Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 4, 2016, edition 1 / Page 8
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I Democratic candidates for governor spar over noting law at forum m ; ? ? Photo provided by Cuk Michaels Attorney General Roy Cooper, left, and Democratic rival Ken Spaulding engage at a forum on Friday, Jan. 29, in Raleigh ? BY GARY D. ROBERTSON ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH - Attorney * General Roy Cooper's rival for the Democratic nomi nation for North Carolina governor said Friday night it's wrong for Cooper to defend in court a wide ranging election overhaul law approved by Republicans that lawsuits claim discriminates against minority voters. ? Ken Spaulding of Durham, meeting face-to face with Cooper for ques tions in their campaign leading up to the March 15 primary, has hammered the four-term attorney general because his Office is repre senting the state in elec tions litigation and said Cooper could have refused. A federal trial on a portion of the law requiring photo identification to vote start ing with this election con tinued Friday in Winston Salem. It ended Monday. The state NAACP, U.S. Justice Department and others sued to overturn the law. A lawyer from Cooper's office sits at the defense table helping rep resent the state. "My opponent sitting with me today, he's been in court with the Republicans fighting on behalf of them and against the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, the people of North Carolina on a constitution al issue that he does not have to represent the state on," Spaulding told more than 150 people in atten dance. Cooper defended him self during the forum, organized by the African American and Hispanic caucuses within the state Democratic Party. He said it's his duty as attorney general to defend the state's laws in court. Cooper says he's personally opposed to the law and urged Republican Gov. Pat McCrory in 2013 to veto it. The 2013 election law already reduced the num ber of early voting days from 17 to 10 and has elim inated same-day registra tion during the early voting period. "One of the reasons I'm running for governor is I am sick and tired of the laws that are being passed by this governor and this General Assembly," Cooper said. "As governor, 1 can work toward public policy to make sure we do change these things." Spaulding said Cooper should have refused to rep resent the state on constitu tional grounds. Cooper did decline.in 2014 to defend the state's constitutional amendment barring gay marriage once a federal appeals court struck down a similar amendment in Virginia. Cooper appears to be a, favorite in the gubernatori al primary over Spaulding,,., a former legislator -and state Board of Transportation member. While Spaulding reported raising $22,000 in the sec ond half of 2015, Cooper's campaign took in $2.9 mil lion. But Spaulding, also an attorney who helped create large Durham com mercial development proj ects, believes he can win with strong support from fellow black voters, who have been known to cast one-third of the Democratic primary vote or more. He's labeled ?Cooper an establishment candidate. The winner'of the pri mary is likely to take on McCrory, who faces two challengers in the GDP pri mary, including former state Rep. Robert Brawley. Spaulding also criti cized Cooper for refusing last year to seek a retrial in the case of a Charlotte police officer in the shoot ing death of an unarmed suspect. The first trial ended in a deadlocked jury. Cooper said last August that prose cutors agreed a retrial would "not yield a different result." When offered a chance by a forum moderator to respond to Spaulding's comments. Cooper declined. The Democratic Party's U.S. Senate candidates also took questions later Friday. Former state Rep. Deborah Ross of Raleigh, Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey, Durham businessman Kevin Griffin and Ernest Reeves of Greenville are running for the nomination. They all want to replace Republican incumbent Richard Burr. J OEA honors greats, wins and provides fun for youth SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Quality Education Academy honored three "Great Men" at its pre game ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 30. QEA honored Warren "Big Time" Reynolds, who coached basketball at N.C. A&T State University, Delta State University, Shaw University, and Bowie State University. Reynolds, who has over 400 career wins, had ' never been formally recog nized, and QEA's ceremo ny was a first for him. QEA honored its CEO and superintendent, Simon Johnson, for over two decades of tireless service to the children of the Triad. Johnson's vision to expand the academic pro gram of college preparato ry coursework and college dual enrollment with Forsyth Technical Community College to include such extra-curricu lar activities as track and field, basketball, cheer leading, swimming, and soccer has granted greater options for QEA's 500 stu dents in grades kinder garten through 12th. The legacy of Johnson, who is co-founder of Quality Education Institute and Academy, now includes student opportuni ties in band, dance, chess, chorus, 4-H, theater, Lego League and Crosby Scholars. QEA also honored Tom Muse, who dedicated 35 years to Parkland High School coaching basket ball. Muse was honored for his service and inspiration to countless youth in our community. After the "Great Men" ceremony, QEA's Fighting Pharaohs pummeled Word of God Christian Academy's Holy Rams 78 62. Senior Deshawn Corprew scored 42 points to lead the way. More than 700 fans packed out the QEA gym nasium, cheering on the "Triad" over the 'Triangle" and the evening ended with great, clean fun for many middle and high school youths. Last Saturday, QEA's "upper landing" trans formed into a victory after party, where over 100 teens enjoyed a dance, food and fun. The schools' upcom ing 20th annual "Bestowal of Blessings" ceremony, open to the entire commu nity on Feb. 25, will be fol lowed by its annual "Black and White Ball" for high school students. 2016 CIAASS!^ &ips WOMEN'S BASKETBALL J |S|FEB 10 SHAW ? fcS'i f^? P"1 S "^E?' ' ?'? ASKETBALL Coach s|er c ;e 7:30 Pm ^H IB V J : ! I L 206 207 208 209 210 211 m 205 212 W 204 n m:W: i f mum. am f 203 A V 214 "1 ^ ^ 103 + T ??. <s 202 102 041#s 106 107 ? ~ 1 201 ? i ? o> . . 101 |Tvi? 109 - s |HH 233 117 r ~W 110 " jllll - [ Jjs;.' = ? M ? ^113112 228 227 226 225 ^H223^^\^l ??? ? ? J ? *
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 4, 2016, edition 1
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