N.C. Senate race between Bingham and Gallimore is case of deja vu
By Sharon Myers, The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Bingham, 68, is completing his sixth consecutive term in the
Bingham said there have been several important pieces of legislation he has been involved with that he is quite proud of, including No Convicted Felons for Sheriff Amendment, which was partly based on former
"I am most proud of the no felon for sheriff law," Bingham said. "Changing the state constitution is no easy task. At the time we passed that legislation, we had seven felons who were running for sheriff. With the Samaritan bill, we are protecting people who are trying to do the right thing. We have more people who die from prescription drugs than car accidents. Another bill I am very pleased with is the child fatality task force. This bill is anything to do with children, infant mortality, accidents, drug overdoes or abuse."
Bingham said many of these bills required working with different people with diversified backgrounds and personal convictions. He said he has developed many tactical working partnerships within the state
"The legislature is about relationships," Bingham said. "You make strong trust relationships and you believe in each other. You have to put party aside or you are going nowhere and you are never going to be effective."
Some of the issues he is interested in addressing in the future include reducing unemployment, reducing medical malpractice awards to attract more doctors, outlawing street drugs sold at convenience stores, preventing insurance fraud and removing barriers to hiring for temporary employment agencies. One issue that is of particular importance to Bingham is fighting fraud and abuse against the elderly.
"The issue of fraud and elderly abuse is very important," Bingham said. "Some people in the state have been scammed out of millions of dollars. The sad part is many times the scammers are relatives and it makes is difficult to prosecute. This took the attorney general, banking commissioners, police departments, sheriff's offices and district attorneys all sitting in a room working together."
Bingham began his political career a member of the
Bingham's wife,
Bingham said that he has had a long and happy career in the
"If you look at my voting record and look at what I have accomplished, you can see I work across the aisle to get things done," Bingham said. "I have always told the people who would come work for me, don't tell me what you can do, show me. It has been my distinguished honor to serve as a senator. I don't know of any higher honor than an elected position to help people. It is very humbling."
Gallimore, 49, is a life long resident of
Gallimore is the current president of the
In 2010, Gallimore assisted Rep.
"We can always agree to disagree," Gallimore said. "No two people will agree all the time. Wives don't agree with their husbands and he might not agree with her, it doesn't mean they can't still be married. Things have to be compromised. It's not about me and you, its is about what is important to the citizens of
Some of the issues that Gallimore supports include protection of second amendment rights, the traditional marriage amendment and a woman's right to know which requires ultra sounds for women considering abortion. Gallimore said he does not support the Affordable Care Act or the
"I am opposed to forced annexation," Gallimore said. "I would pick up and move before I would live within city limits."
One of the local issues which Gallimore feels is important is resolving the relicensing and property rights of
The
Gallimore feels that the state should not be in control of the river basin and the license should be reinstated to the power company.
"This control over the river basin needs to be settled," Gallimore said. "I believe they should give
One issue that Gallimore wishes to address is a default civil judgement against him pertaining to a foreclosed property. He said during the subprime mortgage crisis a few years ago, he happened to own a home that he could not sell, nor could he pay the mortgage and the property was repossessed.
"In business you always take a risk," Gallimore said. "I was in line with everyone else."
Gallimore is married to his wife, Kelly, who is the vice president of the
He says if he is elected he hopes to bring common sense thinking as well as personal attention to all the issues that concern the citizens of
"I am a hands-on kind of guy," Gallimore said. "I am a life-long conservative. I registered to vote as a Republican at 19 years old. I'm just a hard working, common sense kind of a person. I will represent the people of
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