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(Tune
in tonight at 7:30pm by visiting www.ncvalues.org/voice to hear our
exclusive interview with E.C. Sykes, candidate for NC Secretary of
State)
Greetings Friend --
When it comes to Secretary of State, North
Carolinians will face two options in 2020: a career politician with no
real accomplishments after 24 years in office, or a political outsider
and experienced business leader. Republican candidate E.C. Sykes has
the practical experience and fresh perspective our state needs to
start a new era for North Carolina businesses. Acting Secretary of
State Elaine Marshall has used the office for personal gain since
1996.
As former Chief Executive Officer
of a $25B Fortune 500 company, Sykes is no stranger to the business
sector. He also worked as CEO of a small
manufacturing company that was twice recognized as one of the 50
fastest-growing companies in North Carolina. His invaluable experience as a North Carolina entrepreneur,
along with his ability to rise in the ranks of the business world,
will provide great benefit to the office of the Secretary of State. He
has the ability to deliver results and is a seasoned veteran at
accountability and transparency, since he reported to a Board of
Directors as a CEO.
Marshall, on the other hand,
has been passing time in the Secretary of State’s office since 1996.
She is a career politician, working as a member of the NC State Senate prior to
rising to statewide office. Twice she has
tried to run for the U.S. Senate all while serving as Secretary of
State. Marshall has viewed the office of Secretary of State as a mere
stepping-stone. As Secretary of State, she
has shown no transparency or accountability to the taxpayers. As a
result, she has little to show for her 24 years in
office.
Another difference between the two
candidates is their values. Elaine Marshall has
collected many endorsements from pro-abortion and LGBT groups, such
as Lillian’s List, Planned Parenthood and Equality NC. Recently, she even received
an award from Planned Parenthood. Her campaign
has received funding from Emily’s List, whose mission is to “ignite
change by getting pro-choice Democratic women elected to office.” It
is easy to spot the extreme left-wing ideology Marshall
supports.
E.C. Sykes, on the other hand is a
champion for family values. He’s
pro-life, a supporter of religious freedom, and devoted to his wife
Susan and his family. His values
are true North Carolina values, and he will bring those to the office
of Secretary of State.
The best reason North
Carolina needs E.C. Sykes as its Secretary of State is that he has the
experience and ability to deliver results for business. As a seasoned
businessman, Sykes would “remove the barriers
to economic growth, foster job creation, and improve the business
environment.” One of the stated goals of the office of Secretary of State
is to act as the heartbeat of the North Carolina business community.
The office should work to support economic growth and protect
businesses within the state. Republicans in the General Assembly have
done an excellent job of creating a business-friendly environment in
the last 10 years, reflected in the fact that for the third year in a
row, Forbes ranked North Carolina 1st in the nation as the Best
Place for Business. North Carolina needs a Secretary of State like
E.C. Sykes who will be laser focused on making our business climate
even better by cooperating with the General Assembly and even leading
the way on improvements.
Elaine Marshall, on the
other hand, has been content to continue taxing businesses and
collecting their fees, without much innovation. For example, Limited
Liability Companies (LLC) within the state must pay an annual fee to
remain in good standing. LLC’s are common because they are generally
the most preferred entity for closely-held
businesses. In North Carolina, LLC’s must pay an annual fee of $200. Compare this to
surrounding states: South Carolina and Texas do not require an annual
fee. The annual fee in Virginia and Georgia is $50, and West Virginia
sits at $25. The only surrounding state with a higher annual fee is
Tennessee, which is $300. Marshall should be leading the charge to
reduce or abolish such a comparatively high tax. The Secretary of
State should be helping businesses, not hurting them.
North
Carolina businesses deserve better than what Marshall has offered.
North Carolina needs a fierce advocate, ready and willing to tackle
all the obstacles to our business climate. This is why the North
Carolina Values Coalition is proud to endorse E.C. Sykes to serve as
the next Secretary of State. Sykes will be a champion for the North
Carolina business economy because he relates to the struggles and
needs of business leaders. He knows what businesses need to thrive and
will bring this much-needed perspective and more to the office of the
Secretary of State. Additionally, he will do it with the values that
we embrace—life, liberty, and family.
If you're able, would you chip in $100, $50, $25, or
even $10 to help the NC Values Coalition continue to fight for your
rights and get like-minded candidates elected to office? You can
donate by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Tami Fitzgerald
NC
Values
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