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Candidate Profiles in the Wealth Primary

Here are excerpts from the personal experiences of some of the co-plaintiffs in the "wealth primary" lawsuit:

Aileen Ford has 42 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and supervisor in the Shelby city schools and has distinguished service on the Shelby City Council. Despite her qualifications, and substantial popular support for her candidacies, she has been unable to mount a viable campaign for a seat in the General Assembly because she is not wealthy and does not have access to substantial wealth.

In 1996 Ford campaigned for one of the three seats in the House of Representatives for District 48. Successful in the primary, she placed fourth in field of seven candidates in the general election. She was only able to raise and spend $9,684. Despite substantial grassroots support, she was unable to spread her electoral message through the four counties covered by District 48. In 1998 Ford ran again, but lost the primary; she had been able to raise just $5,013.

Ed Carter has extensive education, more than eight years of military service, 25 years in business, service on numerous local civic and church organizations, and has served as Greenville's mayor. Notwithstanding his qualifications, Carter was unable to mount a viable campaign for a seat in the General Assembly because he is not wealthy and does not have access to substantial wealth.

In 1996 Carter ran for the District 6 seat in the State Senate, losing in the primary. He was only able to raise $6,797 to spread his electoral message. By contrast, his opponent raised and spent $35,537. In 1998 Carter ran again and was again defeated in the primary. This time he raised and spent $11,539 and his opponent spent $40,211. After losing the primary, Carter entered the race for the House in District 8. Having exhausted almost all of his funding base, Carter had only $3,144 to run his campaign. He was defeated by an opponent who was able to spend $44,888.

In all of these campaigns, despite substantial local support and a large volunteer staff of campaign workers, Carter could not reach enough voters with his campaign message; he could not compete effectively because of his lack of wealth or access to wealth.

Mary Jo Loftin had considerable popular support for her campaigns. Her education, longstanding involvement in local politics, and her active commitment as a government watchdog eminently qualified her to serve her community in the General Assembly. Nonetheless, Loftin was unable to mount a viable campaign for a seat in the Assembly because she is not wealthy and does not have access to substantial wealth.

Loftin did not solicit or receive any substantial financial support from monied interests because of her belief that representatives in state government should serve the entire electorate, not simply those who had contributed to her campaign. Many people supported her precisely because of this belief.

In 1996 Loftin ran and lost in the primary for Senate District 5, having raised and spent only $583. Her opponent spent $12,203. In 1998 Loftin won in the primary. Over the entire 1998 election cycle, however, Loftin was only able to raise and spend $2,530. Her opponent spent $102,095. As a result of her inadequate funding, Loftin was not able to compete meaningfully.

Gary Phillips is eminently qualified to serve his community in the General Assembly, based on his education, business experience, published writings, and community activism, as well as service to the community as pastor, County Commissioner, and board member of numerous civic organizations

Despite his qualifications and the popular support for his candidacies, Phillips cannot mount a viable campaign for a seat in the General Assembly because he is not wealthy and does not have access to substantial wealth.

Were it not for the wealth primary, Phillips would run for a seat in the Assembly on a platform that would include agricultural preservation and racial reconciliation. He knows he would have to go beyond his grassroots constituency into the business community to raise the amounts he estimates it would take to begin a meaningful campaign.

Seeking substantial funds from the business lobby in North Carolina would violate both his platform agenda and his conscience. As a result of his beliefs, Phillips cannot raise sufficient funds to run for office.