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Page 2A - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursla7, February 25. 1988
PAC Wants To Double N.C. Black Senators
By Jalyne Strong
Post Managing Editor
'llie 2ist Century I’AC of North
Carolina has sent out a catchy
release: an illustration of the
three members of the Black Cau
cus of the North Carolina Senate
ensconced in a public telephone
receptacle beneath the words:
"When the Black Caucus of
North Carolina Senate meets, it
« an lit comfortably in a Raleigh
phone ixxjth."
'Ihe release deftly Illustrates
the prjint that North Carolina
has only three black Senators in
NC General Assembly. That is.
three out of a total of 50 Sena
tors. 'ITie release goes on to say
the three black Senators. Sena
tor Ralph Hunt (D-Durham);
Senator Bill Martin (D-
Creensboro); arid Senator Jim
RIcliardson (D-Mecklenburg),
■face serious challenges in the
areas of economic development,
educational opportunity, and
election law reform.
"The discriminatory runoff
primary and large multi-
member district election laws
have held Afro-American repre-
senlallon in the General Assem-
lj|y to a minimum."
ihe point of the release is to
convey The 21st Century I’AC's
plan to assist financially and
technically four black candi
dates for the Senate races this
year, in an effort to Increase
black representation in NC
Slate l.egislature.
The theme for the drive is
"Take the Senate in '88." In es
sence a fundraising drive. 'Take
the Senate In '88" seeks finan
cial donations
from NC blacks to
help black candi
dates win. Stated
in the release. The
reason most Afri
can-Americans
lose is lack of
money. Ihe reason
most people don't
give is they haven't
been asked."
Ilie 21st Century
I'AC proposes that
each targeted cam
paign will receive
$1,000 in direct
contributions. The
21st Century PAC
will also provide
technical assis
tance In using
computers to sup
port campaign ac
tivities. The effort
will be kicked-off
with March fund
raising events in
Charlotte and
Winston-Salem.
The candidates
who are targeted
for assistance
from 21st Century
PAC Include Mary
McAllister of Fay
etteville (12th dis
trict). Frank Ballance of War-
renton (2nd district). Shelly
Willingham of Rocky Mount
(lOlh district), and Vernon L. Ro
binson of Winston-Salem (20lh
district).
"While you may not live in
these districts." states the re
lease, "these candidates will
When the Black Caucus of North Carolina
meets, it can fit comfortably in a Raleigh
phone booth.
fight for your needs in the Gen
eral Assembly."
PAC Treasurer Nathan A. Har
ris of Greensboro, said.
"Winning these seats will
strengthen the hand of the Black
Caucus and help protect our
communities interests across
North Carolina. Should three of
these candi-
dates be sue- j
cessful, the j
Afro- I
American i
Senate Caucus |
would be dou- ■
bled to six ■
members."
The 21st
Century PAC
of North Caro
lina is a bi
partisan inde
pendent polit
ical action
committee
founded in
1985 to create
a financial
base to in
crease the
number of
black elected
officials at all
levels. Accord
ing to 21st
Century PAC
officials. 'The
PAC played a
pivotal role in
the election of
Congressman
Mike Espy (D-
MS) in 1986.
f After syccess-
’ fully assisting
in the election of Judge Terry
Sherrill, the PAC was active in
several municipal races during
1987."
For more information about
21st Century PAC of North Caro
lina. write P.O. Box 13065. Wins
ton-Salem. NC 27110. Or call.
(919) 768-3567.
Children's Defense Launches
Candidate Registration Drive
Calling for a nationwide
"candidate registration drive to
make our children physically,
educallonally. and economically
safe." Ihe Children's Defense
Fund today launched a cam
paign to help citizens encourage
all candidates for elective office
to "register" publicly their posi
tions on preventive Investment
in children and families.
'Tlie first high school graduat
ing class of the twenty-first cen
tury will enter first grade in Sep
tember 1988." said CDF
president Marian Wright Edel-
man. who announced the cam
paign In Washington. 'These
preschoolers arc the American
workers, parents, taxpayers,
soldiers, college students, and
potential leaders of the twenty-
first cenluiy. But today;
One in four of them is poor.
