GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS! December 9, 2020 TWO YOUTH FEATURES: JOHNNY SHAVER & JON MCLAMB! SPECIAL FEATURE – PAM GENANT – BURKE COUNTY

ROBERT REIVES ELECTED HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER! State Representative Robert Reives was unanimously elected Democratic Leader by the 51 Democratic members of the on December 3rd. He succeeds Rep. Darren Jackson of Wake County who did not seek re-election. Reives will appoint a Deputy Leader. Reives has been an outstanding State Representative since 2014. He earned a BS degree in Business Administration/Finance from UNC-Chapel Hill. Then he earned his juris doctorate from the UNC School of Law. He is a Senior Managing Partner in the law firm of Wilson, Reives, and Silverman in Sanford. He says that other attorneys in his firm frequently call to ask him how they may help him with his cases when the legislature is in session. From Melvin Williams: “At the Sanford Hunt Frye Breakfast in Burlington in 2017, I had the good fortune of sitting beside Robert and Cynthia Reives. They treated me as if I had been their friend for years. They are winners!”

BRUNSWICK COUNTY DEMOCRATS! Congratulations to County Chair Tom Sapp and the generous Democrats of Brunswick County who collected all the goods shown in these two pictures to be given to Brunswick Family Assistance Christmas Campaign. First Vice Chair Lisa Mosca reports that Brunswick Dems adopted 45 households. 27 more Brunswick Dems made cash donations which exceeded $3,000.00 Even though they are in a red county, the Brunswick Democratic Party carried out a strong campaign in 2020. They did everything a county party can do in a campaign! Their work produced 33,310 votes for the Biden/Harris ticket and 36,818 votes for Governor Roy Cooper.

The Brunswick Democrats have one of the best County Party Headquarters in the state. They built it specifically to be their Headquarters in the 1990s and they have maintained it well. It is located in Bolivia, North Carolina.

GOVERNOR ROY COOPER ELECTED BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION! Last weekend the DGA elected Governor Cooper to be their 2021 Vice Chair and Chair-Elect. This means he will move up to be Chair of the organization in 2022. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was elected Chair for 2021. The major goals of the organization in 2021 will be to elect Democratic Governors in New Jersey and Virginia. Governor Cooper said: “This past year has been full of unexpected challenges, but the DGA has successfully weathered the storm. The DGA re-elected incumbents in Delaware and Washington as well as in the battleground state of North Carolina, marking the sixth consecutive cycle that the DGA has successfully defended all incumbents. “This past year has reminded the nation of the critical role that Democratic governors play in keeping our nation safe and building a brighter future for all,” he said. “Throughout my time in office I have worked tirelessly to expand health care access, invest in public education, and create economic opportunity across North Carolina.” The DGA plays a major role in every election by raising large amounts of money to support the election of Democratic Governors.

MATTY LAZO-CHADDERTON HONORED! One of the happiest parts of every live NCDP statewide meeting is talking with Matty Lazo-Chadderton. Over the years many Democrats have said that talking with Matty makes their day! On November 21st Matty received the Lifetime Achievement Diamante Latino Lizette Cruz-Watko Award given by Diamante Arts and Cultural Center which is a well known statewide Latino organization based in Cary. This award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Hispanic community in North Carolina during more than 10 years. Matty was recognized for “her tireless work for a more inclusive community through public service, as an active volunteer in different organizations and as a pioneer in civic participation efforts in the Latino community in North Carolina.

Matty was the Director for Hispanic/Latino Affairs for State Senate President Pro Tem, Senator Marc Basnight, for ten years from January, 2001 to January, 2011. In 2012 Governor Beverly Perdue appointed Matty as her Director for Hispanic/Latino Affairs. In March, 2017, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Matty as his Deputy Director for Outreach and Public Engagement. She is currently working in that post. She is a member of the State Executive Committee and she attends every possible Democratic event at the precinct, Wake County, and state levels.

Matty’s children and grandchildren are the joys of her life. Left: Her son Andrew and his wife, Daphne, with their children, Olivia and Miles. Right: Matty’s son, David, with his niece, Olivia.

