Gov. Bev Perdue is on her way to Japan to drum up business for the state.
Perdue and state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco are leading a delegation to the 35th annual Southeast U.S./Japan joint meeting in Tokyo, according to her office. While there, Perdue and commerce officials will meet with export clients and businesses seeking new investments. After he leaves Japan, Crisco will take a two-day business recruitment trip to China.
“I look forward to reinvigorating some of our standing partnerships, and to forging new opportunities this week,” Perdue said in a statement.
Japan is the state’s largest trading partner, and Japanese firms have about $5 billion in capital investments in North Carolina.
SEANC PAC backs Troxler
The State Employees Association of North Carolina’s PAC continues to spread its love around to candidates for state office.
On Tuesday, the PAC, which is run by the union that represents 55,000 state employees, announced its support of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
“Troxler is known throughout the region for promoting North Carolina’s agriculture interests while also modernizing the department,” said Dana Cope, executive director of State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC).
“He consistently stands up for his employees despite the budget cuts his agency has had to endure,” Cope added.
The group also announced its support of Allen McNeill, an Asheboro Republican who is running for the House seat left empty by the retirement of state Rep. Harold Brubaker.
Last month, the group endorsed a slate of legislative candidates on both sides of the aisle. It has yet to endorse in the governor’s race. Cope said neither Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton nor Republican Pat McCrory spoke to issues that state workers felt strongly about.
O’Malley to give Dalton a hand
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is keeping his word.
At last week’s Democratic National Convention, O’Malley promised support for Dalton in his gubernatorial battle with McCrory.
O’Malley, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and a possible presidential candidate in 2016, will attend fundraisers for Dalton on Sept. 20 in Winston-Salem and Raleigh and will hold public events in both areas. No word on whether he’ll perform with his Celtic band O’Malley’s March.
His appearance is another sign that the DGA is about to invest some money in Dalton’s race.
Dalton is scheduled to begin his TV advertising campaign Wednesday. McCrory went up on the air on Aug. 7.
Grandma sticks up for Rouzer
David Rouzer, a Republican running for North Carolina’s 7th District seat in Congress, is taking to the airwaves with an interesting sales pitch as he tries to knock off Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre.
In a TV ad that’s airing in Wilmington, Rouzer’s grandmother promises the candidate won’t cut Medicare if elected – a charge McIntyre is making.
Staff writers Lynn Bonner, Austin Baird and Rob Christensen
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