STAM FOR HOUSE
P.O. Box 1600
Apex, NC 27502
Tel: (919) 362-8873 - work/(919) 362-4835-home
Email: Paulstam@bellsouth.net
Website:
www.paulstam.info
November 2, 2006
Friends,
This may be my last email to before the election. So here are some closing thoughts.
Thank you to the many friends who knocked on doors, made telephone calls, put up yard signs, gave advice, worked at the one-stop polls (or will next Tuesday) donated money, organized events, endorsed (and whatever else was done outside my knowledge). I am very aware that no successful campaign for office is based on my efforts.
Don't underestimate the value of one vote on Tuesday (or Saturday if you have a nearby one-stop location) by reminding your friends and neighbors on Election Day. My cousin lost an election by 4 votes because his friends and neighbors thought he had it in the bag. If you go through your rolodex on Tuesday and call 20 friends the chance is that 10 of them will not yet have voted and that you can encourage 8 of them to do so.
My opponent, Ed Ridpath, and I agree on one thing -- that immediately after the election we will each help take each other's signs down and dispose of them. Anyone receiving this has permission to take down Stam or Ridpath signs. You can either dispose of them yourself or, if you prefer, return the wire holders to me to be used next election.
The legislative elections and judicial elections this year are extremely important. A few seats can determine policy, enforced by law, for the next two years. It only takes a very small number of voters in 3 or 4 districts to change history.
I have raised almost enough money. I will be privileged and honored to serve you again if I prevail on November 7th. I usually don't spend a lot of time worrying about my opponent's finances. But a couple of items stand out that may give you an idea where he is actually coming from. His receipts included $3,046 from Equality NC PAC (gay-lesbian PAC); $1,000 from Joe Hackney (Majority Leader of the Democrats); $300.00 from NARAL NC (abortion industry); $3,000 from NCAE (teachers union); $1,000 from Planned Parenthood of NC (abortion industry).
This is my 10th campaign -- 3 wins/6 losses. This is the first time that the Raleigh News & Observer has endorsed me. At the bottom of this letter is their profile and endorsement. It is somewhat of a backhanded endorsement but nevertheless helpful. Other endorsements came from the State Employees Association; Police Benevolent Association; NC Right to Life; National Federation of Independent Businesses and several others.
The morning, lunchtime and after work shifts at the polls still need a few more volunteers to wear a t-shirt with my name in big print and hold a sign. We have about 40 of the 60 shifts covered. If you can lend a hand, call or email.
Paul Stam
Political novice challenges
Republican legislator (News & Observer)
In
state House District 37, which covers southern Wake County, one of the
legislature's top experts at shaping and crafting bills is up against an IBM
employee who touts a grass-roots campaign that he says is more in touch with the
voters.
Rep. Paul Stam, an Apex Republican, is a lawyer seeking his fourth term in the House. Ed Ridpath is a Democrat from Fuquay-Varina who has never before sought political office.
The district leans Republican, though Democratic Gov. Mike Easley got more votes there than his Republican challenger in 2004. The latest campaign-finance reports show that Stam had raised roughly $32,000 to Ridpath's $23,000 as of June 30.
Stam supports many conservative positions, such as a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages and a ban on abortions. But he has also shown an inclination to work with Democrats to move legislation with bipartisan support, such as a new law creating a state commission to re-examine criminal convictions. He reads legislation closely and often suggests changes that eliminate contradictory language or potential legal problems.
Stam said his first priority if re-elected is to enact a constitutional amendment prohibiting governments from taking private property for economic development. He also seeks a tax credit for the families of students with special needs to pay for speech therapy and other services so that families can choose to send their children to a private school or home-school them.
Stam said the bill could save public school systems from paying for the additional programs, while giving the families of special-needs children more options.
"It's expensive to educate children with special needs, so if it's a tax credit that gets some children to go to private school or home school, that otherwise would not, then obviously the public school is not paying for it," Stam said.
Ridpath said his campaign initiatives come straight from talking with voters. They are concerned about rapid growth and the need for more schools and better roads, he said, and irked that their district has been targeted for a sewage plant and a landfill.
"It's not necessarily that I blame Paul Stam for all of these things," Ridpath said, "but it is a matter of standing up and focusing on these things that impact the community."
He supports the bond issue for school construction, but would also like to see developers pay impact fees to generate more money to build schools. He said the state should move up construction of the southern link of I-540, without turning it into a toll road.
Ridpath also said he would seek ways to reduce the dependence on foreign oil, preserve more open space, and raise the legal dropout age to 18 to encourage more students to get a high school diploma.
