|
By Ron Fitzwater
As friends, family and supporters looked on at Ashe County Democratic
headquarters, Roy Carter thanked all those who helped him get
one step closer to his ultimate goal: taking the 5th Congressional
District seat from
incumbent Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.
But as the final votes were counted late Tuesday night, Carter's
lead over former Iredell County Commissioner Diane Hamby had narrowed
to just 531 votes, a margin of .68 percent, leaving the door open
for a recount and possible reversal of fortune.
There was no word from Hamby's campaign as of early Wednesday
morning whether she would contest the results. But state gives
her two business days to file for a recount.
Carter carried on Tuesday in front of a small gathering of supporters
as if the victory had been secured calling on his years as a high
school football coach to set the mood.
"Well this isn't the first one I've had to win in the fourth
quarter," the old coach said as he wiped sweat from his brow.
Though the night had been exhausting for the campaign, Carter
seemed to catch a second wind during his victory speech.
"Well this was a tough race against a tough and experienced
opponent who ran a good race, but we did it. Unlike so many races
this year there was no mud slinging, we ran as true Democrats
and she was an honorable opponent. I will congratulate her and
we will join together and defeat Virginia Foxx this fall.
"The people of the fifth district have spoken and they are
ready for a change and when you send me to Washington you are
going to send somebody ho is going to fight for real economic
development, who is going to fight to bring jobs back to the fifth
district, someone who is going to fight for young people to have
affordable health care and receive a superior and affordable education.
I will be somebody who will not turn their back on the environment
and who will fight tooth and nail every day until every single
young man and woman in our military in harms way in Iraq is brought
home and we stop spending $400 million a day in Iraq and we cut
the tax breaks out for the top two percent of the population and
we start this country back moving again," he said.
Carter called for all district Democrats to join hands with one
another to "bring real true honest representation back to
the district. Folks, I have the passion, I have the desire, I
have the commitment and I have the character to do that. God bless
ya'll and God bless the district," Carter said.
Carter has lived in the North Carolina mountains all of his life.
In 1965, Carter married Patricia Burleson of Barnardsville, NC.
and upon graduation from East Tennessee State University, embarked
on a coaching and teaching career that spanned forty years.
Using leadership and innovation Carter has worked on several student
and community programs to combat drop-out rates, drug and alcohol
abuse, and illiteracy. In 1997, one such program was instrumental
in Andrews High School naming Carter as its Teacher of the Year.
Carter has been a member of the North Carolina Coaches Association
for over thirty years, being chosen as Conference Coach of the
Year in 1993 and Coach for the annual East / West All-Star game
in 1998. Additionally, he has been actively involved in the North
Carolina High School Athletic Association, and was elected to
the North Carolina High School Association Re-Alignment Committee
in 1999, receiving the Merit Award and receiving the Award of
Achievement in 1995.
Carter has taught and coached in Ashe, Wilkes, and Surry counties-all
of which are in the 5th Congressional District. He currently resides
with his wife in Ashe County, near the Wilkes County line where
he maintains a crop of 4,000 Fraser Firs.
The Carters have three children: Todd Carter, Andrea Carter Gimlin,
Stacey Carter, and son-in-law, Wiley Gimlin. They also have a
grandson, Tristen Carter Gimlin, and recently welcomed a granddaughter,
Eva, into the family. |
|
|
Get Firefox