ABLE's ultimate mission is to fight to return government back into the hands of the people; and to identify, recruit, and support candidates who believe in the founding principles of representative government. In an era where politics has become a career with the highest job security, and a place of unchecked power and influence, it is critical to stand behind candidates who recognize and respect that the people empower government; and that government is subservient to the people that it represents.

Listed below are the candidates for 2010 that are officially endorsed by ABLE and its members. Please click any name to find out more.

• Thom Goolsby
• Brian Berger
• Ed Higgins
• Don Hayes
• Janice Cavenaugh
• Derrick Hickey

Candidate for NC Senate District 9

Thom Goolsby

Party: Republican
Website: ThomGoolsby.com
Statement: My campaign is centered around improving three critical areas in our state.

First, we must reduce taxes and spending by immediately adopting Zero-based Budgeting and the Taxpayer Protection Act.

Second, we must improve education by lifting the cap on charter schools and allowing for tuition tax credits.

Third, we must reduce crime by building adequate prison space so that criminals actually go to jail for their crimes, rather than simply receiving probation.

If the state would immediately address these three areas, we would dramatically improve life in our state, energize our economy, educate our children and protect our citizens.

Don't these common sense ideas make sense? I promised to help lead our state in a concerted effort to make real and lasting change that will make everyone's life better. Please support my campaign and help me.

Candidates for New Hanover County Commission

Brian Berger

Party: Republican
Website: VoteBerger.com
Statement: New Hanover County elected officials together have gone on a spending orgy, frivolously spending taxpayers’ dollars without restraint. Inevitably, the reckless spending by our local government has led to increasing taxes and fees, and forced annexations, with more on the way. Elected officials from both parties share this taxing-and-spending agenda without concern for the effect it has had – squeezing already struggling families, retirees, and small businesses. Instead of limiting the tax burden on citizens and businesses, and focusing limited public resources on fighting a growing crime problem, spurring private-sector job growth, and addressing the most vital infrastructure needs to ensure the highest quality of life for citizens, New Hanover County’s public resources have been targeted to benefit special interest groups - at taxpayer expense. A culture of corruption and cronyism pervades New Hanover County, contributing to the wasteful spending and the misplaced priorities of our elected officials. This status quo must end! We cannot continue to neglect the numerous negative impacts of high taxation, including its stifling impact on economic development and job creation. We must tackle the crime problem that has grown into a full-blown epidemic while our leaders focused their attention and our tax dollars on convention centers, creating the unaccountable Public Utility Authority, and other pet projects.

It’s time for a change. I’ve fought for limited government, low taxes, responsible spending and government accountability, and against corruption, waste and misplaced priorities. Now I’m asking every citizen of NHC, regardless of political party affiliation, to stand with me on May 4th in the GOP Primary to help advance our shared priorities and values.

Ed Higgins (Incumbent)

Party: Republican
Website: Coming Soon...
Statement: For 16 years I have supported neighborhood education for our children and and opposed busing as a social experiment. If elected will continue that position, Many of the students living downtown have issues that I wish families could address but for one reason or another they can’t and it then falls on the school system. I support afterschool tutorial, remediation and enrichment programs for each of our downtown elementary and middle schools to help lift these children. I favor expanding our vocational education programs in conjunction with Cape Fear Community College to provide training for students who want to learn a skill instead of attending a 4-year college. I support providing programs to help site administrators and class room teacher take each child where they arrived and move them forward at least one year. students must have a 21st century education. To do this the school system must update and modernize its faculties. This will required money. I will work with the county commissioners and other groups to seek funding and grants for these projects that are vital to maintain a quality educational system in today’s world. Our community agree that while we may differ on our approach to education, we should do nothing to diminish a child’s motivation to learn and that as a system we must remove the stigma of describing a school as a failing school and to speak in terms of opportunities for all children. Lastly, it is important to remember that the New Hanover County School System is a $250 million a year operation with nearly 4,000 employees, 24,000 students, over 3 million square feet of space under roof, more than 700 acres of grounds, food services and athletic operations and a fleet of nearly 300 buses operating each day. A board member must be someone who is prepared to make decisions that serve our students and efficiently manage our resources. Consider this election as an application for this job. I believe that my background in law, business and education, provides me the skills and experience for this position.

Don Hayes (Incumbent)

Party: Republican
Website: Coming Soon...
Statement: Coming Soon...

Janice Cavenaugh (Incumbent)

Party: Republican
Website: JaniceCavenaugh.com
Statement: In my 19 years on the New Hanover County Board of Education, I believe the most important thing I've done is to give parents as many choices as possible for their child’s education – from helping push for year-round elementary schools to broadening the options available in sex education. I pushed for increasing vocational education to help more students leave the public schools ready to enter the world of work with a well-paying job - for example training students for nursing so that when they graduate they could take the nursing exam and work as a nurse instead of having to attend Community College for 2 more years before working.

I first decided to run for the school board in 1987 to fight a “draconian” rule that banned school transfers for any reason. I continued to serve on the board since then, other than a four-year absence to take care of family issues from 1998-2002, because I want to serve as a voice for parents.

I believe that the economy’s effect on both families and the district’s budget will be the most challenging problem going forward. I plan to seek input from experts and parents alike to help the board brainstorm solutions to both help students in need and allow the district to provide a quality education with restricted funds.

Derrick Hickey

Party: Republican
Website: DerrickHickey.com
Statement: I am running for the New Hanover County Board of Education in order to return the schools to children and their parents. It is my core belief that increasing parent involvement and choice drives educational success. As such, I am a supporter of community based schools. As a top priority I will endeavor to close the achievement gap using proven education programs so that all children will enjoy the opportunity to succeed, which is their American birthright. I encourage you to learn more about my campaign at my website, www.DerrickHickey.com.