Telephone Interview with Michele Miller Houck, President of the North Carolina Women’s Political Caucus

With Election Day coming in just over a week, Michele Miller Houck of Charlotte and I talked on Sunday.  Houck has been working to rebuild the North Carolina Women’s Political Caucus (NCWPC ) as a state-wide bi-partisan group that supports pro-choice women for political office.

The Caucus has been focused on only a few Legislative races this year, but it also endorsed Secretary of State Elaine Marshall for the U. S. Senate.  Marshall is challenging the Republican incumbent Senator Richard Burr of Winston-Salem.  Marshall is also endorsed by the National Women’s Political Caucus.

“The mission of the NC Women’s Political Caucus is to identify, train and elect women to public office," Houck said. "We believe that our candidates embody the ideals of the National Women’s Political Caucus and will bring their experience and passion to the issues facing our state today.

We encourage men and women in North Carolina to support these candidates with their time and money, so that we can together build a better North Carolina.”

Houck said she is knowledgeable about local races and some national races, but she does not know many of the other women candidates in North Carolina, even for those running for the NC General Assembly. 

She does know well candidate Dr. Ann Newman, RN, as she is running in N. C. House District #103 that includes Charlotte.  Newman is a nurse and has a PhD.  Houck says “the GOP has thrown lots of money to her opponent (a man), as they are running for an open seat.”

The NCWPC is also supporting Dr. Beth Jones in her race for a NC Senate seat.  She lives in Burke County in the foothills of the mountains, a Republican stronghold.  Houck says Jones is doing well in the district, because she is a moderate, reasonable candidate.  Jones is a veterinarian, and she and her husband run a vet hospital together. Houck says as a businesswoman, Jones knows her community and its voters well.

In Wake County, The Caucus is supporting Debra McHenry of Garner, who is challenging the incumbent, Paul Stam of Apex. Stam is running for re-election to his seat in the NC House of Representatives.  Houck sent an email last week to FaceBook Friends of the NC Women’s Political Caucus asking them to support McHenry, Newman, Jones and Beth Ostgaard (also of Burke County).

Asked about Congresswoman Sue Myrick, who belonged to the Charlotte Women’s Political Caucus, when she first ran for political office, Houck says she does not think Myrick could run on the issues of the Caucus in the current political climate—even if she still held the same views that she did over 25 years ago.

“She would be unelectable in today’s Republican Party,” Houck replied to the question.  She went on to add that trying to be a leader of a bi-partisan organization today is difficult.  She says she has tried to be open to women from the GOP.

 “We have to find a way to be able to communicate with Republican women. It seems more opportunities for child care or for senior care—these are issues on which we could bring [Democrats and Republicans] together.”

Houck added, “Polarizing issues like abortion make Republicans draw a line in the sand.  There are some women in politics like Sarah Palin and Christine O’Donnell that I don’t understand at all.  But as much as I am dismayed by what they think or believe in, there are a lot of men that I don’t agree with either.”

Asked if she thinks women bring some qualities to their offices that men do not, regardless of their party affiliation, Houck said she does.  “I think that’s the difference between [former Governor Mike] Easley and [Governor] Bev Perdue—look, she has taken a much more pro-active approach in governing. 

"NC has faced tough times, and this has meant tough times for those who govern...

 “But we have a governor who works hard and is engaged.”

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