Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Today, let’s talk about the race for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s seat.
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Yeah. We know. That silence is almost deafening, isn’t it? Gov. Mike Easley, barred from running for another term as governor, has said he’s not interested. Other politicians with statewide profiles, like Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (Dem) and U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick (Repub) are shooting for the open guv seat. Just today, the Raleigh newspaper reported that Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said he wouldn’t run for Dole’s seat.
That brings us to David Young for U.S. Senate. Sources tell us that Young is considering launching a statewide bid for Senate. There’s nothing anywhere near official yet, and Young’s not talking. But he’s said to be mulling it over.
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Yeah. We know. Who is David Young, you ask? A few basics:
Young is a 47-old who has long been on the scene of mountain Democratic politics. He’s serving his fourth four-year term as a county commissioner. Young is a businessman. He co-owns an Asheville travel agency with his wife. He’s a family man. Leigh Young is his better half, and the couple has three daughters.
He is a Democrat. Young’s molded himself a bit on the conservative side, especially with his interest in boosting business in general, and in economic development. But he’s no Heath Shuler.
Young ran for the 11th Congressional District seat against U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor back in 1998 and took his thumpin’, like all the Democrats who ran against Taylor until last year. So what makes this guy think he can run a statewide race and win in two years? We know that Young has connections. He’s serving on the UNC Board of Governors, a political plumb that’s difficult to land. He’s working his way up the seating chart on the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, and will be president of that statewide group in a year.
And the race is wide open at this point.
Young’s got to prove that he can raise money. Something probably on the order of $10 million or more. He’s got to figure out the winning formula for a blue candidate in a red state, kinda like John Edwards did a few years back.
But it’s interesting times we’re in. With viral videos and crazy bloggers and Internet fund-raising, the sky’s the limit these days for a creative candidate with a little verve and a whole lotta determination.
As usual, we want to know what you think. How do you think Dems will do in 2008? Heard of anyone considering running for the Dole seat? Think Young stands a chance? Tell us.
Bite your tongue, Edgy. You wouldn’t catch me dead at such an event. I saw video the WLOSers ran on teevee and Young was right in the middle of them. My foggy memory seems to recall that he said something in support of them but I can’t confirm this. It was several years ago.
So APC, what were you doing at the We Still Pray meeting?
Not so blind item.
What handsome man who recently took a road trip to the nation’s capitol was number two on the list to run against Taylor? If Shuler was out this studmuffin was in. He has the looks, name recognition, smarts, and likeablity, but may not have the height. Overheard Shuler supporters during the nite of the big win.
We Stil Pray is a group?
I thought it was just a bunch of idiots with bumper stickers which we love to make fun of.
Who knew.
I developed complete distrust for Young after he showed up at a gathering of We Still Pray, a local group opposed to the Constitutional separation of church and state. I voted for Shuler in spite of some misgivings because I wanted Taylor gone but there’s no way I’ll support Young for any office.
He seems like a good egg, but it’s still too early for me to start thinking about it.
yeah, I am underwhelmed, at best
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