YOUTH FEATURE:

JOHNNY GUADALUPE SHAVER! Johnny Shaver is a 22 year-old senior at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. As soon as he arrived at UNCW for his freshman year he filed as a candidate for Senator in the Student Government Association. There were five candidates for that seat – and Johnny won! He was re-elected to his seat for his sophomore year. Johnny was born in and his family moved to Duplin County, North Carolina when he was two years old. His parents are Maria and Gregorio. His siblings are Christy, Lillian, and Estrella. Because of his excellent scholastic record in high school, Johnny was awarded a Duplin County Scholars full ride scholarship to UNC-Wilmington! Johnny has been fascinated by political activities for many years. When he was 19 years old he decided that it was time for some of the elected officials in his home town of Magnolia to look like him. Up to that time the town had never had a Latino elected official. When he went to the office of the Duplin County Board of Elections, he was disappointed to learn that a candidate must be at least 21 years old to file for an office in Magnolia.

However, his attempt to file drew so much attention that Duplin County’s only newspaper, The Duplin Times, wrote a FULL-PAGE ARTICLE about him! The title of the article was “Es tiempo!” which means “It’s time!” The clipping above was from the part of the article than ran over onto a second page. The picture shows Johnny with his mother, Maria, and two of his sisters. Johnny was elected Third Vice Chair of the Duplin County Democratic Party. He relinquished that title when he decided to live in Wilmington full time. As soon as he made the move to Wilmington he became very active in the Democratic Party there.

At the 2020 Seventh Congressional District Convention Johnny was elected an Official Delegate to the Democratic National Convention! He was elected from a field of seven Delegate candidates. Like other Delegates, he cast his DNC vote virtually. He says he will always treasure the Convention souvenirs he received including a Convention tee shirt, Delegate buttons, and a personal letter from National Democratic Party Chair Tom Perez. Last winter Johnny started powerlifting on campus at UNC-Wilmington. When the gym was closed he bought his own set of weights so he could continue powerlifting.

This picture was made in 2018 when Johnny and Cynthia Castile went to Raleigh to join a march in support of DACA. On his Facebook page Johnny captioned this picture: “Your future is defined by your persistence.”

That caption gives a good summary of Johnny’s spirit!

When he was asked on October 27th to write a statement about his experiences in the Democratic Party, Johnny wrote: “These past four years have been an amazing experience working with the Democratic Party. I have met so many wonderful people and made lifelong friends with those that want to see change in North Carolina. “From working at the county level to becoming a Seventh Congressional District Delegate to the DNC has made me appreciate the work that those before me have done to allow me this opportunity. “Because of this I have been working so hard to make sure that those around me; friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors are registered to vote and know the candidates. “I have passed out Wikipedia articles of all the candidates that have one (sorry to local candidates) to everyone I know so that they understand who is on the ballot. Everyone is working so hard to make sure that the 2020 Blue Wave is achieved and I cannot wait to see everyone again when it is safe to do so!” Democrats may write to Johnny at: [email protected]

Editor’s Note: This is the first time that anyone has ever expressed appreciation in this newsletter for “the work that those before me have done to allow me this opportunity.” The first time!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO WHICH SHOWS WHAT THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CAUCUS DID IN THE 2020 CAMPAIGN!

https://youtu.be/8rEjbyl3LZI

NORTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATS ARE PROUD OF THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. GRACIE GALLOWAY, PRESIDENT OF THE AAPI CAUCUS. HER HUSBAND, FAMED WAR CORRESPONDENT, JOE GALLOWAY, IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF HER WORK.

SALUTING THE TEN COUNTIES WHICH PRODUCED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES

FOR THE BIDEN/HARRIS TICKET!

WAKE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR REBECCA LLEWELLEN SALUTES THE THOUSANDS OF WAKE DEMOCRATS WHO WORKED TOGETHER TO PRODUCE 393,336 VOTES!

