Fern Shubert has endorsed Greg Dority for State Auditor in the Republican Run-off Primary. Dority garnered 24% of the vote in a field of five in the first Primary, placing second to Debra Goldman who got 34% of the vote. Shubert received 18%, coming in third. The winner of the run-off will face Democrat incumbent Beth Wood in the November General Election.
Goldman is from Wake County, where her experience comes as a member of the Wake County School Board. She ran and was elected to the school board as a conservative but once she got on the board she voted with the liberal wing of the board on the crucial issue of student assignment. Wake has struggled for years trying to maintain racial balance in its schools as the population shifted. It used a series of inner city magnet schools and busing to achieve what was euphemistically called a "socio-economic balance" among its schools. But the busing was extremely unpopular with many parents. The voters then voted in a school board that was committed to curtailing the busing program but when Goldman switched sides her vote gave the "racial balance" side the majority. Now she is running for State Auditor.
Dority is not a CPA. His background is as a private contractor working for government agencies investigating and monitoring various aid programs overseas. He served in the Balkans where the U. S. spent billions of dollars, monitoring how effective those programs were. But Dority supporters view his major strength being his knowledge of state government and how it works, as well as his leadership skills and integrity. Dority has long been active as a conservative Republican, both in the party and as a candidate for various offices. He has often been selected to challenge well-entrenched incumbents even though he had little chance of winning. Supporters say his record in the past of being willing to take on the power structure and Establishment make him uniquely qualified to be the State's watchdog as State Auditor.
Many people don't know what the State Auditor's Office does. They perceive it as an accounting operation. But actually it is more of a watchdog function that uses the technical expertise of accountants. Much of its work is focused on what is called "performance audits" which is a review process that examines whether programs or agencies are accomplishing what the Legislature intended for them to accomplish. Accounting, or "number crunching," is but a part of that review.
Shubert's endorsement is viewed as being significant because as a CPA and seasoned legislator she knows both sides of the auditor's function. Her endorsement reads:
505 South Elm Street Marshville, NC 28103
Phone (704) 296-2175
FernShubert4Auditor@gmail.com
I am pleased to endorse Greg Dority for the Republican nomination for State Auditor in the July runoff. I have known Greg for many years and am absolutely convinced that he is far better qualified, by training and temperament, than his primary runoff opponent.
Greg ran his primary campaign with integrity. He did not mislead people about his qualifications. While he has audit experience, unlike his opponent, he focused on his leadership skills. Greg has a lengthy record of loyalty to the good-government principles most Republicans, indeed most citizens, embrace.
The people want to see state government held to a higher standard than has prevailed in the past. They want a State Auditor who, without fear, will help restore trust and confidence in Raleigh. Greg is that individual.
I thank my supporters for their strong support in the recent primary and humbly ask them to make a special effort to support Greg Dority in the runoff and General Election.
Fern H. Shubert
Fern H. Shubert, CPA
If Dority is elected he will be the only member of the Council of State who has grown up and lived in Eastern North Carolina. Dority is from Washington, NC. Goldman is from Wake and counts most of her support from the larger urban areas. Critics have pointed out that she hardly campaigned in the East, apparently writing off our area of the state.
For Kimo...The Auditor's office has staff that 'know how to do sums'. Leadership is the quality needed in the State Auditor. I think Dority can provide it.
Greg Dority has abandoned ship and with out notice. When he started his cowardly walk away and folks began calling, emailing etc trying to find him (alive or dead), he couldn't be reached (over a week). When he was finally contacted he made claims that he couldn't run because he'd had a conversation with the 'higher ups and muckety-mucks.'
He didn't even tell Fern Shubert until a day before he changed his mind. Fern had given him an excellent endorsement and asked her supporters to support him. With this he could have won.
How many readers here consider Goldman a woman of integrity and good character? You will - from the Dems certainly and maybe others w/in the GOP.
And now, former Dem Basnight boy Arthur Williams - a recent GOP convert - is not only receiving NCGOP support during a primary but also some proclaimed TPers have decided to do same.
It's easy to find yourself co-opted when the perks, priviledges, flattery, $$$, power - or threats - start flowing your way.
Gib
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