Saturday, March 8, 2014

Bobi Gregory for North Carolina House Press Release



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2014

Barbara D. “Bobi” Gregory, a retired art teacher from Wilson County Schools and a minister’s wife, filed today for the North Carolina House in District 8.  As of the end of the candidate filing period at 12pm noon, Mrs. Gregory was the only Democratic candidate and, thus, the Democratic Nominee for the North Carolina House in District 8.  Gregory’s nearly 40 year career as an educator in public schools around the nation led her to the decision to file for office today.

Gregory has called Wilson, North Carolina home since June of 1990, when her husband, the Rev. Henry Duval “Greg” Gregory IV answered a call to serve Covenant Presbyterian Church on Tilghman Road.  Mrs. Gregory settled into the educator community quickly, becoming not once, but twice both Vice-President and President of the Wilson County NCAE (North Carolina Association of Educators).  Gregory retired from Beddingfield High School in June of 2007 after having a career filled with celebration of her students winning awards for their artwork at the local, state and national levels.

Aside from her dedication to the educational success of all students in her classes, Gregory has remained involved in the greater Wilson Community.  She has trained as a Guardian ad Litem to stand with troubled youth in courts in Nash & Wilson counties.  She has taught photography in the evening at Wilson Community College.  She has also taught Art to students at the Wilson Arts Council.  She serves as a Sunday School teacher at her husband’s Macclesfield Presbyterian Church, while still maintaining her membership at First Presbyterian Church of Wilson.  Finally, she is currently serving as President of the Democratic Women of Wilson County, having previously served as 1st Vice-President.

To explain the motivation for her run for the North Carolina House, challenging incumbent Representative Susan Martin, Bobi Gregory has released the following statement:

                        We cannot continue to let someone represent both
                        Pitt and Wilson counties who consistently votes to
                        weaken the exemplary public education system on
                        every level, including the University of
                        North Carolina system.  Article 9 of our North
                        Carolina Constitution requires a public education
                        “for all able-bodied children” and requires the
                        existence of a strong public university system. 
                        Representative Susan Martin has proven her
                        unconstitutional approach to voting on education
                        by following in lock step with her Republican
                        Party’s leadership in the General Assembly.

                        In addition to her votes on education, Martin voted
                        with the radical right-wing GOP leadership on
                        repealing the Racial Justice Act, limiting the
                        unemployment assistance for hard-working families
                        trying to make ends meet and refusing federal funds
                        for Medicaid expansion to more than 500, 000
                        North Carolinians.  Thank God Rep. Susan Martin
                        and her radical right-wing GOP colleagues in the
                        North Carolina General Assembly were not successful
                        in threatening our religious freedoms as well.

                        There is no denying who funds my opponent’s stay
                        in the General Assembly.  The Koch Brothers,
                        ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council),
                        Art Pope and conservative super-PACs have a vested
                        interest in a North Carolina representative who will
                        consistently vote against the working families and
                        middle class of North Carolina, while giving
                        unnecessary tax breaks to the top North Carolina wage 
                        earners.

                        I decided to get in this race for North Carolina House
                        to give the people of District 8 a better voice.  I ask the
                        voters of Pitt and Wilson counties to take a look at
                        my candidacy and give me the honor of being that
                        better voice.  I ask you all for your vote.



BOBI GREGORY for NC HOUSE
(252) 292-2068
(252) 289-4618



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