I realize that it will take me a lifetime to say “thank you” to each and every one of you who played a role in this campaign, but I’d like to begin that process with this letter. The endless support you gave this team will be something that I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life. I was often humbled by your efforts and endless enthusiasm. I have not seen many of you in several years, yet you worked hard to spread the message and showed me the depth of friendship that we share. For that, I am forever grateful.

I have taken the past few days to sit back and reflect upon the events of the past year. During that time, I have been overwhelmed by the countless messages, phone calls, and emails of support and encouragement from many of you in the wake of Tuesday’s election. And while we didn’t finish the race where we would have liked, we can take great pride in the results that our team was able to achieve as a first-time candidate in a field of experienced politicians and longstanding incumbents.

Let’s look at the facts…

A year ago, we announced that we were running for Mecklenburg County Commission At-Large. We realized that we’d be running in a race that spanned 546 square miles, contained 7 municipalities, and represented approximately 900,000 people. There were only 3 seats up for grabs, all of which were currently held by incumbents from the opposing political party. We knew we’d run the race as an underdog, with a mere fraction of the resources as our competition and fellow candidates, and without any history of experience or public recognition. Yet, we entered the race knowing that we would run with more passion and enthusiasm, and that our team effort would have to eclipse that of the other campaigns.

The ‘experts’ told us that we had no chance. While they admired our passion and earnestness, they wrote us off from the very beginning. When we were successful in the Primary last May, they pointed to a number of factors that contributed to our achievement, but still gave us little credit or any chance of winning in the General Election.

Over the months that followed, we worked hard to get our message out to the voters. While other campaigns had resources for numerous radio, television, and print ads, we continued to rely heavily on ‘sweat equity’ and the strength of our grassroots base. As our message became louder, and the image of a ‘rookie’ candidate (and teacher) running for political office began to resonate among the public and media, the hometown newspaper of record worked hard to bury our story, neglecting to interview us before making their endorsement and ignoring many of the more prominent aspects of our platform. In fact, just days before the election, while other candidates warranted paragraphs of review and analysis, our team was given a single sentence, with no mention of our platform or of being a teacher.

Yet, we pushed forward, and in the end we were able to reach over 94,000 voters. That mark left us only about 12,000 votes short of winning a seat (or less than 2% of the overall vote). So, while we came up short, our campaign was a factor up until the very end, and our message gained traction and resonated with a large number of voters on Election Day.

And so, that brings me back to you…

Throughout this entire process, YOU were the wind in the sails of this team. You worked hard to get our message out, and you took on the challenge of trying to ‘shock the world’ and to pull off one of the biggest upsets in local political history. Until the end, you never gave up, you never gave in, and you inspired me to push harder every day to prove the ‘experts’ wrong.

Through it all, I came to realize what a unique honor it was to be the voice and representative of so many people. It was a responsibility that I never took for granted, nor will it be one that I ever forget.

Many of you have asked about the future of the team, and where we’ll go from here. As a former coach, I often made several sports analogies throughout the campaign. Well, let me make one more…

The great thing about politics is that just as it is in sports, win or lose, there is always another season. I don’t know when it will be, or in what race it will be, but we will run again. I believe that we owe it to the 94,000+ supporters to try again in the future. I also believe that we have been blessed with a unique responsibility to continue to work hard in the days ahead on behalf of those who stood with us.

Yet next time will be different. Just as in sports, we will need to use the ‘off-season’ to prepare for the challenges ahead. Next time we can’t bank on the sentimental feelings of being the underdogs. We’ll spend the off-season getting ready to come back stronger, as we will need to be ready to hit harder and run faster than we did this time around. And, when we walk down the tunnel before kickoff next time, we’ll want our team to be the preseason favorites as opposed to being the rookie underdogs. To achieve that, we’ll continue to need your help every step of the way.

For now, I plan to make up for lost time with Jenny and Charlie and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. We will stay in touch through this Facebook page and the campaign website. You won’t hear from us every week, but you will hear from us and we’ll keep you updated as to what the future holds. I encourage you to stay connected with the team, and to offer your feedback and suggestions as we look ahead.

