Lisa Baldwin Buncombe County School Commissioner

Buncombe School Board Member Baldwin Wins Statewide Award

Buncombe Board of Education member Lisa Baldwin received the James Knox Polk award for leadership in public office from the John Locke Foundation. She is the first school board member in North Carolina to be so honored.

Baldwin has established a reputation as an independent voice since her election in 2010. Although often on the short end of 6-1 votes, she continues to press for more fiscal responsibility, transparency and parental involvement in Buncombe’s schools.

She was given the Polk award at the organization’s 22^nd annual dinner, held January 21 in Raleigh. In accepting, she challenged all audience members to get involved with their own local schools. “Ask questions, write letters to the editor. Support the school board members who are fighting to focus dollars on the classroom,” Baldwin urged.

She closed by saying, “Your questions won’t change things immediately. But your continued involvement and pressure will change things eventually.”   

The Polk award is named after America’s eleventh president, a native North Carolinian. John Hood, John Locke Foundation president, introduced Baldwin by saying,“Polk’s work ethic and commitment to principle are clearly evident in the career of our first honoree tonight, Lisa Carpenter Baldwin.” He then went on to praise her for supporting parental choice and competition in education. John Hood continued “She campaigned on the premise of supporting the education of all Buncombe County students and will collaborate with private, charter schools, home schools, those with special needs, and accelerated learners. Every child counts.’ Yes, and every public official who stands up for principle counts, too. As North Carolina continues to struggle with an inefficient education system that produces an insufficient return on our tax dollars, we need leaders who believe in fundamental reform – and are willing to fight for it. That’s Lisa Baldwin, recipient of the James Knox Polk Award for Leadership in Public Office.”

The John Locke Foundation is a North Carolina-based non-profit research institute. Much of its work is devoted to examinations and recommendations about public education policy.

“Economics in One Lesson” 

Arm yourself to win every economic debate!

Be able to fully explain and defend…
why government “stimulus” programs always fail,
why “cash for clunkers” was a waste of money,
why the Wall St. bailout was wrong and unnecessary,
why government “jobs programs” never work, and why “profit” is not a dirty word.

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This year our number one priority is to provide Buncombe County with strong and qualified Republican candidates and then provide these candidates with the votes they need to WIN in 2012.  This is our path and we will unite Republicans and Independents to accomplish this.  We made great progress in 2011 getting the BCGOP organized and prepared for 2012; we must now continue to build upon our success.

In these difficult times we must work together to reverse the direction of the Liberal social agenda adopted by our local, state, and federal elected officials. We must instead promote financial accountability, conservative values, and conservative principles at every level of government. To that end, the BCGOP has our marching orders to unite the party with efforts beginning right here in our own backyards. We will have conservative Republicans elected in Buncombe County and aid in defeating President Obama and Gov. Perdue in 2012!

Tighten those belts up; it’s going to be one heck of a ride.

Henry Mitchell, Chairman Buncombe County GOP

The problem for Governor Perdue is simple: the truth doesn’t agree with what she says. Below I’ve outlined what Perdue has said, what the reality actually is, and how to combat liberals who don’t know any better than to believe Perdue’s squawking.

Perdue says: “Budget cuts have hurt education.”

Reality: A failed economic agenda put forward federally by Barack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi and by Perdue/Hackney and the Democrats’ decade long rule in the state have cost North Carolina tens of thousands of jobs. As a result of the Democrat-sponsored unemployment numbers, tax revenues have declined. In North Carolina we have to balance a budget. The budget we put into place in tough economic times has allowed education to remain a priority.

Under the Republican-led, bi-partisan passed budget, 4,000 jobs in State Education were created this past year. That’s right, 4,000 jobs that help children. All of this was done without raising taxes. The fact that Perdue vetoed a budget that created 4,000 + new state education jobs, and put more individual attention on students in the classroom shows that she either doesn’t read the reports about employment, or simply chooses to ignore truth when it doesn’t fit in her political narrative. http://www.nccivitas.org/2012/preliminary-dpi-personnel-data-shows-increase-in-state-supported-education-jobs/

Perdue said: ‘The sales tax will only last for one year, take my word for it, because I’m the Governor.”

Reality: When Perdue and the Democrats passed the sales tax, she promised it would only be for one year. Well, we know how this story unfolded. She tried to keep it in place (which meant breaking her promise), but the people of North Carolina wanted it gone, and as a result the GOP-led, bi-partisan passed budget eliminated that tax.

Now Perdue is standing in the political graveyard, shovel-in-hand, digging up a tax that the people of North Carolina thought was dead and buried forever. VIDEO: “Because I’m the Governor”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72FR7_W2N6

Now if Perdue lied about the tax lasting for only one year, how can we trust her intention on this? We can’t.

Perdue says: “This is to offset projected losses in federal grants.”

Reality: This is probably the most insightful quote we have into how Perdue feels about President Obama’s inability to create an atmosphere for job creators to succeed. She realizes that the United States Senate, under the control of Democrats, has refused to pass a budget in nearly 1000 days. BUT instead of owning that failure, President Obama has blamed North Carolinians for the failures of the Obama/Perdue agenda.

