The Stanly News and Press - McCrory Runs on Platform of Building Relationships, Changing Political Culture
Jim Lisk
Gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory spoke of building relationships and changing the political culture in Raleigh in a visit to Stanly County Monday afternoon.
In expressing his relationship-building style, McCrory said that he had had several contacts with Wells Fargo Bank CEO John Stumpt as he worked toward the goal of keeping Wachovia Bank based in Charlotte.
"I think we surprised him with our approach that we wanted to work together as partners rather than our being demanding," McCrory said.
"That's always been my strategy as mayor. You just don't walk in the door when a business is in trouble.
"You've got to build relationships and get existing businesses to invest financially in the community and they'll want to stay."
As for the current economic crisis, McCrory sees a tough road ahead with a state budget that was passed four to five months ago that can't be met with today's financial downturn.
"We're in both a budget crisis and a mental health crisis and my opponent is going around the state promising new perks," McCrory said.
"I'm not promising something that I can't deliver."
McCrory also accused his Democrat opponent Beverly Perdue of outright lying about his record and pointed to the TV ad that speaks to his voting himself a raise as Charlotte mayor while voting against raises for firefighters and policemen.
"That ad is an outright lie," McCrory said.
"My main message is that we want to change the culture in Raleigh that doesn't equally support everybody. Bev Perdue had not only been a part of the corrupt political culture in Raleigh, she's embraced it," McCrory said.