your support now more than ever as we work to get voters to the polls. We hope that you will join us at one or more of these upcoming events: Tonight, October 12th, Gerda Stein and Roberto Quercia will host a fundraising reception in support of Josh's re-election efforts at their home in Raleigh. Wednesday, October 13th, Josh will join NC Reps. Jennifer Weiss & Chris Heagarty and volunteers in Cary for a Wake County GOTV phonebank. We hope you will join us from 5:30 - 8:30pm as we call voters and remind them to vote. Thursday, October 14th, Josh is hosting a Cary Community Meeting from 6:00 - 7:00pm. This informal discussion is an opportunity for Cary-area constituents to speak with Josh about their concerns and priorities, and hear his vision for a better Wake County and North Carolina. Also this Thursday, October 14th - One Stop Early Voting begins in Wake County. With so many locations open in Wake County, voting in this election couldn't be easier. So cast your ballot early and take a minute to send an email to your friends and family to tell them how easy it was for you to vote. Click here to view One Stop Early Voting locations and times One more reason for you to vote early: we need you to work the polls for Josh on November 2nd! With almost 60 precincts to cover in Josh's district, we've got plenty of volunteer shifts to fill on Election Day. Please email us today if you have time to volunteer for Josh on November 2nd. Can't make it to these events but still want to support Josh? Contribute to Josh through this link and your contribution will be doubled by Progressive Kick - a group that is matching contributions for select progressive candidates across the country. Thanks for your continued support as we work hard to make the most out of the next 22 days. See you on the trail! Josh's Campaign Team"

10/12/2010 3:21:05 PM

Nice bump. Unfortunately I no longer live in NC, so I cannot place my vote for Josh again

10/12/2010 6:25:39 PM

Looks like Josh was elected to the whip position for the dems. Glad to see they are letting the new blood into the leadership positions.

12/14/2010 11:21:32 PM

This makes me incredibly happy.

12/15/2010 12:21:17 PM

LOL, Whip is pointless.

Our party is domed

12/15/2010 12:45:40 PM

Looks like he's staying active:

http://goqnotes.com/21907/n-c-non-discrimination-bill-introduced/

Quote :

"N.C. non-discrimination bill introduced RALEIGH, N.C. — State lawmakers introduced bills this week that would extend non-discrimination protections to LGBT state employees. “No state employee should experience discrimination on the job because of the color of their skin, their age, their religion, where they were born, any disability they may have, or who they love,” Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake), the sponsor of the Senate version of the bill introduced Thursday, said in a press release. “We need to update current laws to secure this fundamental protection for our diverse workforce in state government.” The House’s version, introduced Tuesday, is sponsored by Reps. Paul Luebke (D-Durham), Marcus Brandon (D-Guilford), Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland) and Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford). The bills seek to add the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the non-discrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the State Personal Personnel Act."

[Edited on March 29, 2013 at 4:37 PM. Reason : .]

3/29/2013 4:35:20 PM

Since this has become the "I Love Josh Stein" thread, I would just like to say...

I love Josh Stein.

I had lunch a couple of times with him back when I worked for the congregation where his family attends. Such a fantastic guy.

3/29/2013 6:22:21 PM

+1 for Josh Stein.

3/29/2013 7:25:22 PM

The article goes on to say that Stein's bill will be the focus of their annual citizen lobby day:

Quote :

"Equality North Carolina, a statewide LGBT advocacy and education group, said it will make the employment bills the focus of their upcoming lobby day at the state legislature on April 16."

http://equalitync.org/lobbyday/

Quote :

"We are organizing this year's Lobby Day as a day of action featuring all-new training sessions to build your skills in our collective efforts to promote statewide LGBT visibility and protect North Carolina's LGBT workers. These skills will be invaluable as we head back to our local communities and galvanize our shared state into action to fight for Equality in 2013 and beyond."

Quote :

"9:15-9:30 Welcome, Packet Review (NC History Museum) 9:30-10:45 Lobbying 101 (NC History Museum) 11:00 -1:00 Attend Legislator Appointments (NC General Assembly) 11:15-1:15 Lunch Available? (NC History Museum) 1:15-2:00 LOBBY DAY Debrief (NC History Museum) 2:15-3:15 "Pack the House" (NCGA Gallery)"

3/29/2013 8:53:09 PM

local politics doesn't matter. they are heavily hogtied by state and federal authority. all they can do is waste money.

3/30/2013 12:48:11 AM

Wouldn't be surprised to see Stein be the Dem nominee for Lt Gov in 2016, facing off against Kieran Shanahan. Seems like a decent guy.

3/31/2013 8:50:28 PM

^Looks like he has a different position in mind for 2016.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/27/3413371/josh-stein-says-hell-run-for-nc.html

Quote :

"Josh Stein says he'll run for NC Attorney General in 2016 RALEIGH — State Sen. Josh Stein, a Wake County Democrat, is eyeing the state attorney general’s office in 2016. Stein, in a phone interview Wednesday, confirmed his interest in taking over for N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is expected to run for governor."

Quote :

"Stein, 47, is in his third term representing Senate District 16, which includes parts of Raleigh, Cary and Morrisville. He is minority whip during the current two-year legislative session."

The article says he successfully got an amendment through to protect some early voting, which I assume was no small lift in this General Assembly environment since it would take building bipartisan support given the GOP super-majority.

Quote :

"Stein worked in the AG’s office from 2001 to 2008, where he headed the Consumer Protection Division, working in areas such as predatory lending, identity theft, telemarketing privacy, fraud and Internet safety."

That strikes me as relevant experience since the Attorney General serves as the head of the NC Department of Justice. The article also says he has a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, a master of public policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a law degree from Harvard. Seems like a decent choice, and since it's in a statewide district that neither the Dems or GOP can gerrymander, he might even have a shot.

11/27/2013 11:59:49 PM

Yeah seems like AG is a better fit. I didn't think Cooper would actually make the jump for the Governor's race, esp when the GOP didn't even run anyone against him last cycle.

Assuming Stein wins (and Cooper doesn't), my guess is Stein runs for Governor in 2020 -- everyone left-winger I've talked to reveres the guy.

12/1/2013 12:30:26 AM