From the Fayetteville Observer on Friday March 12 2010:
Candidates speak: Choose a leader who will represent your interests
by Nancy Shakir
I am a Democrat who is running for the United States Congress in the 8th District. Although it is somewhat unusual to challenge an incumbent, I believe you will understand why this challenge is crucial and necessary.
I am a mother and a grandmother. I retired as a high school teacher and as a district-wide supervisor. My work life has included being a laundry presser, a waitress, a house cleaner, a secretary – often holding down two and sometimes 2½ jobs. Although I eventually worked in city government, worked as a manager and later as a market recruiter for a major corporation, I also was director of a community-based program that provided preschool, after-school and senior citizens programs, a women’s and children’s clinic, as well as affordable housing. My life’s work has mostly been in service – one of the highest callings I believe you can have.
Too many ‘no’ votes
I am running against the incumbent Larry Kissell for the following reasons.
He voted “no” on legislation that would have allowed people to reorganize their finances and avoid foreclosure. He voted “no” when North Carolinians and Americans were facing the worst recession this country has seen since the Great Depression. His “no” vote was a “yes” vote for family despair and homelessness.
He voted “no” on cap-and-trade, a bill that could open doors for high-paying and living-wage “green collar” jobs – a bill that could open the doors for entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow.
He voted “no” for health care, claiming he was committed to helping seniors. The AARP, which represents 40 million seniors, supports health care reform as presented by the House and the Senate. The estimated cost to seniors to get the private Medicare Advantage out of the government Medicare program while saving billions over a 10-year period is about $1.67 a month over a 10-year period.
Under pressure, our representative may change his vote this time, but I ask you, do you want someone who has to be forced to represent your best interests?
I am not merely running against the incumbent because of his “no” votes.
I am running for the people. I am running to help create job growth – jobs that provide decent, living wages. We must support small-business owners, the backbone of our nation, so they are able to stay in business and be able to pay their employees wages that allow people to take care of their families and to live in dignity.
I am running to help create and support affordable, accessible and rigorous avenues of education from pre-school through technical and college education. North Carolina produces about 6,000 fewer teachers than it needs each year. Our country has fallen to No. 10 in the world for young people holding college degrees. We have got to do better.
I am running to assure that we have access to health care for all Americans.
I am running as a true Democrat and an independent thinker. I will not tell you I stand for one set of principles, then go to Washington and vote against my commitment to you. We need to make change now – before we spend years living with uncertainty.
We all know about the three parts of government – the legislative, the judicial and the executive. But let us not forget the fourth part – the most important part – the most powerful part of our democracy. We, the people.
Please go to my Web site, www.nancyshakir fornc08.com, and vote for Nancy Shakir in the primary May 4.
Nancy Shakir is a candidate for the 8th Congressional District. She is a Democrat.