As I walk away from the campaign of 2010, I have nothing but good feelings about the job we did and admiration for the efforts of our team. Thank you again. I look forward to the next step in this journey, and to traveling the road ahead alongside each of you.

All the best,
Corey

Charlotte, NC – Corey Thompson, Republican candidate for Mecklenburg County Commissioner At-Large, released a statement Friday afternoon refuting Board Chairman Jennifer Roberts’ claim that Mecklenburg County is not the highest taxed county in North Carolina. The back-and-forth dispute between Roberts and Thompson first erupted during a taped debate hosted by “Speak Out Charlotte” back on September 27^th. During the debate, Thompson stated “Mecklenburg County is the highest taxed county, in the highest taxed state, in the south.” Roberts immediately went on the defensive, pulling out a chart showing that Mecklenburg’s property tax rate is lower than a handful of counties across the state.

However, Thompson argues that Roberts and the incumbent Democrats are spinning their words to reflect property tax rates only. Instead, Thompson contends that when combining property tax rates, sales taxes, and the numerous additional usage fees imposed on residents and businesses, Mecklenburg’s status quickly rises to the top of the list. Only Dare County, a coastal vacation destination with a population under 30,000, actually outranks Mecklenburg when the additional taxes and fees are introduced.  Additionally, the high property values of the coastal homes in Dare skew the numbers even further. Therefore, per capita, Mecklenburg County is indeed the highest taxed county in North Carolina.

Thompson has run on a platform of cutting taxes on residents and businesses alike. However, his Democratic opponents have been quick to label him as “irresponsible” for telling potential voters what he intends to do once elected. In recent community forums, Board Vice-Chairman Harold Cogdell has stated that it is “irresponsible for any candidate to say what they will, or will not, do nine months before a new budget is proposed.”  When asked about these statements Friday, Thompson replied, “ I believe it’s more irresponsible for a candidate to not be upfront with the public about what they intend to do if elected.” He continued, “The people of Mecklenburg want to know where the candidates stand on the tough issues, and they have the right to know just that before they vote on November 2^nd.”

Thompson expressed even more concern when he pointed to Chairman Roberts’ campaign literature and her claims of how the free market economic system is failing. Thompson stated, “It’s alarming that our Board Chairman is publishing campaign literature aimed at what she perceives as the ‘moral failings’ of our fundamental economic system of free enterprise and Capitalism. I find it ironic that Chairman Roberts, who has often defended the compensation and bonus packages for County Manager Harry Jones on the basis of ‘competition’ and a ‘free market,’ would denounce such a system to win over potential constituents.”

(A copy of the campaign literature in question are attached).

Charlotte, NC – Corey Thompson, Republican candidate for Mecklenburg County Commission At-Large, challenged The Charlotte Observer’s political endorsement process Friday after the Observer Editorial Board failed to interview all candidates prior to next week’s General Election. Thompson, who was interviewed by one lone member of the Editorial Staff before the May Primary, expressed concern that the Observer’s thoroughness in endorsing political candidates falls short of what should be expected from a major publication.

Said Thompson, “I was highly disappointed that I was not interviewed by the Editorial Staff in regard to their endorsements as other candidates had been.” Thompson went on to explain that he contacted Observer Editor Taylor Batten over a week before the endorsements were released, and had expressed concern that he had not heard from the Observer Editorial Staff. Batten informed Thompson that they were working hard to try to interview as many candidates as possible.

Unfortunately, Thompson was not included as some other At-Large and District candidates had been. The end result was a brief blurb about Thompson’s enthusiasm and earnestness, concluded by a jab at his conservative platform. The Observer also failed to mention Thompson’s role as a CMS teacher, which in light of the current challenges facing CMS, should have merited some attention. “In reading the endorsement piece published by the Observer for the At-Large and District candidates for County Commission, it gave the impression that it had been produced rather hastily and without the thoroughness that one would expect from a credible publication,” said Thompson. “Their efforts on this piece paralleled what I often find when a student finishes their homework on the bus on the way to school.”

