N.C. election update

News outlets called on the John Locke Foundation’s expertise this week for stories previewing the upcoming elections. The Winston-Salem Journal and Independent quoted JLF President John Hood for articles focusing on the gubernatorial race involving Republican Pat McCrory, Democrat Beverly Perdue, and Libertarian Michael Munger. Speaking of Munger, the Rhino Times picked up a Carolina Journal Online quotation from Munger criticizing McCrory’s propensity for supporting large taxpayer-funded building projects. The News & Observer cited Locke Foundation work in analyzing a campaign ad focusing on Charlotte taxes. Meanwhile, one issue that could expose differences among the gubernatorial candidates is their attitudes toward performance pay for public school teachers. JLF Education Policy Analyst Terry Stoops recently completed a report on Guilford County schools’ performance-pay program. Stoops discussed performance pay this week with the Associated Press, for a planned article featuring the candidates’ reactions to performance-pay proposals. Speaking of North Carolina elections, voters in one county — Durham — will decide whether to endorse a new 1 percent tax on prepared food. The News & Observer‘s primary Durham reporter reported in his blog this week arguments JLF Fiscal Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti offered for rejecting that tax increase. Meck Deck blogger Jeff Taylor shared his thoughts about Charlotte/Mecklenburg political issues with candidates and others attending this week’s meeting of the Cabarrus Conservative Republican Coalition.