After three years of failed leadership in DC, Obama called the American people, “lazy.” VIDEO:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw7HfTEWTAU
After three years of failed leadership in NC, Perdue said, “she’s hopeful for the first time.” VIDEO:http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8488688

Both of these statements are troubling. Under Perdue’s tenure, thousands of North Carolinians, including some of your friends and neighbors, have lost hope of employment.’ Was Perdue ‘hopeless’ for those three years while people were suffering? Besides corruption and criminal scandals, what other highlights exist from Perdue’s tenure as Governor? The only thing that comes t mind is her suggestion that we ‘suspend elections.’ As you can see, she has hardly any accomplishments to actually champion on the campaign trail.

Perdue broke the law?

Perdue is currently in hot-water for lying and revealing confidential government information about unemployment for her own political advantage. The “Data-Gate” scandal is a looming liability for Perdue, as the United States Congress has made official inquiries into whether or not Perdue released information about employment before it was made public- in order to gain political advantage. Not only that, but when she committed this offense, she actually lied about the numbers. Proving once again that her word can’t ever be taken at face value.

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=8605

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/government-statistical-agency-helping-nc-democrat/264741
http://dailycaller.com/2011/12/19/gov-perdues-staffers-create-data-sharing-scandal/
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/congressman_wants_perdue_to_provide_information_on_labor_data
http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/story_outlines_how_perdue_tried_to_spin_unemployment_numbers

Sales Tax Info: This is a tax on everyone in North Carolina. Yes, Perdue just proposed taxing the 99%. The poor and middle class will be hurt first, and hurt the worst by this tax.

It is a 15% increase in a sales tax. It would cost the private sector of North Carolina close to $1 BILLION. Perdue has no facts for her argument, just politically “convenient” opinions. If Perdue had her way, I bet she would continually increase the tax by “a fraction” every year.

Bottom Line:

The NCGOP are not only deeply concerned about education, but we have taken measures to protect students at a time of Democratic-authored economic uncertainty. Perdue’s use of children as a prop to raise taxes is disgusting. If you want to improve education this is how you do it: create new jobs. New jobs make new taxpayers. More taxpayers mean a better living environment for North Carolina.

How do you do this? Vote Obama and Perdue out of office, and elect candidates who believe in shrinking the size of centralized government, and returning the power of governing to the people of North Carolina.

“Surrounded by family and loved ones, we pause to celebrate the Child whose humble birth so changed the world. On Christmas, may the hope He brings warm our homes and fill our hearts.

“Let us also remember this Christmas the many men and women serving our country overseas. We think of those far from home and of their families, who are even more aware today of their long absence. They should know we support them and pray for them—ever mindful of their sacrifice and thankful for their service.”

“As we embrace relatives and exchange presents, we should also take time to extend a hand to those in need,” said Co-Chairman Day. “In the season when we celebrate God’s gifts of love and grace, we can and should readily give of ourselves.

“We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and we hope the blessings of the holiday season will be with you long into the New Year.”

Read more: http://www.gop.com/index.php/news/comments/rnc_chairman_reince_priebus_and_co-chairman_sharon_day_christmas_message#ixzz1hYoA0M1G

You are cordially invited to attend the annual Buncombe County Courthouse Christmas Party. Friday, December 23, 10 a.m. until noon, on the first floor of the Courthouse. Hosted by:

Steve Cogburn – Clerk of Court
Van Duncan – Sheriff
Ron Moore – District Attorney
David Gantt – Chair County Commission
Carol Peterson – County Commissioner
Drew Reisinger – Register of Deeds

Folks, that’s a lot of Democrats in one place! This is an excellent opportunity for our candidates to make an appearance and talk to folks who may not be totally enamored with the Dems. Everyone is welcome, and it would be great to have a nice showing of Republicans there to support our candidates so that we are not totally outnumbered. And, it should be a festive and fun gathering. So please, if you can spare some time Friday morning, stop by. Let’s fill the courthouse lobby with Republicans!

The Blue Ridge Republican Women’s Club is proud to present an evening with Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation. Ms. Gray will speak about various pieces of legislation that have or have not been passed this year by the North Carolina General Assembly. She will also discuss how well the Legislature is performing in its representation of the citizens of NC.

We hope you will join the BRRWC for this informative meeting, preceded by a buffet dinner which you are also welcome to attend (Dinner is $18 per person).

The John Locke Foundation (www.johnlocke.org) is a conservative think tank which publishes The Carolina Journal. Among many other topics of interest, this publication recently investigated the solar panel issue at Enka High School which has been questioned by Buncombe County School Board Member Lisa Baldwin.

WHAT: An evening with Becki Gray of the John Locke Foundation
WHEN: Thursday, November 10, 2011
WHERE: Renaissance Hotel on Woodfin Street in downtown Asheville
TIME: Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m., program at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $18 for dinner (please make checks payable to Renaissance Hotel). Meeting is free of charge.

Please RSVP to Nancy Waldrop at nswking@charter.net, or 828-778-4186.

Early voting is Open…Get out and VOTE! 

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