Thompson concluded with, “The citizens of Mecklenburg County should expect more from a publication of the Observer’s stature. I think they’d be disappointed in knowing that the Editorial Staff is throwing together political endorsements with little regard for due process and proper journalistic decorum. If the Observer Editorial Staff can’t interview all candidates, yet is willing to put their ‘seal of approval’ on those running for office, perhaps they should question their involvement in making political endorsements in the future.”

October 13, 2010
CONTACT: Corey Thompson
PHONE NUMBER: 704-507-3875
EMAIL: corey@coreythompson.us
WEBSITE: www.coreythompson.us

THOMPSON TO ROBERTS: REESTABLISH DECORUM ON COUNTY BOARD
Political newcomer challenges incumbent leadership of a Commission struggling to maintain control

Charlotte, NC- Corey Thompson, a political newcomer and Republican candidate for Mecklenburg County Commission At-Large, is calling on board Chairman Jennifer Roberts to issue a public statement of reprimand to those Commissioners who participated in what Thompson describes as “political irresponsibility” displayed during last week’s board meeting.

The event Thompson was referring to involved a heated confrontation between several board members, during which Democratic Commissioners berated and chastised their colleagues throughout what was originally intended to be a productive dialogue over policies and proposed solutions to critical problems in Mecklenburg County. Thompson added, “Instead of embracing the responsibility of the seat to which they were elected, several Democratic Commissioners turned the dais into a political pulpit, using the time typically allotted for discourse for their own self-promotion and political grandstanding. This took place while Commissioners were holding a regular-scheduled meeting funded by the taxpayers of Mecklenburg County.”

Perhaps the most disturbing moment came when District 3 Commissioner George Dunlap (D) conveyed an ominous warning about what would happen if Republicans took the majority of Commission chairs as a result of the upcoming elections, and then even went so far as to question the religious faith of a fellow board member. Said Thompson, “While there is no rule against using the dais for political posturing, it must be recognized that Commissioner Dunlap’s free political advertisement, and the questioning of a colleague’s faith, were a blatant misuse of the seat with which he has been entrusted.”

Thompson concluded, “Commission Chairman Jennifer Roberts has previously used her position to publicly reprimand Commissioners whose actions and attitudes at the dais have been unbecoming.  She once again has the responsibility to challenge her colleagues, and to show that her leadership is not bound by party lines.  The dais is not the place for mockery and blatant disregard for appropriate decorum. If Chairman Roberts and the incumbent leadership do not address the expectations of the seats to which they have been entrusted, the public may very well use the upcoming election as a referendum on the confidence they have in the current board.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 21, 2010
CONTACT: Corey Thompson
PHONE NUMBER: 704-507-3875
EMAIL: corey@coreythompson.us
WEBSITE: www.coreythompson.us

THOMPSON TIES CMS WOES TO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Candidate Says County Commission Leadership is to Blame for School District Financial Troubles

Charlotte, NC – Corey Thompson, a Republican candidate for Mecklenburg County Commission At-Large, issued a statement today implicating the current Board of Commissioners’ lack of responsible financial planning and budgeting as a prime culprit in CMS’s financial problems.

Stated Thompson, “The board lost sight of the great responsibility it has to be a good steward of the taxpayer’s dollars, and commissioners neglected to heed the warning signs and prepare accordingly.  The County spent like the ‘good times’ would last forever and failed to provide responsible management in other areas, such as DSS.  This lack of responsibility and foresight has now jeopardized our kids, just as it has our libraries, our public safety, and our recreation services.”

Thompson, a CMS teacher at West Mecklenburg High School, continued, “Combine a misguided budget with an economic downturn and the end result is a public school system that faces certain layoffs for a third straight year and closings at several schools. Quite frankly, I think the public should be embarrassed with where the current board leadership has taken them. The responsibility of Mecklenburg County fiscal discernment rests on the desk of Board Chairman Jennifer Roberts and County Manager Harry Jones. While CMS must also answer some important questions in the days ahead, the County Commission cannot escape culpability in this matter.”

