Three ex-NC governors will help launch Observer’s ‘NC Priorities’ project this month
Three former North Carolina governors will help kick off one of the biggest years in state politics at a public forum in Charlotte later this month.
Republicans Jim Martin and Pat McCrory will join Democrat Jim Hunt in headlining the Jan. 29 event at ImaginOn.
The forum, sponsored by the Knight Foundation, is part of the N.C. Priorities Project and designed to launch The Observer’s coverage, with McClatchy, of the state’s most consequential election and political year in memory.
The event also will feature a short video produced by Observer and (Raleigh) News & Observer journalists who talked with voters about their concerns in each of the state’s 100 counties. And it will reveal results of a statewide voter poll by Elon University, which will highlight the issues that N.C. voters care most about in the 2020 campaign.
The forum will come five days before the Iowa caucuses mark the official start of the presidential campaign and four weeks before the Democratic primary in South Carolina. North Carolina’s primary follows closely behind on March 3.
“We’re excited to kick off election season with a meaningful discussion about issues that matter to North Carolina voters,” said Observer Editor Sherry Chisenhall. “Our panel conversation with former N.C. governors will be the start of an in-depth election focus on issues that people in our community and region care about — coverage centered on substantive topics relevant to voters.”
North Carolina once again will be a presidential battleground. Charlotte itself will play a big role in the campaign. The Republican National Convention begins Aug. 24 at Spectrum Center. It’s expected to be the first convention in American history to renominate an impeached president.
A Fox News Poll in November showed President Donald Trump would have a tight race in the state against each of the top Democratic contenders.
Hunt, Martin and McCrory — who served a combined 28 years in the governor’s mansion — will discuss the election during a panel discussion.
They’ll also talk about state races which include contests for governor, U.S. Senate and Congress.
Want to go?
▪ The Jan. 29 event is free. It begins at 6 p.m. with a reception. The program starts at 7 p.m.
▪ It’s at ImaginOn, 300 East 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28202.
▪ To sign up, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-nc-priorities-tickets-86584202681.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
