Representative Norm Sanderson and Mayor of Pine Knoll Shores, Ken Jones, filed to run for Senator Jean Preston’s seat on February 13th. For weeks it had been rumored that Randy Ramsey, owner of Jarrett Bay Boat Works would also declare his candidacy for Senator Preston’s seat.  Mr. Ramsey’s did not show up at the Board of Elections with the other candidates as his filing was being protested by some people concerned about his political connections. Mr. Ramsey delayed filing until the protestors left. So why did Mr. Ramsey avoid confronting the protestors? What is Mr. Ramsey hiding?

Both Representative Sanderson and Mayor Ken Jones are solid conservatives each who have public records to validate them as conservative Republicans. Voters have been able to judge both of these men based on their actions while serving in elective office.

Mr. Ramsey is a registered Republican, but his political views are largely unknown to voters. He does not have a public record that voters can judge what he may do as an elected official. Some might say that is a good thing. But wait, you might want to dig deeper, because what Mr. Ramsey has done “in the smoked-filled room behind closed doors” could be very telling. When you look at Mr. Ramsey’s political contribution and political associations for the last 15 years it gives a clear picture of his politics.  If you go to this web site www.followthemoney.org (a site that tracks money in state politics) you will learn that since 1997, Randall Ramsey has given $36,950 to Democratic candidates in NC including, Mike Easley, Bev Perdue, Marc Basnight and the NC Democratic Party.  But wait, there’s more… during that same period he gave only $2,750 to Republicans. Mr. Ramsey did not give a dime, not one red cent to Senator Preston, or Representative McElraft during the same period.

But wait, there’s more… Mr. Ramsey has been quoted in the press as saying “I’ve tried to support the candidate I’ve felt would best serve the people of our community.” He also said “I have supported the other party in the past, but it was because I thought they (the candidates) understood the issues in Carteret County and would support us the best.” Mr. Ramsey by his own declaration thought that Democrats including Mike Easley, Bev Perdue, Marc Basnight, and the Democrat Party would represent Carteret County better than Senator Jean Preston, or Representative Pat McElraft. The people of Carteret County certainly disagree with Mr. Ramsey because they elected Senator Preston and Representative McElraft over and over.

But wait, there’s more… in addition to the large donations to the NC Democrats, Randy Ramsey, the owner of Jarrett Bay Boat Works, was reported by NC Civitas to have used his corporate airplane to provide “unreported flights” for Governor Bev Perdue (also called Bev’s “Travelgate”) (Reference- http://www.civitasreview.com/elections-campaigns/travelgate-perdue/).
These actions follow a pattern dating back to the Easley administration of political donors providing free air travel and political contributions in return for political favors or political appointments.  In Ramsey’s case, “pay to play” political favor was appointment to the NC State University Board of Trustees.

But wait, there’s more… Mr. Ramsey recently boasted in his own Press Release dated February 10, 2012 (http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1b8f1d3fdc546a00dc3621b76&id=b80e336ca2)  that he had amassed $132,827 four days before filing to run. Mr. Ramsey, who donated all that money to you? Are you willing to disclose your donors before the campaign reports come out just before the primary election? How many of these donors are political players like you who will be expecting political favors if you are elected? What is the quid pro quo? Do you expect you can simply spend a lot of money to create a smokescreen that the citizens of Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico Counties can’t see through? Do you really?

Randy Ramsey has been a major player in liberal Democrat “pay to play” politics and is not representative of the conservatives values in NC District 2. Anyone who expects the liberal Democrat machine of Mike Easley and Bev Perdue to “understand the issues important to the citizens of Carteret County” better than those representatives elected by the citizens of Carteret County to serve them does not themselves understand what is best for Carteret County citizens. Mr. Ramsey has supported Democrats because that defines his values.

We do not need or want a Democrat pretending to be a Republican to run for the Senate seat currently occupied by a fine Senator such as Jean Preston. This is no way to honor Senator Preston’s service to District 2 by electing a RINO Democrat hack to her seat.