ECONOMY TAKES CENTER STAGE AT TUESDAY FORUM
Exclusive Video: U.S. Congressional Candidates talking about the economy

Rep. Patrick Mchenry (R-10) answers a question at the candidate's forum Tuesday night as his challenger, democrat Daniel Johnson, looks on.
Photo by Adam Diaz/The Carolina Scoop

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- While a televised presidential debate may have detracted from a large crowd at Tuesday night's candidate's forum at the Lincoln Cultural Center, the people that did attend learned a wealth of information on a hot button topic affecting Lincoln residents, as well as people nationwide.

That issue was the economy.

Whether candidate for the Lincoln County Board of Education or Lincoln County Commission, or candidate for the 10th U.S. Congressional district, answers to pre-approved questions somehow reflected the taxpayer's wallets and the effects of rising energy and food prices.

In exclusive video on The Carolina Scoop, both Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10) and his challenger, Hickory resident Daniel Johnson, talked about the economy during questions asked by moderator Gaye Howard.

"We need to look at the previous trade deals," said Johnson in the video. "We need to then execute those trade deals, whatever administration is in place."

Johnson added the biggest growth industry in the next five decades is alternative energy.

"Each windmill in alternative energy has 8,000 parts," said Johnson. "There needs to be plants in the 10th district that could make the parts for the windmills."

2008 Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber board chairman John Dancoff welcomes the crowd as Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10) and challenger Daniel Johnson look on. The candidates forum was sponsored by the Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee.
Photo by Adam Diaz/The Carolina Scoop

McHenry touted his voting record, especially on tax increases, calling tax increases during a recession "the wrong way to go."

"I've been in big companies like Timken and Cataler, as well as small business that are thriving and growing," said McHenry. "It's because of the people and the quality of education."

McHenry said he was one of 37 Republicans who voted for trade adjustment programs for workers who were displaced from their jobs.

"It's the right thing to do for North Carolina," said Mchenry. "We should also reduce regulations to help people to grow their business."

McHenry also informed the crowd he was one of the "nay" votes against the recent bailout bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law.

"It was a $700 billion bill that balooned to $850 billion and democrats had some extra provisions attached to the bill," said McHenry. "Four years ago, I called for reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The government needed to get a handle on things and get their house in order."

In responding to McHenry's statements, Johnson claimed McHenry takes "special interest" monies from organizations like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

"Congress should have had hearings and not kept you and I in the dark," said Johnson. "There shouldn't have been any 'back-door' dealings. Someone should have done something four years ago and sounded the alarm on sub-prime lending."

Both candidates agreed on one issue: everyone working together in the 10th U.S. Congressional District to make the district better overall.

"We need people in DC who will work together to build a strong future," said Johnson.

McHenry said it's important how to deal with the challenges facing the 10th district.

"We need to increase domestic oil production and look at alternative energy sources," said McHenry. "I agree, I'm frustrated like my opponent with the leadership in Washington. It's nice of my opponent to take issue with his party's leadership."

The crowd's response to both McHenry and Johnson were loud applause and cheers. At the end of their segment on the forum, both shook hands and left the stage. The forum was a service of the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's Governmental Affairs Committee.