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.