1 – WAKE COUNTY – 393,336 2 – MECKLENBURG COUNTY – 378,107 3 – GUILFORD COUNTY – 173,086 4 – DURHAM COUNTY – 144,688 5 – FORSYTH COUNTY – 133,033 6 – BUNCOMBE COUNTY – 96,514 7 – CUMBERLAND COUNTY– 84,469 8 – NEW HANOVER COUNTY – 66,138 9 – ORANGE COUNTY – 63,594 10 – PITT COUNTY – 47,252 SPECIAL FEATURE: PAM GENANT – BURKE COUNTY! It is good to hear Democrats praise their local leader. So when Burke County Democrats started referring to their County Party Chair as “Wonder Woman,” they drew attention to Pam Genant. When asked why she is a Democrat, Pam replied: “I truly believe in the platform of the Democratic Party.” She was elected Party Chair in December of 2017 – and she has been going strong for the Party ever since. Pam gives credit for the strong performance of the Party in this red county to the Party’s many activists. However, they praise her. For example Renee Rostan says: “Pam is like the energizer bunny. She is awesome!” Pam lives in Valdese, North Carolina with her husband, Dr. Jackson Genant, who is a family medicine physician. They have two sons: Dallen (26) and Phillip (24.) Dallen and Phillip own and operate their own computer game design firm. Pam graduated from Husson University in Bangor, Maine with a Registered Nurse degree. She worked as a civilian nurse for two years and then four years in the U. S. Army.

On the left at Lower Fork polling place at South Mountain Fire Department: Iva Rhoney with Pam. On right: Pam with Jewel Hudson who is the long standing and active Precinct Chair of Lower Fork

Pam participating in a literature drop on a rainy day. Ready for the State Convention of the Democratic Women For many years the Senator Sam Dinner has been the biggest fundraising event for Burke County Democrats. Because of the coronavirus, they transformed this year’s dinner to a virtual event on October 6th. Due to lots of promotional work, they raised a substantial amount of funds. They also did several smaller fundraising projects such as selling water bottles and tee shirts. Pam reports that many Burke Democrats put a lot of work into the 2020 campaign. They started with organizing as many precincts as possible. Then they spent months knocking on doors and doing phone banking, writing and mailing cards, doing literature drops and carrying out texting campaigns. Most county parties do similar types of campaigning but Burke Democrats really enjoyed these projects. In addition to personally participating in all of the above activities, Pam personally attended every meeting of the Burke County Board of Elections where she often spoke up to be sure Democrats were treated fairly. Burke County SEC Member Bill Satterwhite says: “As an ex-military nurse, Pam has exceptional leadership skills. If something needs doing, Pam has a plan and makes it happen by activating the talents of a diversity of volunteers. Just watch her strategy for the next election. She’s a winner and we will be too!” NCDP Political Director Lorenzo Pedro lived in Burke County before moving to Raleigh. He writes: “As someone who worked with Pam in Burke County, I know she is an incredibly hard worker and have seen firsthand her passion and enthusiasm for our Democratic Party!”

During the 2020 campaign Pam helped organize a Teen Democrats Chapter. Several of the Teen Dems joined Pam for this picture on Election Day.

YOUTH FEATURE: JON MCLAMB – FORSYTH COUNTY! On December 1st Wake Forest Law student Jon McLamb was elected President of the Young Democrats of Forsyth County. Jon also represents the Young Democrats of North Carolina at meetings of the Young Democrats of America. Additionally, he is one of the Vice Chairs of the Forsyth County Democratic Party.

Jon with Duncan Walsh and Quamekia Shavers who retired as Vice President and President, respectively, of the Forsyth Young Dems on December 1st. A good friend of Duncan’s also joined in the picture.

Jon with Corey McCann, Founder of Rally Up! Winston-Salem, Tracey Scale-Dent, mother of a gun violence victim, and Quamekia Shavers at a Gun Violence Awareness Forum at the Forsyth County Party Headquarters. Jon earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Philosophy at North Carolina State University. He is currently in his third year at Wake Forest School of Law. He has already had three jobs which have given him excellent legal experience: - Working for the United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina - Summer clerkship with Young Moore & Henderson, P. A., in Raleigh - Working as a Judicial Extern with the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Jon with members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Winston-Salem State University after delivering a lecture on voter ID laws in NC (before the Federal Court enjoined the requirement.)

Quamekia Shavers and Jon welcomed Bailey Stinson, Executive Vice President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, to a Candidate Forum hosted by the of Wake Forest University.