Staff
Writer Dan Kane can be reached at 829-4861 or dkane@newsobserver.com
For the House (News &
Observer)
In
several contests for the state House, Wake County voters can choose
well-qualified incumbents or promising challengers
Being a
member of the N.C. House of Representatives is all about grass roots politics --
talking to constituents, getting the job done when it comes to helping
communities in the district, following issues of statewide importance that may
affect the home folks. Good House members know when to take the lead with
legislation in the public interest and are able to make their case effectively
while observing high standards of conduct.
District 37: Stam
Democrat Ed Ridpath, 46, of Fuquay-Varina, is an IBMer
who's in an uphill fight to unseat incumbent Republican Paul "Skip" Stam, 56, in this southern
Wake district. Stam, an Apex attorney, has served three terms total, two
consecutively, in the House, where he's been outspoken and a stubborn foe of
what he says are Democrats' efforts to ignore the
rules.
Stam has annoyed the Democratic House leadership, and
hasn't hesitated to offer his view on embattled Speaker Jim Black (he thinks
Black should resign) and voice his own partisan view of abuses on Jones Street.
Stam says, in fact, that one reason he wants to stay in the House is to help
"keep bad things from happening."
The
News & Observer disagrees with Stam on a number of issues, but his presence
in the General Assembly and his experience are valuable. That's why he has our
editorial endorsement for re-election.
Make no mistake: Ridpath is a viable candidate who would
do a good job. He favors impact fees to pay some of the cost of growth, saving
more open space, and improving transportation systems with an emphasis on energy
conservation.
Overall, though, Stam is an asset on Jones Street, in part because the Democratic leaders don't like answering his questions. But many times, they're questions in need of answers.
Corporate contributions are not allowed. If you would like to personally
contribute to the campaign, checks may be made payable to "Stam for House". Election laws require that the campaign
report the contributor's name, address, principal occupation (job title or
profession), the employer's specific field or business activity. Contributions over $4,000.00 are not
allowed. To donate online through
PayPal please go to my website at www.paulstam.info.
Why vote early?
On Saturday, October 24th I voted at the Apex Community Center beside Town Hall. Why? Here are a few reasons:
1. There is absolutely no line. I was in and out in 2 minutes.
2. I plan to be extremely busy on election day and don't want to waste time that day.
3. I may get sick and can't vote on Election Day.
4. One of my loved ones might get sick and I would feel the need to be at the hospital or at their bedside. You don't know.
5. A business emergency may come up that prevents me from voting on November 7th. Should I have to choose between my right to vote and the needs of my clients? No.
6. It may be raining on Election Day and I won't have to get wet.
There are innumerable other reasons to vote early. One of the best is that once you have voted you can tell the telephone solicitors, survey takers, poll workers that you have already voted and they don't have to worry about you any more.
Please vote early at a one stop location through this Saturday, November 4th. In Wake County the places, dates and times are on my website, www.paulstam.info. In this area the two locations are the Apex Community Center and Wake Technical Community College on Highway 401. Today through Friday the times are 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. On Saturday you can vote from 11:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. See you there!
Just as a reminder I also would like to share again with you my judicial recommendations.
The Appellate Judicial Candidates appear on the ballot without party affiliation.
I have a few recommendations. I know all of the people that I recommend well and in several cases their qualifications are vastly superior to their opponents. In other cases their paper qualifications are relatively equal but my considered judgment is set out below:
Chief Justice: Judge Rusty Duke
Associate Justice: Justice Mark Martin
Associate Justice: Judge Ann Marie Calabria
Associate Justice: Judge Eric Levinson
Court of Appeals: Judge Donna Stroud
Former Judge Kris Bailey
There is a contested race for Superior Court Judge in parts of Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina and even Raleigh. I recommend Paul Ridgeway.
If you find this is helpful, please feel free to forward it. Widespread "one stop" voting begins tomorrow, October 28th through November 4th. You can visit my website, www.paulstam.info for all the locations and times.
(cut off and return with check)
Name:
__________________________________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________________________________
Occupation:
__________________________________________________________________
(job title or profession)
Employer:
__________________________________________________________________
(specific field or business activity)
Optional:
Telephone: Mail to: Stam for House
email Address: Darlene Keith, Treasurer
P.O. Box 1600
Apex, NC 27502
_____ Yes, you may use my name as an endorsement of your candidacy
_____ Please send me _______ window decals
_____ Send me information on:
_____Tax Incentives for Business
_____Tuition Tax Credits
_____Abortion Law in NC
_____Parliamentary Procedure
_____2006 Budget
_____2005 Budget