Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #8

Every day except Sunday I have greeted and answered question with the voters in Statesville, Mooresville and Troutman polling spots.  I have also had a few members of my team handing out the flyers and talking to voters.  From the number of people giving me positive responses before they voted and some after they voted, I think I'm getting plenty of votes.

Right now I'm 24 hours from the second campaign Iredell County Talent Show, this time at Mooresville Senior High School.  I'm confident the audience will enjoy themselves and the competitors will have a good time.

More and more people are expressing their approval of my clean environmental goals, as well as my plans to support and modernize the Board of Supervisors education activities for the public and the schools.

A woman told me Wednesday that "A lot of people down at Lake Norman are glad that someone is concerned about the environment."  Many lake residents told me of small and large problems they've seen with the quality of the water and the beach.

Several people have said they are glad that I oppose fracking in North Carolina.  Some of them had seen my protest video on the internet. 

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #7

People by the hundreds are already voting for me since early voting started last Thursday at the Iredell County Board of Elections in Statesville.  Some of them tell me they gave me their votes before they vote, and some of them when they come from voting, because, Iredell residents, I have been there from open to close all four days of Iredell voting so far.

I must report to you only great news about my success with the early voters and will share a few of their comments.  "I like your energy."  "I like the fact that you are young and in politics."  "You are the guy in the fracking protest video."  "You gave me your flyer at a gas station."  "If I had not met you, I probably would not have voted for you." 

Republican and Democrate poll workers have taken a shine to me, and really helped me get votes from both of their parties.  In person politics really works, and I don't mind putting in the hours.  I attended the Democrats' "debate party" last night.  And I marched Sunday with a voter registration drive.   Remember:  I am still a candidate registered as "unaffiliated."  I believe in "tripartisanship."

However, starting tomorrow I can't be in person everywhere Iredell is voting, so I will try to have some of my friends and colleagues speaking with folks at the multiple locations of early voting (Mooresville, Statesville, Troutman).

The previous weekend I spent three days helping my uncle put a new roof on his house.

Before voting began last week, I spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday campaigning in Mooresville and Statesville.  I walked through several apartment complexes, I met people outside Walmart and a few gas stations and a bar.

And, since I last spoke to you, I have done more work on that historical documentary film I am making for the people in Wilkesboro who want to maintain and make public their historic old Lincoln Heights School.

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #6

Since the Democratic National Convention I have been very busy. I've campaigned in Mooresville, Statesville and Troutman and, also, worked out of county and outside North Carolina.

I had the great good luck to solve a mystery that dates back to Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. For 47 years, nobody has known who the man was who is in the famous photograph holding Ms. Amelia Boynton Robinson, Matriarch of American Voting Rights. Using Facebook, I found him, Joe Jones of Selma, and Saturday afternoon September 22^nd Ms. Amelia and Joe were reunited at foot of the bridge where she was beaten unconscious and he helped her. We held a press conference in the museum by the bridge.

I have also been making several trips to neighboring Wilkes County, working on that documentary about the history of the Lincoln Heights School. In early September I interviewed quite a few surviving students at their annual reunion. I continue to find and incorporate the best photographs and memories of the School. I hope to have their documentary done before the end of the year.

Iredell residents can be proud that one of the most important principals at Lincoln Heights commuted from Statesville to the School.

The last two weeks I have made many appearances in residential and business areas of Mooresville, Statesville and Troutman. I have talked with voters about soil and water issues in Iredell County as well as our need for more connections between the public and officials.

I enjoyed a visit with the seniors' group on Bristol Road, Statesville. I was two nights ago mingling with fans and distributing my flyers at the West Iredell-Satesville football game.

And the organizing of the Iredell County Talent Show for Saturday, November 3, at Mooresville Senior High School is going well. As I work with various Iredell County artists and entertainers, I am making them aware of county soil and water issues with hopes it may influence their works.

Finally, of course I attended my third meeting of the Board of Supervisors that I am campaigning to join with your votes in November. I am glad to report that the officials, elected and otherwise, now all know my name and have shown some interest in my business ideas for improving the Soil and Water District's communications and funding.

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #5

Good morning – it's been longer than usual since I updated you on my campaign. Though you know I'm running as an Iredell County “unaffiliated” candidate and for a nonpartisan office, nevertheless I was very busy with the Democratic National Convention, as you will now hear.

But first, I have just attended the September meeting of the Iredell County Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors. And I'm happy to say that the current supervisors and staff now know my name, and though I don't speak during the meetings, I had some good talk with folks before and after this third meeting I've attended.

It seems my education and experience in marketing and publicity will prove valuable to the Soil and Water District's goals and needs.

My busyness with the DNC was on one focus: organizing and doing everything to bring Ms. Amelia Boynton Robinson, Matriarch of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to the event. Four years ago this month I met and began working with her. I helped put together the Amelia Boynton Robinson Foundation and am at work on a major documentary tribute and memorial. Last week I brought her from Alabama; the Democrats had set her to introduce from the podium her fellow Marcher (and victim) of the Selma Marches Congressman John C. Lewis to open the final day of the convention. When Rep. Lewis changed his speaking time to the end of the afternoon, he led the audience in a standing ovation for Ms. Amelia, 101 years old, who had met with admirers and the media all day long.

Finally, I'm now launching promotion for my second Iredell County talent show during my campaign for November. This show will be the Saturday before Election Day at the auditorium at Mooresville Senior High School. This one will be bigger and better than the one in May in Statesville.

Again, I'll try to be back on my weekly schedule in this space. Until then, friends of Iredell County.

Journal of Shawn Eckles' Campaign 2012 Report #4

Last week I attended Troutman's safety day at City Hall, where I spoke to several Iredell county residents concerning the change of landscape and population in Troutman. Among those in attendance was Troutman Mayor Mr. Elbert Richardson, who was excited about the turnout for the event.

Today I attended the Iredell County Soil & Water Conservation District meeting in the morning – the government panel I want your vote to put me on in November. They discussed issues concerning the Third Creek watershed project and also approved several budget items. Following the meeting concepts concerning landownership, mineral rights, surface pollution and service pollution were discussed with me. Because these concepts are used in reference to fracking, I thought about giving the members at the meeting a document on the social and economic issues with Fracking along with the dangers to the soil and water that Fracking causes. So over the next month I will prepare a document that I will give to the members at the next Iredell County Soil & Water Conservation District meeting.

Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at the District Office in the Agricultural Resources Center.

In my research on the Lincoln Heights project, I found that E.V. Dacons, the very last principal at Lincoln Heights in Wilkesboro, also taught at Unity High School in Iredell County, in Statesville.

If anyone is interested in volunteering to help with the campaign to elect Shawn Eckles, please, contact our office at 704 450 0214.

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.