Four in 8th District race on radar of GOP panel

Four of the GOP candidates who have announced they’re running for the 8th Congressional District seat now held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell are on the radar.

So says the National Republican Congressional Committee, which this week elevated Daniel Barry, Richard Hudson, Scott Keadle and John Whitley to “on the radar” status in its Young Guns program.

The program gauges candidates’ prospects and provides them with extra support when they meet specific benchmarks. At this level, that support can include television ads, polling information and fundraising advice. If candidates meet higher benchmarks, the committee may give their campaigns money.

“On the radar” is the second of four levels in the program, the highest of which is “young gun” status.

After redistricting this year, the 8th Congressional District includes part of Rowan County. Other announced candidates include N.C. Rep. Fred Steen of Landis, Vernon Robinson, a former Winston-Salem City Council member.

Barry is mayor pro tem of Weddington; Whitley is a neurosurgeon from Fairmont; Keadle is an Iredell County dentist; and Hudson served as a staff member for former 8th District representative Robin Hayes, who is now chairman of the state Republican Party.

Environmental scores

In its 2011 National Environmental Scorecard, the League of Conservation Voters gave a perfect score to one senator from North Carolina and a single-digit grade to the other.

The league rates members of Congress based on their votes on issues ranging from public health protections to clean energy to land and wildlife conservation. The 2011 scorecard includes 11 Senate votes and a record 35 House votes.

North Carolina’s Congressional delegation ratings include:

• Sen. Richard Burr (R), 9 percent

• Sen. Kay Hagan (D), 100 percent

• Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5), 3 percent

• Rep. Howard Coble (R-6), 11 percent

• Rep. Larry Kissell (D-8), 66 percent

• Rep. Mel Watt (D-12), 97 percent

Hagan was the only delegation member with a 100 percent score. None were rated at 0 percent, though Foxx came close. The average House score for North Carolina in 2011 was 50 percent, and the average Senate score was 55 percent.

The league says this year’s scorecard “reflects the most anti-environmental session of the U.S. House of Representatives in history, featuring unparalleled assaults on our nation’s bedrock environmental and public health safeguards.”

The full 2011 National Environmental Scorecard can be found at www.lcv.org/scorecard.

Hagan to meet heroes

As part of her North Carolina Back to Work Jobs tour, Sen. Kay Hagan will make a stop in Concord on Monday for the Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair.

The event aims to connect veterans, active duty military, Guard and Reserve members and spouses with local employers.

The job fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon, is free to employers and job seekers. It will take place at the Embassy Suites at 5400 John Q. Hammons Dr. N.W. in Concord. Attendees must pre-register at www.HOH.GreatJob.net.

Hagan will be available at 10:30 a.m. to talk with employers and job seekers about their employment efforts.

Her office will have a booth to assist attendees with federal agency issues and help connect employers with the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, a new incentive that helps get veterans back to work.

Council honors Coble

Rep. Howard Coble is one of 26 members of Congress to be recognized by The Century Council for his “ongoing dedication to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking.”

The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers, honored leaders Wednesday who they say help educate youth and their parents on responsible decision making concerning beverage alcohol.

In a press release, the organization commended Coble for his participation last year in The Century Council’s “Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix” program at New Century Middle School in Cameron.

The “Ask, Listen, Learn” program aims to deter underage drinking, the press release said, by helping parents engage their kids about the dangers of underage drinking early and often.

Helms backs Hudson

A mother and son of a prominent conservative family are backing two different Republican candidates for the same Congressional race.

Dot Helms, wife of the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, endorsed Richard Hudson on Monday for the U.S. House 8th District, Hudson’s campaign reports.

The late senator’s only son, Charles Helms, previously announced his support for Republican candidate Vernon Robinson. Robinson’s campaign shared the endorsement letter in October.

In a press release, Hudson said he is honored to have the financial support and endorsement of Dot Helms, her daughter Nancy Helms Grigg, and her grandson Mike Stuart.

She will serve as “Honorary Chairman” of Hudson’s campaign, along with 2010 8th District Republican nominee Harold Johnson, 2010 8th District Republican candidate Hal Jordan and Barbara Hayes — wife of former 8th District Rep. Robin Hayes.

Local connection

A cancer detection specialist at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury is running to win back her seat in the N.C. House.

Pearl Burris-Floyd was elected in 2008 to represent the state’s 110th district, which includes Gaston and Cleveland counties. After a loss in the 2010 Republican primary to Rep. Kelly Hastings, she will now challenge Hastings in this year’s primary for the same seat.

According to her campaign website, Burris-Floyd, of Dallas, has expertise in health care, job creation and business. She represented Dallas Township as a Gaston County commissioner from 2001 to 2008 and served as vice chairwoman for the last two of those years.

Forest picks Reynolds

Dan Forest, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, has named Catherine Reynolds as his county campaign chairwoman for Rowan County.

According to a press release sent by Forest’s campaign Monday, Reynolds has spent much of her career working on the state and federal levels in the field of communications and public affairs. She served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation under President George H.W. Bush.

Reynolds and her husband, local home builder Rick Reynolds, live in Salisbury.

In other news, Forest’s campaign website last weekend received the Reed Award, a national designation given by Campaigns and Elections Magazine.

At an awards banquet in Washington, D.C., the website — www.danforest.com — was named “Best Statewide Campaign Site” in the country. It was built and is managed by Charlotte-based Red Stampede, founded by Neal Harrington, who was in attendance to receive the award.