U.S. Sen. Richard Burr was in town recently to address a “CEO roundtable” luncheon at the Economic Development Commission.
Of course, when a U.S. senator comes to town, you want to hear from him. And since Burr’s office had sent out his schedule in a “media advisory,” we at the Post figured that wouldn’t be a problem.
We were wrong.
When a Post reporter arrived just before the luncheon was about to start, she was met by Robert Van Geons, director of RowanWorks, the local EDC.
“Who invited you?” Van Geons asked the reporter.
Her editor, she replied.
Van Geons informed the reporter this was a private event and she couldn’t come in, a decision he apparently confirmed with Burr’s people. She was, however, welcome to take some photos beforehand and have a sandwich before leaving.
No thanks, the reporter said.
No hard feelings, Sen. Burr. You’re just an elected official in the highest governing body in the land. We’re sure if you were up for election this year, you’d have been happy for a reporter to be there.
Maybe next time we’ll get to hear from our senator, and have a sandwich.
If Thom Tillis’ website is any indication, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate is getting in with a growing number of the state’s leading women.
Well, minus Kay Hagan, of course.
Among the conservative candidate’s “Women for Tillis Coalition” announced Monday is a Salisbury native.
Although she was born in the city, Blanche Robertson Bacon graduated from St. Mary’s Junior College in Raleigh.
A sister of Julian Robertson Jr., known for his philanthropy, Bacon has a record of giving and service as well.
She served on boards at St. Mary’s School and Boys & Girls Clubs of Wake County — the latter of which never had a female president prior to Bacon.
In addition to being a former vestry member, Bacon also served on boards at the N.C. Museum of History, WakeMed Hospital, Penick Village Retirement Home and Junior League of Raleigh.
She also is a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
Bacon and 10 other women, including Dr. Mary Fulghum (one of the founders of Planned Parenthood), are chairing the coalition.
Let’s see if Tillis can continue to hold these women’s support through May, and if so, through the fall campaign season, when things can get nasty between candidates.
At Tuesday’s forum organized by the Rowan County Tea Party Patriots, five of the eight Republican candidates vying for Hagan’s seat turned out.
Tillis wasn’t one of them.
More than a couple of Tea Party activists in the audience took Tillis’ absence as a sign he is trying to dissociate from the Tea Party in his campaign, since the event was not officially sponsored by the GOP.
It remains to be seen if that will hurt him May 6.
— Compiled by Scott Jenkins