Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #3

I was so busy in the third week of my campaign that now I am releasing this third journal report on Monday.

I had to prepare and then "perform" for the first time in a live internet broadcast interview on the web "radio station" Groundbreaking Radio.  I spoke at length about fracking and the importance of protecting our drinking water resources.  I encouraged the audience to contact their elected government officials and to be sure to vote.  

And I agreed to work on a song with established area artist Brice Reese because  it will tout and promote political awareness.   That reminds me, I will be releasing a mixtape later during my campaign, and I'll be glad to hear from any artists who are interested in being on the mixtape with us;  please, contact me soon.  We only have 100 days until the election.

Lately I have spent a little time in Wilkes County, where that area's first black school in still standing and worth saving.  I met with the Lincoln Heights School board members, and they have engaged me to make a small documentary film to help them with their historical and preservation ideas.  

 

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #2

 Report #2



Hello again.  This is Shawn Eckles reporting on my campaign activities since reporting at this site the first time.


The weather cooled off, so I got more done:  research about the issues of the job I'm running for, new documentary film footage during Tuesday's primary election, distribution of some of my campaign literature, a "shocking" early internet response to my candidacy, and more interaction last night at the Inglewood Community Reunion in downtown Troutman.

I am running in the November election for the nonparty position of Supervisor on the Board of Supervisors for the Iredell County Soil and Water Conservation District.  So far, I do have an opponent, and, therefore, I ask for your vote.


"Shocking" is the word I put in quote marks because I have known for the ten years I have been planning this campaign that some folks around the County would remember my having trouble during my senior year at South.  Here is what the unsigned comment on YouTube said:  "Wow!  A convicted felon is running for public office."  Well, folks, you certainly will hear from the truth about that comment.  I was actually a victim who was charged with those crimes, as I will try to explain briefly.  I myself committed no crimes on that night in 1998.  

I was driving my own car, and the other guy in the front seat started shooting the bb gun out of my window;  bb's flew across my face.  I asked him to stop shooting but he continued.  I decided to drive him to his home.  Before getting there we were pulled over;  at the police station they confirmed that I had just gotten off from work and that the shooter and another guy in my back seat when we were pulled, those two had been shooting from my car at various locations in Troutman and Statesville .  I knew nothing about the earlier, shootings until the muzzle and the fired bb's came in front of my face while I was driving.  The police said they were charging me with some of the crimes because I did not put them out of my car instantly when they started shooting again.  

And why could no lawyer free me from these charges?  The court appointed lawyer  told me and my family that we should enter a plea agreement instead of fighting to prove me innocent:  at 17 years old, would any of you take the risk of 191 years or deal for zero years in jail?  How unfair the whole thing now looks to me -- I just turned 31 --  begins with how the law folks gave the two shooters the same plea as me, and those two guys both had criminal records before and after that night.  Shawn Eckles has never had a criminal record except from that night, when I committed no crimes.


Thanks for reading all that;  the other events of this past week I can describe more quickly.



I researched the current programs of the Iredell County Soil & Water Conservation District that were mentioned at the last meeting, which I attended.  The District documents speak of two currently important programs, CCAP and the Third Creek Watershed.  

On primary election Tuesday I recorded footage of Iredell residents' questions and concerns and opinions in Troutman, especially about fracking and clean water.  The same day I visited polling spots in Statesville, talked with other candidates and advocates as well as citizens.  By luck, I saw and videotaped several scenes of construction, especially some water drains that have signs on them: "Drain leads to river."


Tuesday and Thursday I also handed out to citizens some of my campaign information literature.

Finally, last night, I attended the Inglewood Reunion and spoke informally with several Iredell voters about clean water and the dangers of fracking in North Carolina.   

I will mention one other job I did this past week, though I'm not sure it will impact my campaign.  I had the pleasure of visiting the Lincoln Heights School and the public library in Wilkesboro.  Wilkes County people are wanting to make that school a historical landmark of use to local residents, and I was being consulted about producing a documentary film to assist their efforts.

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012

#1 Report, July 13, 2012

Hello. I am Shawn Eckles of Troutman and Iredell County, N.C. Last Saturday I made public my first campaign in politics: I am running to be elected Iredell Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.

Before I tell you what I have done this first week, and what I'm doing now, and what's next, here is how I have come to begin a career in public service. Two good things happened to me at South Iredell High School. First, I became very successful in the Future Business Leaders of America; as a sophomore I experienced our club taking no honors at the annual State Convention; then, as president, I lead us to Gold Seal Chapter recognition the next two years. Second, thanks to South Teacher Paula Cress and another teacher, I visited the N.C. Legislature, a prison, and other government institutions in Raleigh as a participant in Project Closeup. From that day, my business interests yielded to my personal interest in politics.

But I did not have the certainty that I belonged in politics, that I could serve my fellow citizens well and win, until the summer of 2002. I graduated South in 1999 and had begun Morehouse College in Atlanta when I came home for the summer and saw placards promoting Marvin Norman, candidate for Iredell County Commissioner. I had spent a day with him when he worked at Energy United, pursuing my business education. So, I asked to work on his campaign. Though I didn't do anything more important that distribute information, I saw and learned enough to think that some day I could win an election. Two years later, I worked as a leader – performing and directing many campaign activities – for a contest in Atlanta for City Council. Ever since then, I, Shawn Eckles, have been making plans and gaining skills to enter politics in Iredell County while completing my college degree in Political Science and earning two Masters degrees.

So that's why I am running today. I believe good government is crucial to living good lives in Iredell, the nation and the world. I like to see common sense and honesty helping from the foundation – health and education (life and liberty) – to the top penthouse.

What can be more basic to the basics than our Iredell soil and water resources? I am glad to be seeking a nonpartisan elected position because the Iredell quality of life is too important for party politics.

Here's how the campaign started last Saturday (July 7): I did two things. I kicked off my campaign by starting at the Depot downtown Troutman a documentary film that I will produce this Summer full of the opinions of Iredell residents, to be shown in the Fall. Second, I had become so angry at the dirty political trick in Raleigh on Tuesday of that week (7/3) that legalized fracking in North Carolina, that I wore a big red sign on my chest “Do Not Frack Iredell” all over downtown, helping a number of townspeople to understand the dangers of fracking to Iredell and Carolina Soil and Water.

My next steps – of course, I'm putting together a campaign staff and starting to seek financial support for my bringing myself and my ideas to the voters. Please, send me your opinions, worries and suggestions; I will read them. And look for Report #2 here in a week.