• One in five is at risk of Ije-
comlng a teen parent;
• One In six has no health insu
rance;
• One in seven Is at risk of
dropping out of school;
• One in two has a mother in
the labor force, but only a mi
nority have safe, affordable,
quality child care."
Edelman called the campaign
"an opportunity for all our citi
zens to speak out and help
shape our national future."
"Children cannot vote or lobby
for the Investments they need to
grow up healthy and secure."
said Edelman. "All Americans
must take the necessary steps
to make sure those seeking and
holding public office commit
themselves to putting the physi
cal. economic, educational, and
spiritual safety of our children
at the top of the list of their pri
orities."
Edelman released a public ed
ucation kit to help citizens
"make preventive Investments in
children and families a major
part of the common currency in
this year's political debate and a
springboard for specific policy
responses." The kit includes two
booklets -- WHAT EVERY
AMERICAN SHOULD BE ASK
ING POLITICAL LEADERS IN
1988 and A CALL FOR ACTION
TO MAKE OUR NATION SAFE
FOR CHILDREN: A BRIEFING
BOOK ON THE STATUS OF
AMEldCAN CHILDREN IN 1988
— and a public education jxjster.
The poster features a baby-
kissing candidate with the
words: "Wouldn't it be nice if pol
iticians cared as much about
children after they're elected?
Children's Issues like preventive
health care, child care, and a
quality education are Important
to the future of our country.
Make sure the candidates you
vote for pay them more than lip
service. Kids can't vote.
The publications are designed
for child advocates, community
activists, professionals, public
officials and policymakers, par
ents. citizens, members of the
media, political leaders of all
parties, and those seeking pub
lic olfice in 1988.
Edelman said the public edu
cation materials have three pur
poses. "First, we seek to focus
attention on a range of Issues
affecting millions of American
children and families and on a
set of facts that have profound
Implications for the economic
and social well-being of all
Americans."
"Second." Edelman said, "we
seek a national consensus on
the importance of preventive In
vestment in children and youths
and a commitment from every
candidate running for any olTice
in 1988 to ensure that every
child has basic health, nutrition,
shelter, and early childhood ser
vices and thus has the capacity
and opportunity to learn and to
Edelman
develop strong basic academic
skills. The level of a young per
son's basic skills has a powerful
effect on his or her prospects for
future achievement, teenage
parenthood, and eventual self-
sufficiency."
"Third, we seek to provoke
thinking and discussion among
all Americans about the direc
tion of our nation and the kind
of leadership we need as we ap
proach the twenty-first century."
"Our message to the American
public and to public officials in
1988 Is stark and urgent." Edel
man said. "America must save
its children if it is to save itself.
For our children are not safe --
physically, educationally, eco
nomically. and spiritually. Our
streets are not safe. Our homes
are not safe. America's future is
not safe."
Hearing Set
On Nursing
Homes
RALEIGH---The Legislative
Commitlee on Nursing Homes,
Rest Homes and Ombudsman
would like to hear from citizens
Interested in patient care and
the quality of life for residents
of nursing and rest homes.
The committee will hold a pub
lic hearing in Charlotte on Mon
day. February 29 from 10 a.m.
until 3 p.m. The hearing will be
held at the Charlotte Mecklen
burg Senior Center, 426 N. Tryon
St.
The Committee solicits testi
mony from those people with ex
perience and interest relating to
nursing homes, rest homes and
the ombudsman program in
North Carolina.
Persons wishing to address the
committee are asked to contact
John Young (919/733-2578) or
Alice Hedt (704/372-2416). Audi
ence members may address the
committee. All comments will
be held to five minutes or less.
The written comments of those
unable to attend the hearing
may be mailed to Mr. Young, 545
Legislative Office building. 300
N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC
27611.
North Carolina is nationally
recognized for its leadership in
long-term care systems. The
committee on Nursing Homes.
Rest Homes and Ombudsman,
which is chaired by Representa
tive Ruth Easterling (D-
Mecklenburg) and Senator Ollie
Harris (D-Cleveland), will make
its recommendations to the
1989 General Assembly.
Copies of the questionnaire,
briefing book, and poster are
available free of charge from the
Children's Defense Fund, 122 C
Street. NW. Washington, DC
20001.
