- Roberts
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts announced Monday afternoon that she will run for the 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican incumbent Sue Myrick will not seek a 10th term. Roberts, who will officially file in Raleigh on Friday, discussed a possible run over the weekend with her husband and two children. Her campaign manager and personal aide Henk Jonker said that she is ready to throw her hat into the ring.
“Jennifer has a great message that people need to hear,” Jonker said.
Roberts, currently the only Democrat in the race, is among a slate of Republican candidates, including Commissioner Jim Pendergraph and City Councilman Andy Dulin. The deadline to file is Feb. 29, so others may still enter the race. Historically, Republicans have been elected to the 9th District since 1952. Myrick has assumed the role since 1995. With Myrick’s departure, Roberts said she will run on a platform of fresh ideas, bipartisanship, and a plan for the future. In the past, Roberts’ passions have included civil rights, new business opportunities, and locally grown foods.
Roberts, a longtime advocate for women and the LGBT community, has spoken out against the anti-gay marriage amendment to the N.C. Constitution that’s up for vote in May and has supported educating voters about its negative ramifications on not just the LGBT community but also those in civil unions seeking workplace health benefits. Roberts also has been a proponent of public transportation, saying that creating transit projects is cheaper and more effective than building roads.
Roberts recently reflected on why she chose not to seek another term on the County Commission. In light of her announcement Monday to run for the U.S. House, it’s hard not to see her comments also relating to outgoing Rep. Myrick. “When you stay in the office too long, you get stale,” Roberts said. “You get too close to some of the power, further away from constituents; you lose the energy that comes with a new position, with having just gotten the mandate from the people and being there to represent them.”
As for the upcoming Democratic National Convention, Roberts said she believes it will be a showcase opportunity for Charlotte. “We want to put our best foot forward,” she said. “People are so generous in this community.”
Joanne Spataro is a Charlotte-based freelance writer. You can follow her @LookItsJoanne or email her at lookitsjoanne@gmail.com.
This article appears in Feb 14-20, 2012.
Just what we need. Another communist. This idiot is worry about LGBT issues and the whole damn country is going down the toilet. Typical DemoKommie.
Geez, communists? Is that your response? Ants are communists, people are just stupidists and you are one of them.
Scott are you some kind of 5th columnist or something? Did you go to CMS schools? Wow. I hope you will like the new 3rd world that Charlotte and the US will be when idiots like this take over because of namby pamby Pollyannas like you. Hmmmmmm I smell patchouli……
Fred, I don’t think anyone who incorrectly writes “This idiot is worry” instead of “This idiot is worried” should be correcting other people’s comments.
And “DemoKommie”? That right there disqualifies you from any serious discussion among the adults. Grow up.
Predictions for November: The Anti-gay marriage amandment will fail (I hope) and the Democrats will get their heads handed to them in NC (see “Rats leaving sinking Ship”).
Pokeinthenose. The anti-gay marriage amendment will fail in May, not November.
I mistankingly thought the proposed amendment would not be on the ballot until Nov. The choice of May is interesting considering the smaller turnout of primaries. Any thoughts as to why they decided on May?
Boy these Conservative trolls really can’t spell. My 2nd grader can’t write better than you morons. Now go back under your bridge trolls and keep mumbling “The South shall rise again. The South shall rise again. The South shall rise again”
Proud Progressive: I know your 2nd grader can’t write better. And with the condition of the CMS system, probably never will. BTW, when the Communists first showed up here in the states they called themselves Progressives. Bigger Govenment, more welfare, more taxes, more government spending is not progress.
The bottom line is liberals like Roberts just want to spend more of YOUR money on things like education when our Country spends more than the next three highest GDP countries combined. You can’t fix stupid and greed is everywhere including the 28 year old chick that will spend my tax money on crack but it is infringing on her rights to take a drug test to obtain govt assistance.
I guess you didn’t notice that this thread is more than a year old.
Some people take any opportunity to regurgitate a conservative talking point.