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NC DEM GUBERNATORIAL AND LT. GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES OPPOSE AMENDMENT ONE
Raleigh, N.C.— In the fight against Amendment One, a constitutional amendment which will appear on the May 8, primary ballot that jeopardizes protections for North Carolina families, women and children, there is no shortage of vocal critics. Opponents of the amendment include three of the four largest North Carolina political parties, a Tea Party U.S. Congresswoman, the North Carolina NAACP President, the conservative grandson of the North Carolina Constitution’s principal drafter and hundreds of faith leaders, professional organizations, business leaders and campuses from all across the state.
Now some of the state’s most prominent voices can be added to that list of those who will vote against on May 8—every major Democratic candidate for governor and lieutenant governor.
Today, Protect All NC Families (PANCF), the coalition to defeat Amendment One on May 8, released five videos with Council of State candidates who oppose Amendment One. Democratic candidates for governor Walter Dalton, Bob Etheridge and Bill Faison, all spoke out about their reasons for opposing Amendment One. In their own videos, the two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, Linda Coleman and Eric Mansfield, also share their opposition, citing the many unintended consequences of this rewrite to the state’s constitution.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW CANDIDATE VIDEOS: http://bit.ly/GNKCJS
Though this is the first time many of the candidates have appeared on camera stating why they oppose the amendment, all have publicly condemned the amendment prior to today’s PANCF video rollout.
On the heels of their announcements to run for North Carolina’s top spot, both current Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and former Congressman Bob Etheridge stated that they oppose North Carolina’s proposed Amendment One.
Rep. Bill Faison, who is also seeking the Office of Governor, was a North Carolina Representative during September 2011’s legislative session when the amendment was approved to be sent to the May 8 primary ballot. He voted against the proposed amendment on the floor of the House as a legislator and, in a January interview with News 14 Carolina, reaffirmed his intent to vote against the amendment on May 8.
In addition to the public pronouncements of opposition issued by Dalton, Etheridge and Faison, both Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, Linda Coleman and Eric Mansfield, stated that they will vote against on May 8.
Linda Coleman, former N.C. Representative and head of the Office of State Personnel, has repeatedly denounced the amendment on social media sites and includes a statement specifically opposing the amendment on her campaign website.
Eric Mansfield, also a candidate for lieutenant governor and a current N.C. Senator, made an impassioned speech against Amendment One in February at a Protect All NC Families event in his native Fayetteville.
“These North Carolina leaders may be on the campaign trail, but they have made it very clear that there is one thing you don’t politicize: people’s basic protections,” said Jeremy Kennedy, campaign manager for Protect All NC Families. “As North Carolina leaders, they understand the importance of standing up against broadly worded and unnecessary legislation that hurts North Carolina’s families, women and children. We ask that North Carolinians join them at the polls and heed their call to vote against on May 8.”
This unanimous opposition to Amendment One from Democratic gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates is joined by vocal opposition from sitting Governor Bev Perdue, who recently told Charlotte crowds she’d do everything she can to defeat it, as well as the North Carolina Democratic Party, which has passed two resolutions opposing the amendment.
“Like our president, our governor and all the 2012 Democratic gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates, North Carolina’s Democratic Party is firmly committed to fighting against any piece of legislation that would hurt North Carolina citizens," said North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Director Jay Parmley. "We are encouraging all Democrats in our state to vote against Amendment One on May 8 and keep North Carolina on the right side of history.”
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Protect All NC Families (protectncfamilies.org) is a broad coalition of state and national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) and human rights groups, faith organizations, communities of color, nonpartisan organizations, and business & community leaders, coming together for one purpose: to defeat Amendment One on the NC primary ballot on May 8, 2012.
