Republicans had a little fun with U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell’s absence from his party’s convention this week.
The National Republican Congressional Committee sent a car to drive Kissell to the Democratic National Convention, which was held in Charlotte, just 10 miles from the 8th Congressional District. The car waited for Kissell, who did not take the free ride, outside his Concord office located about 20 miles from the convention.
“We made sure there was plenty of room in the trunk for all Kissell’s baggage since we know he’s voted with President Obama up to 96 percent of the time while in Congress, ” Andrea Bozek, the committee’s deputy communications director, said in a press release.
U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 10th district, even carried a life-size cutout of Kissell to interviews in Charlotte.
In an email Friday, a Kissell campaign spokesman said the Congressman has been travelling around his district all week, discussing his manufacturing plan and hearing constituents’ concerns and ideas.
“Congressman Kissell spent the week continuing to do the job he was elected to do – working for the people, not attending partisan political functions,” said Communications Director Christopher Schuler.
The 8th district’s new boundaries in 2012 have given it a more conservative population. Kissell, already known as a moderate Democrat, has now taken steps to distance himself from President Barack Obama. He says he doesn’t plan to endorse Obama for re-election this fall, and he voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which critics call “Obamacare.”
Pizza party
Constance “Connie” Johnson, candidate for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, is inviting parents and friends to join her at local schools for lunch discussions and pizza. Il Colosseo Italian is sponsoring pizza for the teachers and parents at each school.
Johnson is visiting Salisbury High School on Wednesday, Sept. 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m.; Carroll T. Overton Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m.; Hurley Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 27; and Knox Middle School on Friday, Sept. 28, from noon to 2:30 p.m. Johnson is planning to visit North Rowan, East Rowan and West Rowan in the following weeks.
Huckabee in NC
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee will travel to North Carolina in September to campaign for Dan Forest, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.
Huckabee, the host of Fox News Channel’s “Huckabee Show,” will speak at a fundraising reception for Forest on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the home of Jim and Elizabeth Duncan, 662 Royal Sunset Drive in Durham.
This is a ticketed event, and people must RSVP by calling 704-364-3263, emailing neal@danforest.com or signing up online at www.danforest.com.