7A
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NEWS^e Ci^arlotte $o«t
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Black lawmakers stand to gain new clout
Continued from page 1A
trails Republican Thelma
Drake in the 2nd District.
Three Caucus members
would assume the chair of
powerful House Committees
- Charles Rangel (Ways and
Means), John Conyers
(Judiciary) and Aicee
Hastings (Intelligence). Watt
could have his choice of sub
committee assignments in
Commercial and
Administrative Law or
Financial Services, both of
which are important to
Charlotte, the nation’s sec-
ond-laigest banking center.
Watt, however, says he con
centrating on his 12th
District campaign against
Republican Ada Fisher.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time
thinking about it,” said Watt,
a seven-term representative.
I don’t coruit chickens before
they’ve hatched.”
The Caucus, and
Democrats in general, have
been locked out of key posi
tions and policy making wilh
Republicans ccxntroUir^ the
House, Senate and White
House. A Democratic
takeover of one or both cham
bers would put them in posi
tion to craft legislation on
issues related to Iraq, home
land security and immigra
tion. President Rush, who
has benefited from a
Republican majority would
have to deal with opponents
who share opposing views of
his party’s policies.
“Bush is going to be in a
positicai where if he wants to
get things done, he’s goir^ to
have to listen” to Democrats,
Bositis said. “Of course, he
can stop things fium getting
done because he has the
powOT of veto.”
Said Watt: You’ve got some
leverage to get him to see
some things your way We
would certainly be in a posi
tion to have our voices heard
on issues coming before the
House.”
On the Net:
Congressional Black Caucus:
yvwwcbcarg
A look at 12th Congressional District
I
Fisher
Rep. Mel Watt heis repre
sented the 12th District,
stretching
fium ^Wnstm-
Salem to
Charlotte,
since 1993.
He’s a former
lawyer and
I state senator
and now
serves as the
chairman of
the Congressional Black
Caucus. Repubhcan chal
lenger Ada Fisher is a
Salisbmy doctor who has
made unsuccessful runs for
Senate in 2002 and House in
2004.
DISTRICT HISTORY:
Registered Republicans:
98,242.
Registered Democrats:
224,392.
2000 Presidaitial Election;
Gore 115,445 (57 percent);
Bush 85,950 (42 percent).
2004 Presidential Election;
Kerry 149,940 (63 percent);
Bush 88,955 (37 percent).
2004 House Election:
Melvin Watt 154,908 (67 per
cent); Ada Fisher 76,898 (33
Landfill
sitings by
race
Continued from pageSA
Bureau figures in the areas
surroimding the sites on
racial and ethnic makeup
and average home values, a
measurement of a communi
ty’s wealth.
Adjusting for population
density the report foxmd solid
waste facilities were 2.1
times more likely to be locat
ed in a community where
more than 10 percent of resi-
d^ts were minorities when
compared to areas where less
than 10 percent of resid^ts
were minorities.
Looking at permits issued
between 1990 and 2003 to
commimities that didn’t
already have a landfill, the
odds to get a permit were 2.2
times greater for an area
where more than 10 percent
of residents were minorities
than areas with less than 10
percent.
The information seems to
suggest that sohd waste
dumps have been dispropor
tionately placed in communi
ties with more minorities,
Wing said.
The odds of a community
having a landfill was 40 per
cent hi^er in an area with
avo'age home values imder
$100,000 compared to over
$100,000. However, since
1990, landfills were permit
ted less often in low-wealth
hoixsing areas without land
fills.
said waste reduction
wouldn’t occur until white
and more affluent communi
ties handle their own trash in
fhebr own communities.
Gary Grant, executive
director of the environmental
justice group Concerned
Citizens for Tillery said the
report “confim^ what we
have already believed for a
long time ”
However, Greg Peverall
with the CarolLnas chapter of
the National Solid Wastes
Management ’ Association
said the data reflects past
practices.
Tbday “our industry would
never support, endorse or
accept the placement of mod
em municipal solid waste
landfills in low-wealth or
minority communities,” he
said.
percent). .
INCUMBENT:
NAME: Melvin L. Watt.
AGE; 61. Bom Aug. 26,
1945 in Mecklenburg Comity
N.C.
RESIDENCE: Charlotte.
PARTY: Democrat.
FAMILY: He and his wife
Eulada Paysour Watt have
two sons.
EDUCATION; Bachelor of
science, 1967, UNC-Chapel
Hill; law degree, 1970, Yale
University
CAREER: Practiced law,
1971-1992.
POLITICAL CAREER:
Served in state Saiate, 1985-
1986; elected to Congress in
1992.
FINANCES: $160,357 cash
on hand as of Oct. 18;
$455,450 raised for cam
paign.
WEB SITE:
http://www.wattforcongress.c
om
CHALLENGER:
NAME: Ada Fisher.
21,
AGE; 59. Bom Oct.
1947 in Durham.
RESIDENCE: Salisbury
PARTY: Republican.
FAMILY: Fisher has two
sons.
EDUCATION; Bachelor’s
degree, University of North
Carolina -Greensboro;
Medical degree, Univereity of
Wisconsin; Graduate degree
in pubhc health, Johns
Hopkins University
CAREER: A doctor, Fisher
has worked for the VA hospi
tal in ■ Salisbury and as a
physician and manager for
two Fortune 500 companies.
POLITICAL CAREER:
unsuccessful runs for Senate
in 2002 and House in 2004.
FINANCES: $5,876 cash on
hand as of Oct. 18; $394,620
raised for campaign.
WEB SITE;
www.dradamfisher. oi^
Source: Almanac of American
Politics; N.C. State Board of
Elections; Candidate Web sites
and interviews.
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RE-ELECT
"1
JENNIFER
OBERTS
M ECKLENBURG
County Commission At Large
Help Re-elect
County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts
PO Box 5243 • Charlotte, NC 28299
704-650-1673 •jennifer@jenniferroberts.net
www.jenniferroberts.net
Paid for by the Committee to Re-elect Jennifer Watson Roberts
Many Voices,
One Community.
Jennifer Roberts is dedicated to working with all groups
to make Mecklenburg County a safer and healthier
place to live.
Jennifer's open approach to leadership means that
people have a voice in how their government can
work better.
Re-elect Jennifer Roberts and show your support for
government that is inclusive, effective, and accountable.
About Jennifer:
. Charlotte native • CMS graduate
• Former high school teacher • Mom
• Adjunct Professor, UNC-Charlotte
"Mecklenburg County has a long tradition of leaders
in our neighborhoods, churches, social organizations
and business community, who bring people together
to improve life for everyone. There are some in our
community who have recently tried to destroy for
political purposes what we have built. I pledge to
oppose this divisiveness and work with all groups to
make Mecklenburg County a safer and healthier
place for all of us."
• —Jennifer Roberts
Thank You For
Your Support!
VOTE JENNIFER ROBERTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7