INDYweek.com endorsements • OCTOBER 22, 2014 • Tricks and treats Our endorsements for the 2014 general election Then we vote on whom to endorse. Each news reporter writes a set of endorsements; however, these stories are not bylined because the endorsements represent the opinion of the INDY as an institution. A quick note: Last month we held two candidates’ forums, which substituted for questionnaires in those races: In Wake County, commissioners in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 7; N.C. House 40 and 41; and State Senate 16 and 17. In Orange County, the forum featured commissioners’ candidates in District 1, plus N.C. 23, House 50 and House 56. As to who is giving how much to whom, campaign finance reports for the third quarter aren’t due until Oct. 27, a little over a week before Election Day. We’ll blog the reports—sometimes they take a while for the boards of election to process them— that week. Read the questionnaires and view the forums at www.indyweek.com. —Lisa Sorg The Indy’s clip-out voting guide Early voting runs from Thursday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voting changes: You can no longer vote straight-party ticket or register to vote during early voting. On Election Day, you must cast a ballot in the precinct assigned to you based on your home address. This is listed on your voter registration card, or you can contact the board of elections. you do not need a photo id to vote in this election. Early voting sites, hours and boards of elections phone numbers: Wake County 919-856-6240 www.wakegov.com/elections Durham County 919-560-0700, www.dconc.gov Orange County 919-245-2350, www.co.orange.nc.us/elect Chatham County 919-542-6430 www.chathamnc.org all ballots U.S. Senate: Kay Hagan (D) N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice (nonpartisan): Mark Martin N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Martin seat): Sam Ervin IV N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Hudson seat): Robin Hudson N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Beasley seat): Cheri Beasley N.C. Appeals Court Judge (Martin seat): JOHN ARROWOOD N.C. Appeals Court Judge (Hunter seat): LUCY INMAN N.C. Appeals Court Judge (Davis seat): MARK DAVIS Constitutional Amendment: FOR Wake County U.S. House 2: Clay Aiken (D) U.S. House 4: David Price (D) U.S. House 13: Brenda Cleary (D) N.C. Senate 15: Tom Bradshaw (D) N.C. Senate 16: Josh Stein (D) N.C. Senate 17: Tamara Barringer (R) N.C. Senate 18: Sarah Crawford (D) photo by jeremy m. lange; pumpkin by maxine mills T he mute button on my remote control is nearly worn out. My home mailbox runneth over with glossy campaign mailers. My email inbox overfloweth with subject lines like: “Please help us, Lisa,” and “Listen, I’m urging you.” The INDY’s endorsements are a way to cut through the noise, to read analyses of races that keep the greater good in mind. The process works like this: The news staff sends questionnaires to the candidates and conduct background research on them, including political experience, voting record, other endorsements and criminal background checks. After we receive the completed questionnaires, the news staff discusses the pros and cons of each candidate. We judge the candidates on several criteria: experience, intelligence and their commitment to making the Triangle a more just and progressive place to live. N.C. House 11: Duane Hall (D) N.C. House 33: Rosa Gill (D) N.C. House 35: Brian Mountcastle (D) N.C. House 36: Lisa Baker (D) N.C. House 38: Yvonne Holley (D) N.C. House 40: Margaret Broadwell (D) N.C. House 41: Gale Adcock (D) N.C. House 49: Kim Hanchette (D) District Attorney: Lorrin Freeman (D) Commissioners District 1: Sig Hutchinson (D) District 2: Matt Calabria (D) District 3: Jessica Holmes (D) District 7: John Burns (D) Superior Court Clerk: Jennifer knox (R) Sheriff: Willie Rowe (D) District Court Judge 10 (Fullwood seat): craig croom District Court Judge 10 (Meyer seat): ronnie ansley Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Jennifer Wadsworth Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Marshall Harvey Parks and Recreation Bond: Yes durham County U.S. House 1: G.K. Butterfield (D) U.S. House 4: David Price (D) U.S. House 6: Laura Fjeld (D) U.S. House 13: Brenda Cleary (D) N.C. Senate 22: Mike Woodard (D) N.C. House 31: Mickey Michaux (D) N.C. House 50: Graig Meyer (D) District Court Judge 14 (Evans seat): steven storch District Court Judge 14 (Gordon seat): Nancy Gordon District Court Judge 14 (Walker seat): Henry Pruette Durham County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Ray Eurquhart, Will Wilson orange County U.S. House 4: David Price (D) U.S. House 6: Laura Fjeld (D) N.C. Senate 23: Valerie Foushee (D) N.C. House 50: Graig Meyer (D) N.C. House 56: Verla Insko (D) Board of Commissioners 1: Mia Burroughs (D) chatham County U.S. House 2: Clay Aiken (D) U.S. House 4: David Price (D) N.C. Senate 23: Valerie Foushee (D) N.C. House 54: Robert Reives II (D) Commissioners District 3: Diana Hales (D) District 4: Jim Crawford (D) Sheriff: Richard webster Board of Education 3: Del Turner (D) District 4: Jane Allen wilson (D) 5