Brantley wins Democratic nomination
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 1, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Retired Chief District Court Judge David Brantley speaks during Tuesday night's meeting of the Democratic Party before he was elected as its candidate to run for the North Carolina District 7 Senate.
Retired Chief District Court Judge David Brantley, 66, was overwhelming elected Tuesday night as the District 7 Democratic Party's state senate candidate.
He will challenge Republican state Sen. Louis Pate of Mount Olive in the Nov. 6 general election.
The nomination opened up late last week when Barbara Dantonio, who had been the candidate, withdrew from the race.
Tuesday's meeting was held in the Wayne County Democratic Party headquarters on North Center Street.
Goldsboro businessman Grayson Parker, 32, also sought the nomination.
Since the district includes Wayne and Lenoir counties, the committee charged with selecting a candidate was made up of four members, two representing the Wayne County Democratic Party and two representing the Lenoir County Democratic Party.
The vote was weighted in Wayne County's favor because of its larger population.
Of a total of a possible 607 points, Brantley received 508 and Parker 99.
In his comments to the committee prior to the vote, Brantley said he had grown increasingly concerned by the General Assembly's attacks on certain groups, including educators and the court system.
Brantley said he is bothered as well by what he called unconstitutional laws passed by the Republican-controlled legislature, as well as gerrymandered voting districts.
He said he is concerned by pending constitutional amendments on the November ballot.
"They clearly know that this voter ID (amendment) is voter suppression," he said. "They are going to tell you they are being reasonable ..., but that is not true.
"They knew when they passed it that it was intended to discriminate against others."
And the reason for putting an amendment on the right to hunt and fish is an effort to drive up their supporters, Brantley said.
Responding to questioning from committee members, Brantley said his first priority if elected would be to break the veto-proof supermajority now held by Republicans.
Somebody has to help the governor and support his priorities, Brantley said.
Parker said he found out that Dantonio had dropped out of the race and saw it as an opportunity to build on his congressional campaign and to keep the momentum going.
Parker said that he was seeking the nomination because earlier in the year, he felt compelled to make his voice heard as a congressional candidate in District 7. The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. David Rouzer.
Parker lost the primary to Dr. Kyle Horton, but carried several counties including Wayne, he said.
Parker said he did so with no money, no staff and no party support. If nothing else, it was a way to inspire others, particularly younger people such as himself, he said.
Parker said he took a unique approach to the campaign by using social media and in doing so was able to reach a lot of people.
"I kept all my social media contacts," he said. "I have like 10,000 I can contact immediately and let them know we are rolling again and want to break the supermajority in Raleigh, raise teacher pay and close the wage gap."
Parker was asked the same question about his top priority.
He agreed that breaking the supermajority is a "huge thing."
But being elected takes away those numbers automatically, he said.
"So my main objective is the wage gap and income inequality," he said. "It is a problem nationwide."
Brantley was asked if he thought he could defeat a Republican.
He responded that he already had defeated three during his political career. Brantley said social media is a campaign strategy.
However, he said he did not believe that casual acquaintances made on social media can overcome long-term relationships developed with people by working in the court system and in society over the years.
"That is a much deeper connection," he said. "They know about you."
Parker said he is confident he can gain the necessary support to defeat a Republican.
He argued that using social media allowed him to share more information with more people so that they would get to know him better.
It also allows people to send him a direct question at any time, which he plans to respond to immediately, he said.
However, he said he also would use more traditional methods like knocking on doors and meet-and-greets at his business.
Both men said they would support the other regardless of who received the nomination.
Born in Pine Level in Johnston County, Brantley earned his bachelor's degree from Wake Forest University in 1974, and his juris doctorate from the same school in 1977. He first became an elected official in 1984, when he became the clerk of Superior Court for Wayne County.
Brantley served in that position for 12 years, before being elected district court judge in 1996. He became a chief district court judge in 2009, and was re-elected, without opposition, in 2016.
During his career, Brantley has presided over criminal, juvenile, domestic and other kinds of courtroom proceedings.