As an aide to the former state House Republican leader, Chad Barefoot worked the halls of the Legislative Office Building long enough to come to a realization: "I can do this."
Now Barefoot, 28, is a candidate for the new state Senate seat in District 18. "I come from a long line of public servants," he said. "I have always been passionate about helping people through public policy."
Barefoot worked as an aide for state Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam for six years, including the past three in Stam's legislative office as a policy analyst. He resigned his position at the end of November as he launched his first political bid. He is now the business development director at Pioneer Strategies, a public relations firm run by Frank Williams.
The new district includes Franklin County and parts of eastern Wake County, forming a reverse "C" that stretches from Rolesville through parts of Zebulon, Knightdale, Garner and Fuquay-Varina. Barefoot is a Thomasville native, but his parents grew up in Garner. He now lives in Wake Forest.
State Rep. Glen Bradley, a Youngsville Republican, is also seeking the seat. Bradley's libertarian streak is legendary: He suggested that the state create its own currency and proposed removing the state from the certification of marriage.
The matchup makes for an interesting primary race given that Bradley, who has often bucked his party, faces the aide of the House GOP leader. Barefoot, however, says he isn't running as the establishment challenge to Bradley. He said he considered entering politics for a long time and doesn't want to "tear down people in my own party to build myself up."
Barefoot, who received a graduate degree in Christian ethics from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, is married to Paige Barefoot, an aide to House Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell. Her mother is Tami Fitzgerald, a lobbyist who worked with Stam and Folwell to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to ban gay marriage and civil unions.
Charters being considered
The starting gun on the "fast track" charter school applications sounds today, when the new Public Charter School Advisory Council begins considering the 27 applications for schools that could open in fall 2012.
Council subcommittees plan to review the applications and report the results of their reviews to the full committee Wednesday.
The committee will decide which applicants to invite for January interviews before reporting its recommendations to the State Board of Education.
These schools are the first entries into the state's charter school applicant pool since the legislature decided this year to eliminate the 100-school charter cap. It's also one of the first tests of the advisory council and how it interacts with the state board.
No one knows how many people are planning to put in applications for the regular approval cycle for schools that would open in 2013.
But if the interest in the fast track is an indication, the state could see charter options expand significantly.
Obama to visit Fort Bragg
President Barack Obama is returning to North Carolina this week for a major speech about the end of the Iraq war.
He will appear Wednesday at Fort Bragg. The question is whether Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue will attend. Her schedule posted on the governor's official website doesn't include the president's speech. The last time Obama visited North Carolina was a bus tour that included stops in Virginia, where Democrats weren't so keen on appearing with him.
Perdue's office did not return messages Monday seeking comment about her schedule.
By staff writers John Frank and Lynn Bonner.
