Letter from Phil Kirk

Names of Many NCCBI Members on the Ballot

NCCBI is both the state chamber of commerce and the state manufacturing association, as designated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

We often are asked if we are a political organization and we are not. We are sometimes confused with NC FREE, a nationally-known and respected group of business people who are very involved in the political process. Sometimes I explain the difference in our two groups this way. “NC FREE works with the candidates before the election and then NCCBI works with the winners after the election and the more effective NC FREE is, the easier our job is!”

NCCBI does not have a political action committee and we do not endorse candidates. However, we actively encourage our members across the state to be involved as individuals in campaigns for candidates in both parties who will promote pro-jobs, pro-growth policies.

We encourage business people to become more involved in the process, in addition to voting and encouraging their employees to vote. We invite candidates and elected officials to our meetings in Raleigh and those around the state. We want them to meet business people and for our members to have the opportunity to meet and talk with them.

NCCBI does get actively involved in promoting the passage of constitutional amendments and bonds. In 1996, we organized and led the campaign for $2.7 billion in bonds for K-12 school construction and highways and in 2000, we did the same for $3.1 billion in bonds for the UNC System, community colleges, and UNC TV.

This year, we are very involved in Amendment One, self-financing bonds, which will be on the ballot on Nov. 2. Leslie Bevacqua Coman, NCCBI vice president of governmental affairs, is chairing the steering committee for North Carolinians for Jobs and Progress. Graham Denton, Bank of America executive and our second vice chair, is raising the campaign funds.

As previously stated, NCCBI does not endorse candidates; however, we traditionally inform our membership as to which candidates are dues-paying members of NCCBI. This is a small token of appreciation in recognition of their believing enough in our mission to support us financially. There are many other candidates who are just as pro-jobs, pro-economic growth but have not joined our organization.

In the U.S. Senate race, Erskine Bowles is a longtime member of NCCBI, former board member, and honorary chair of our Small Business Advisory Board. Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, Commissioner of Agriculture Britt Cobb, State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry, and Attorney General Roy Cooper are all members of ours. In addition, Rep. Wayne Goodwin, candidate for Labor Commissioner, is also a member.

Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson has been a member for several years and Supreme Court Justice Sarah Parker is also a member. They are opposing each other for a seat on the Supreme Court. Both are advertising in our magazine — an effective way to reach the business community.

Among the legislators and candidates for the General Assembly who are NCCBI members are Alice Graham Underhill, Michael Wray, Leslie Cox, Martha Alexander, Lucy Allen, Harold Brubaker, Becky Carney, Jim Crawford, Arlie Culp, Bill Daughtridge, Margaret Dickson, Julia Howard, Don Munford, Bill Owens, Louis Pate, Drew Saunders, Wilma Sherrill, Tom Apodaca, Marc Basnight, Harris Blake, Dan Clodfelter, Bob Carpenter, Linda Garrou, John Garwood, Kay Hagan, David Hoyle, Joe Sam Queen and Tony Rand.

We know there are many other members of NCCBI running for important local offices and perhaps some for legislative and judicial seats that we simply do not know about. Please send us any names and we will publish them in our newsletter and November issue of the magazine.

We also want to thank several NCCBI members who are retiring from the legislature — Sen. R.B. Sloan and Reps. Connie Wilson, Frank Mitchell and Stan Fox.

Running for political office requires great courage and a tremendous amount of time away from family and work, along with a tremendous amount of money. We encourage our members to volunteer in various campaigns and to give of their valuable time and money to assist the candidates in whom they believe.