In this picture Jon joined Kendrick Cunningham, a member of the Young Americans for Biden Advisory Committee at a March to the Polls at Winston-Salem State. Jon’s experiences in the 2020 campaign included: - Serving on the Young Americans for Biden Advisory Committee for North Carolina - Serving as Law School Captain for North Carolina Democratic Party Voter Protection Team

Democrats can write to Jon about Party business at: [email protected]

Outstanding Group: In this picture Jon is with the Members of the Young Democrats of North Carolina Executive Committee at ’s speech in Durham during the Democratic Primary. When asked what his hobbies were, Jon replied: - Reading Political Philosophy - Playing tennis - Trying new local coffee shops throughout North Carolina

Jon’s goals for the Young Democrats of Forsyth County include: - Expand and diversify the membership of the organization - Lobby for greater recognition of Young Democrats within the Forsyth County Democratic Party - Promote progressive policies favored by young people in Forsyth County

It is seasonally appropriate that the last picture of this article shows Jon with other outstanding Young Democrats: Devonte Wilson, Shannon Auer, Kendrick Cunningham, and Matt Hughes. This picture was made at Governor Cooper’s 2019 Christmas Party.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE A DEMOCRAT FOR:

A SPECIAL FEATURE OR A YOUTH FEATURE

PLEASE SEND THEIR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO: [email protected]

YOU MAY ALSO CALL MELVIN WILLIAMS AT: 910-590-4542

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

CLICK THIS LINK TO REGISTER: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJ0kdu6srj8 tG9wXurijc8QVnaDEuevXaIAr%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1b1z7RRiqFBimupCCCO6GSEwAMGEr5TJIg9AkM n33mk1uNKOTGqBSJYaw&h=AT3VFlKOyqxa9qjr3RjQjxAgmiwi0_rOMj_KX089-Vat6ALGnU- tHK3n7rYgwS29yFAF_NyZbG_GF2B5eh9oc_IUZlSu7PF6vSg9gTNhHGYPKqbSmu_XmUUkwYv4EFFn ScmXa0Gw6iMgIgnt&__tn__=-UK-y- R&c[0]=AT26TU5sZdOJXlnPslO49pwPyXj1gfPM3wRBSkmuquL4JHqgGsYxbxmfnSH8__Hd77isZzjbL UddfL_TZETER8NSJ15X0xgKxXgBnNDpQFGxpjxiwCC5F5i1xzs7KC-qSvJl5Z5SqUGTlVCeJFRgd- JUcUTex4N9eGk5JBsJ3aO31XDYOYx5xcmpG_pNUNAVnjncrUTKmMpgJcKkFxtw2d7ix6sl5qoLwF dTvdZmif1J680

NCDP FIRST VICE CHAIR WILL BE SPEAKING AT THE BRUNSWICK DEMS MEETING AT 7:00PM, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

RUTHERFORD COUNTY DEMOCRATS! Rutherford County is famous for its beautiful tourist attractions like Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. In recent elections it has been a heavily red county. In the 2020 campaign the Democrats of the county made their presence known in diverse and colorful ways. As the pictures in this article show, Rutherford Democrats are bravely proud to stand up for the “Party of the People!”

County Chair Ken Jordan, First Vice Chair Esther Lusk, and other County Party Officers congratulated every Rutherford Democrat who joined in the 2020 campaign!

More Rutherford County Democrats on the next two pages!

RUTHERFORD COUNTY DEMOCRATS!

SENATOR WILEY NICKEL’S BIRTHDAY! Caroline Nickel and their children recently helped Senator Wiley Nickel celebrate his birthday. They also have something else to celebrate: Wiley’s re-election to the Senate by a landslide vote of 72,726 to 33,032! The voters of Wake County knew they already had a great State Senator so they re-hired him! In the 2020 election the number of Democratic State Senators in North Carolina rose from 21 to 22 – thus preserving Governor Cooper’s veto!

Everyone is invited to nominate a person to star in the YOUTH FEATURE or in a SPECIAL FEATURE in GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS by sending that person’s contact information to: [email protected]

Your Democratic Friend, Melvin Williams, State Secretary North Carolina Democratic Party