Anti-Walton PAC
Continued from pagelA
Reagan Shrinks Education Funds
A Statement by
NEA President,
Mary Hatwood Futreli
WASHINGION. D.C. - For only
the second time in the past eight
years, the Reagan Administra
tion has proposed a budget that
does not gut education. We
shouldn't be surprised. This is
an election year. In election
years, the Reagan White House
"supports" education. In every
other year. President Reagan
has sought deep cuts in educa
tion spending.
But the election year budget
for education presented by the
Reagan Administration today
does children -- America's fu
ture -- no favors.
Nc\Tr in our history have there
been more children living in
poverty, many of them home
less. The budget proposed by
the White House offers these
children precious little.
Never in our history have we
faced such sIllT compelition in
the global marketplace. The
budget proposed by the White
House does practically nothing
to help America's schools pre
pare students for new competi
tive realities.
The stark reality is this: Ihe
federal share of America's edu
cational expenses has shrunk
by one-third since President
Reagan took office. You can
track that shrinking commit
ment by looking at specific fed
eral aid to education programs.
The prlzne example: Chapter >,
the federal compensatory edu
cation program for disadvan
taged youngsters. The Chapter 1
program today serves 5.'7 mil-
iion children at risk for failure in
school. 1.3 million fewer than in
1980. In the United Slates today,
there are 8 million other disad
vantaged children who are eligi
ble for but not receiving Chapter
1 support.
In his new book. The Thir
teenth Man, former Education
Secretary' Terrel Bell calls on
the federal government to invest
$20 billion in Chapter 1 alone.
This $20 billion is about what
the Reagan Administration is
proposing for all of education!
complaint, because if we're
found to be a political action
committee, we'll become more
aggressive than we are now."
Barnett maintains that he has
done nothing wrong in working
against Walton and is just trying
to inform District 2 voters of
their alternatives.
"1 think it's important that we
discuss the issues," Barnett said.
"Our young people are looking to
us."
Tire discussion of PUJ's activi
ty and Walton's record are im
portant in deciding who repre
sents District 2, Barnett said. It
signals a possible change in the
black community's political
structure.
"If we become a political action
group, we ll go into the street and
do more than we have before,"
Barnett said. "In the past, we
only criticized each other
amongst ourselves, but this has
spilled over (into the public
areana)". I think the Bob Walton
issue is a blessing in disguise."
Koontz Wins Appeal For Rock Hill Television Station
Continued from page lA
signal among area stations,
with WJZY second. Channel 46
is the newest station In the area,
starting op>eratlon last August.
Koontz's organization was
originally turned down for a
permit because the structure of
Ihe partnership allowed the lim
ited partners too much input in
management and operation de
cisions.
"We didn't try to hide nothing.
Our competitive edge was in our
cowrage area." Koontz said.
Despite being passed over last
year, the Koontz organization
won its appeal without changing
its decision-making process.
ments and make a ruling.
"I'll be talking to my partners
about how the station's being
run." he said. "It's their money,
too."
lliat won't be the end of the ap
peal process, however. Tlie deci
sion can be challenged in court,
through the U.S. Court of Ap
peals and finally the Supreme
Court, who would make the final
derision.
22 North Carolina counties and
eight in South Carolina, with a
total of 11.200 square miles.
All applicants can appeal the
review board's decision by
March 27. If one or more appli
cants challenges the decision,
the commission will hear argu-
"It could be SLX months to a
year (to decide the appeals)"
Koontz said. "I'm optimistic
we'll prevail."
The viewing area is made up ol
A major selling point for get
ting the permit. Koontz said, was
the location of channel 55's
transmitter. The station would
put its transmitter on a Belmont
tower currently occupied by
WBIV and WJZY (channel 46).
WBTV has the most powerful
broadcast area, the 31st largest
in .America.
Blacks: Hit Hardest By AIDS
Continued from page lA
alxjut 13 months, compared to
12 months nationwide.
■'It will continue to go upward,
but not as dramatically as we've
seen," Hustead said.
The majority of AIDS cases
were rep>orted from the state's
urban areas. Of the 419 cases
counted since reporting began in
1984. the highest county subto
tals came from Mecklenburg
County. 65. and Wake County,
46. Cumberland County was
third with 27; Durham and For
syth counties tied for fourth
with 26; and Guilford was fifth
with 23.
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