A New Day In America–and New Hanover County
We, the People, have spoken. As citizens across the nation celebrate the historic victory of Senator Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States, here in New Hanover County the results were just as decisive: nearly all the candidates who strongly oppose the Titan Cement plant won decisive victories, while the candidate who most ardently supported the plant, County Commissioner Bill Kopp, lost his seat. Congratulations to our new county commissioners Jonathan Barfield, Jr. and Jason Thompson, and to incombent Commissioner Ted Davis–who, with his third place finish, we sincerely hope will get the message. Congratulations also to stalwart Titan opponent Senator Julia Boseman, who overcame some nasty attack ads from her opponent to reclaim her seat. Boseman has promised to do every thing in her power to fight the plant in Raleigh.
And though Libertarian candidate Brian Berger did not win his bid for county commissioner, I’d also like to thank him for being the first candidate to campaign hard on the Titan issue and spur the other candidates to take a stand.
Lastly, Bill Kopp’s defeat effectively repudiates his scare-mongering letter to his contributors about “radical environmentalists.” If he’d taken the time to talk to the people who voiced their concerns at the commission meetings and public hearings, he would know such a label was a total farce. We are mothers, fathers, teachers, retirees, engineers, journalists, scientists, businessmen and women, teachers, doctors, realtors, cabinet makers, surfers, software engineers, fishermen, musicians, and students from every age, every walk of life. And we simply want a better future for our children and our community. Now that the election is over, we will work even harder with our new leaders to help make that future a reality.
I’ll leave you with a quote that resonates for me on many levels tonight:
- With malice toward none, with charity for all, …let us strive on to finish the work we are in, …to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
Leave a Reply