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.