Farmers for Dole coalition working for senator’s reelection
SALISBURY — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole today announced the names of those who have volunteered to serve her re-election campaign on the statewide coalition “Farmers For Dole.”
Senator Dole’s strong grassroots support in all 100 of North Carolina’s counties demonstrates that her record of real results and her substantive plans for the future resonates with voters.
“Senator Dole has been a strong advocate in the U.S. Senate for North Carolina’s agriculture and agri-business industry. She understands the importance of this $70 billion industry to our State’s economy, and works hard on behalf of North Carolina farmers,” said Steve Troxler, chairman of Farmers for Dole.
“I could not be more proud to have the support of these hard-working farmers,” Senator Dole said. “Agriculture is North Carolina’s number one industry and the engine of our economy. The farmers are the backbone of North Carolina and its communities. Their help with my campaign is going to be crucial to our success, and I am very excited to have them on my team.”
“Senator Dole has traveled to all 100 counties in North Carolina at least twice,” said Campaign Manager Marty Ryall. “The voters know and appreciate what she has been able to accomplish for them in the U.S. Senate. Volunteering for a campaign is hard work, but that speaks to how dedicated our supporters are to Senator Dole.
“Our ‘Farmers for Dole’ have agreed to work on behalf of Senator Dole as local leaders in our grassroots organization responsible for reminding the farm families across the state just how much Sen. Dole has been able to accomplish on their behalf in her short time in Washington.
“They will also organize local meetings, write letters and make phone calls to the farming community,” Ryall said.
Members of Farmers for Dole include:
Steve Troxler, Chairman Guilford
Frank Grainger, Chairman, Wake
Graham Boyd, Co-Chai, Wake
Richard Renegar, Co-Chair Iredell
Lawrence Davenport, Co-Chair Pitt
Frank Lee Co-Chair Johnston
Elaine Fryar Co-Chair Guilford
Billy Carter Co-Chair Nash
Dan Hunsucker Co-Chair Catawba
Bo Stone Co-Chair Robeson
Billy & Nancy Johnston Co-Chairs Buncombe
Windell Talley Co-Chair Stanly
Richard & Faylene Whitaker Co-Chairs Randolph
David Rouzer Co-Chair Johnston
Ira & Ann Cline Co-Chairs Catawba
Jimmy Winslow Co-Chair Pasquotank
John Crouse Co-Chair Pasquotank
Ronnie Burleson Co-Chair Stanly
Scott Whitford Co-Chair Pamlico
Dial Gray Co-Chair Columbus
Jimmy Thomas Co-Chair Person
Hal Jolly Co-Chair Iredell
David Grant Co-Chair Northhampton
David Rose Co-Chair Nash
Jonathan Brubaker Co-Chair Randolph
In her first term in the Senate, Dole has been a leader on several important issues for North Carolina’s agricultural community, including:
• Fulfilling her promise to North Carolina farmers and rural communities to pass a Tobacco Quote Buyout, which was signed into law in October of 2004, and is now pumping $400 million annually into North Carolina’s rural communities, providing over 130,000 North Carolinians with much-needed capital assistance, and giving North Carolina farmers the resources they need to compete in the global economy;
• Working with the U.S. Trade Representative to the Doha Round of world trade talks to oppose European efforts to significantly cut U.S. cotton price supports without better market access;
• Working with her colleagues in both houses of Congress to shepherd the Farm Bill to passage, including overcoming major objections and a veto from the White House, and securing several measures of importance to North Carolina farmers, including: establishing the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission to spur economic and infrastructure development in North Carolina’s rural communities, ensuring the textile payment provision was included in the bill to prevent North Carolina farmers from being completely dependent on the export market, and successfully persuading her colleagues to strike down the packer-owner ban to protect North Carolina’s livestock industry from damaging federal regulations;
• Securing $600 million in the “omnibus” spending bill for agricultural drought relief in the wake of devastating droughts in North Carolina;
• Securing a provision in the 2008 federal budget to provide an extra $250 million for USDA Rural Development water and wastewater loans and grants; and
· Securing $150 million in the 2009 federal budget to fund development of community facilities in rural areas.
— Submitted by Elizabeth Dole CommitteeP. O. Box 2629
Salisbury, NC 28145
ph: 704-633-0014
fx: 704-636-4823
