The Kinston Free Press: U.S. Senate candidate visits Kinston

State Sen. Kay Hagan travels through Eastern North Carolina

The Free Press
Published April 4, 2008
David Anderson
Staff Writer

State Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford, breezed into Kinston Friday as she continued the Eastern North Carolina leg of her campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Hagan, a 10-year-veteran of the state Senate, is running against five other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in this year’s election.

The winner of the May 6 North Carolina primary will go on to face the Republican nominee in the heated race for the seat of incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.)

“I’ll be a fighter,” said Hagan, who spent about an hour at King’s Restaurant talking with diners. “That’s what I’m known for in Raleigh and that’s what I want to do in Washington.”

In addition to King’s customers, Hagan spoke with local Democratic political figures such as State Rep. Van Braxton, D-Lenoir, and Lenoir County Commissioner George Graham.

A longtime friend, Lenoir Memorial Hospital CEO Gary Black, also stopped by to see her.

“I’ve know Kay all my life,” said Black, who grew up with her in Lakeland, Fla.

Hagan asked the diners about what issues they most concerned them. Most said high gas prices and the state of the economy.

In her various appearances around the state, Hagan said she has faced many questions about the economy and the war in Iraq. She has a personal stake in the ongoing conflict, since two of her nephews, one of whom is an Air Force fighter pilot and the other is a Navy SEAL, have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We need to end this war, and we need to end it in a responsible fashion,” Hagan said.

She also spoke about the need to get federal spending under control and shared her opinions on Congress’ multi-billion dollar economic stimulus bill.

She said the stimulus would have a short-term impact, but people must be put to work, possibly creating environmentally sustainable technologies, to create a long-term impact.

Susan McCollam of Kinston asked Hagan about raising teacher pay; she explained to the candidate that she had to work part-time as a waitress at King’s to supplement her teaching income.

“College-bound students are seeking high-paying jobs,” said McCollum, who has taught kindergarten and third grade at Contentnea Elementary School for the past 18 years. “Teaching is a very important occupation. They shape our future. We want out top-graduating students to be teachers instead of bankers, or doctors.”

Tom Wareham of Jacksonville had stopped in at King’s for dinner on his way home. He asked Hagan about her position on the Second Amendment.

“I think it’s the cornerstone of a free society,” he said of the amendment’s stated right to bear arms.

He added: “That’s the single issue that helps me decide on who I’m going to vote for, where they stand on my individual freedoms.”

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077, or danderson@freedomenc.com

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