Thompson concluded, “Our teachers, our families, and our students have all been forced to watch helplessly as elected officials discuss the fate of the schools they care so much about.  We owe it to them in the future to prepare for any economic downturns in such a way as to minimize the impact on the classroom.  I plan on being a part of that solution.”

Thompson’s wife Jenny is also a CMS teacher at Shamrock Gardens Elementary School.

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You have heard the name on the radio, read it in the paper, but still you want to know more.  You’ve heard he is a teacher, and that he’s a part of a local conservative group called CAUTION, but that’s not enough.  He says he is a Republican and that he is proud to support the Tea Party movement, but what else?  Why should you support him in his run for County Commission?  Why should he get your vote?

I know why.

As his wife, I am privileged to witness who Corey Thompson is every day. After almost nine years of marriage, I can honestly say that he is the best man I have ever known.  He is supportive, honest even when I do not want to hear it, and always wants the best for me.  He is also an amazing father to our son, Charlie.  He is patient, consistent, and a true kid at heart.  Corey is a loyal friend, caring son, committed teacher, quiet listener, and a passionate fighter for what he believes.

You may still say, so what?  What better person would you want serving you on the County Commission?  Every trait that he is to me and to my family, he would be to you, because that is who Corey Thompson is.  He does not save his best for those he loves.  He gives his best to anyone and everything he does.  I said he was honest, supportive, patient, consistent, loyal, caring, committed, a listener, and a fighter.  Imagine having someone leading our great county, making decisions for you, that displayed those qualities.  What a great leader he would be.  Thankfully, you do not have to imagine.  There is one, and his name is Corey Thompson.

—Jenny Thompson

-Matthew Ridenhour, Sr. Campaign Strategist & Head of the Charlotte Tea Party Movement. Follow Matt on Twitter here.

“Every once in a while you come across a person who was born to be a leader. A person who is always committed to doing the right things and making the right decisions regardless of what is popular or easy. A person who understands the importance of our great country’s history, the relevance of what our founding fathers accomplished, and how it relates to where we are as a society today. I support my friend Corey Thompson in his bid for County Commission because I believe that this great county desperately needs leaders, now more than ever. This conservative CMS teacher is exactly what we need on the Mecklenburg County Commission.”

—Tariq Scott Bokhari

We wanted to return to Dilworth Neighborhood Grille based on their exceptional service and their remarkable assistance in hosting our kickoff event in March. They were an amazing asset to our entire campaign effort, and we highly recommend their establishment to everyone! (We’ll be headed back there in November as we’ve already ‘booked’ them for Election Night!)

We are thankful to have been able to celebrate that night with so many wonderful people who mean a great deal to us. Thanks for making it “perfect.”

Corey, Jenny, and Charlie started the day by voting together as a family at their assigned precinct. Charlie, being too young to cast his ballot, was still amazed by the fact that he received a traditional “I Voted” sticker. He then proudly marched his way outside and proclaimed to those walking in to “Vote for my Daddy!”

After the endless hours of sweat and labor, and countless miles of driving for some brave souls (you know who you are), the polls closed and voting ended. The only thing left to do at that point was to wait.

As the results began to roll in, Team Thompson held their breath as early reporting put us in 3rd Place. Despite it being a close race with some of our great friends and some very remarkable candidates, we were fortunate enough to hold onto that spot throughout the night and qualify for the General Election this November!

As the congratulatory phone calls came in, Corey was deeply humbled and appreciative of the outpouring of support he received from the other candidates. They were all worthy representatives, and were gracious in offering their support. It was bittersweet, but at last, we could celebrate a victory in the Primary!

A very special “THANK YOU” to all who helped make this achievement possible. We are forever grateful!

FINAL RESULTS FROM THE MAY 4TH PRIMARY

Jim Pendergarph 29.90% (15,550 votes)
Dan Ramirez 24.49% (12,732 votes)
Corey Thompson 12.72% (6,616 votes)
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Charles Jeter 11.52% (5,989 votes)

Tim McLeod 10.03% (5,213 votes)

Darryl Broome 4.99% (2,594 votes)

Larry Shannon 3.99% (2,077 votes)

David Michael Rice 2.36% (1,227 votes)