October 19, 2010.  BLOWING ROCK -- On October 12th and 14th,  Blowing Rock News attended the "Meet the Candidates" forum hosted by the Boone Chamber of Commerce.  We have already presented the candidates for NC State Senate and Clerk of Court.  This edition of DECISION 2010 presents the candidates for the 93rd District of the North Carolina House of Representatives, for which the incumbent is Democrat Cullie Tarleton and the Republican challenger, Jonathan Jordan.

THE CANDIDATES

Jonathan Jordan

REPUBLICAN

Biographical

• Married to Tracie, two children
• Member-Manager of Jordan and Jordan Law Offices, PLLC, in Jefferson, NC
• Legal practice is focused on real estate transactions, business and corporate law, contracts, and minor traffic offenses
• Serves as Guardian ad Litem Attorney for Allegheny County
• JD and MPA degrees, UNC-Chapel Hill
• MBA degree, Vanderbilit University
• BA (Economics and Politics), Wake Forest University
• Board Member
  • Ashe County Chamber of Commerce
  • Ashe County Free Medical Clinic
  • Ashe County Home Builders Association
• Member, Local Advisory Council for Boone Office of Legal Aid
• Former Board Member, Ashe Pregnancy Care Center
• Vice Chairman, Ashe County Republican Party
• Legal Counsel for the Fifth Congressional District Republican Executive Committee
• Member, Executive Committee of the North Carolina Republican Party
• Member, Rules Committee, North Carolina Republican State Convention in 2007, 2008, 2009
• Former County Attorney, Stokes County, NC, 2003-2006
• Former Communications Director, NC Republican Party, 2001-2003

Key Issues

• Jobs
• Budget
• Health Care Freedom
• Eliminate Cap on Public Charter Schools
• Marriage Amendment
• Reform Involuntary Annexation Laws
• Tax Fairness in Education
• Prohibit Illegal Immigrants from Attending NC Community Colleges
• Executive Oversight for State Employees' Health Care Plan

Cullie Tarleton

DEMOCRATIC

Biographical

• Born in Union County, NC
• Married to former Sylvia Davis of Marshville, NC; three adult children
• Lives in Blowing Rock, NC
• Retired Broadcaster, Former Sr. V.P. and General Manager of WBTV, WBT Radio, and WCCB-TV
• Current or Former Member of
  • Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
  • Session, Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church
  • Board, The Hunger Coalition, Boone
  • Board, Watauga Medical Center Foundation
  • Board, Blowing Rock Performing Arts Center
  • Board, Watauga Arts Council
  • President, Blowing Rock Stage Company
  • Chairman, Communications Department Executive Advisory Board, Appalachian State University
  • Board, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
  • Blowing Rock Rotary Club
  • Board & Vice Chair, North Carolina Zoological Park Council
  • Past President, North Carolina Association of Broadcasters
  • Board, Charlotte Center for Urban Ministry
  • Past Chairman of Board, Charlotte Uptown Development Corp.
  • Past Board and Chairman, Fox Affiliates Board of Governors
  • Past Radio & TV Board of Directors, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Past Chairman, Radio Board, National Association of Broadcasters
  • Past President, Child Care Resources, Inc.
  • Past Chairman, Board of Managers, Dowd YMCA
  • Past President, Carolina Opera Association
  • Past President, Charlotte Little Theatre
  • Past President, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
  • Past President, UNCC Athletic Association
  • Past Chairman, Better Business Bureau
  • Past President: Charlotte Advertising Club
  • Silver Medal Award, Charlotte Advertising Club
  • Past President, Charlotte Sertoma Club
  • Distinguished Service Award, Charlotte Jaycees
  • 32nd Degree Mason, Oasis Temple Shrine
  • Broadcasting Hall of Fame, North Carolina Association of Broadcasters
  • Distinguished Service Award, North Carolina Association of Broadcasters

Key Issues

• Budget. Continuing to cut state spending and keep budget balanced
• Jobs. Tax credits for small businesses that hire new workers
• Education. Protect or preserve funding for education, particularly classroom teachers, community colleges and UNC system

Standing Committee Assignments, 2009-2010 Legislative Session

• Chairman, Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee
• Chairman, Commerce, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship Committee
• Vice Chairman, Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education Committee
• Vice Chairman, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
• Member, Agriculture Committee
• Member, Appropriations Committee
• Member, Education Committee
• Member, Education Subcommittee on Universities
• Member, Energy and Energy Efficiency

Comments: