Do Robert Pittenger and the 9th District still go together like peanut butter and jelly?
Leading up to the elections in November, we’ll be running stories about various politicians running from Mecklenburg County, so you feel more informed when you go vote. We’ve already talked to both candidates for the 12th U.S. Congressional District, Alma Adams and Leon Threatt, and to N.C. House District 92 Democratic candidate Chaz Beasley.
U.S. Congressman Robert Pittenger seems to be among friends in North Carolina’s 9th District. The Republican incumbent was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2014 in a traditionally Republican-led district. And when I say traditionally, I mean Republicans and the 9th go together like peanut butter and jelly, pastrami on rye, and Cam Newton wearing a flamboyant article of clothing.
This seat has been held by Republicans since 1963. Sue Myrick held the seat for 18 years after her time as mayor of Charlotte, and was also a former Pittenger ally who publicly supported his opponent Rev. Mark Harris in the primary this year, saying Harris would “restore honor and integrity to the office.” This was a jab against Pittenger since the FBI and IRS had been going into their second year of investigating his former real estate company.
This year may be different. A federal court ordered the legislature to redraw the district’s boundaries, ruling that two of North Carolina’s districts (Districts 1 and 12) were gerrymandered. The 9th District once included most of south Charlotte and parts of Union and Gaston. Now, it goes from south Mecklenburg County to Bladen County.
Can redrawn boundaries or a challenge from Democrat Christopher Cano change the district? Pittenger weighs in.
(Note: I wish I could’ve had a two-hour gabfest on the phone with Pittenger where we begged each other to “hang up first.” Instead, I had to settle for written answers to my written questions. Sigh. I was looking forward to some voice-on-voice action.)
You won the primary by a tight margin against Rev. Mark Harris. You received 34.96 percent of the vote to his 34.42 percent. What does winning by that amount say to you about your constituents?
Our campaign won by a solid majority in the parts of the 9th district that I have been representing for the past four years. This response reflects a very satisfied constituency and support for the policies I have advocated and advanced. The new district has six new counties and 60 percent new voters. As I was in Washington most of the campaign period, we did well with the limited opportunity to message our issues. We have very positive support for the general election.
Recently, Governor Pat McCrory heckled the only openly gay member of the North Carolina General Assembly, Representative Chris Sgro, over the loss of the NBA game, saying, “Congrats, you got what you wanted.”
Since McCrory, other Republicans and you support House Bill 2, do you think McCrory’s response and reaction to Sgro was appropriate?
As public officials, we are responsible for outcomes of legislation, and often unintended consequences. The ill-conceived initiative by (Charlotte) Mayor (Jennifer) Roberts has resulted in economic harm to the state. Far better leadership for those who seek a change in policy is to sit down with all stakeholders and find common ground and compromise, and not impetuously force a major vote and policy change, which clearly smacked of pursuing a political agenda in the middle of an election.
Democrats now make up 45 percent of your district, which is up from 32 percent when you won in 2012 and were reelected in 2014. How does that affect how you’re running the race against Cano?
I have always championed a non-partisan message of freedom and opportunity for all. That message will not change as the concerns and needs are similar throughout the new district. We are confident in our re-election efforts for November.
You said the NBA was being hypocritical for doing business in China and not in North Carolina. There’s also a partial quote in The Charlotte Observer of you saying, “‘Liberal activists’ are more concerned with allowing men into women’s locker room than ‘standing up for female dissidents in China who face unspeakable sexual abuse and torture.’”
Given that, what do you think of NBA Commissioner’s response that they can’t control the laws of another country but can’t successfully conduct their events with the nationwide controversy over House Bill 2?
Egregious human rights abuses exploiting women in China had continued for the three decades while the NBA has traveled there for preseason games. The NBA has been fully aware of the atrocities in China. The NBA has safe harbor to pursue their business interests in China as there is no free speech to allow protest. The hypocrisy abounds regarding the NBA and the activists.
What’s the biggest priority for the 9th District that you want to either start work on or continue if you win reelection?
As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, I am committed to the safety and security of our country. As a member of the important Financial Services Committee, I will work to remove obtrusive regulations in the financial system that have impeded small business and entrepreneurs from obtaining necessary capital to grow and create jobs.
Photo: Courtesy of Robert Pittenger
This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Do Robert Pittenger and the 9th District still go together like peanut butter and jelly?."