Frances Vinell JacksonInternet & Social Media

ReviewApril 7, 2020

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ContentsFRANCES VINELL JACKSON...........................................................................................................................4

Summary of Findings from Internet & Social Media....................................................................................4

Social Media:...............................................................................................................................................8

Facebook:................................................................................................................................................8

Twitter:..................................................................................................................................................11

LinkedIn:................................................................................................................................................14

Campaign Website:................................................................................................................................14

EMILY's List:...............................................................................................................................................18

EMILY’S LIST ENDORSES 13 WOMEN LEADERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STATEWIDE OFFICES (2/11/2020)..........................................................................................................18

EMILY’S LIST STATEMENT ON NORTH CAROLINA’S DOWN-BALLOT PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS (3/4/2020).............................................................................................................................................19

Fay Observer.com:.....................................................................................................................................21

Hope Mills Zoning Board votes 3-3 on rezoning petition for Walmart on Legion Road (7/28/2014).....21

Bill Kirby: Is new Hope Mills Walmart progress or politics? (9/5/2014)................................................23

Hope Mills Board of Commissioners (5 seats available, 2-year terms) (10/18/2015)............................24

Court of Appeals: New congregation illegally took land and church building from old congregation (2/7/2017).............................................................................................................................................26

Elections: Patricia Timmons-Goodson files against US Rep. Richard Hudson (12/134/2019)................28

INSIDE POLITICS: NC wants to give criminals a second chance, survey says (1/19/2020)......................28

INSIDE POLITICS: Cumberland incumbents dominate money chase (2/16/2020).................................29

N.C. House District 45: Frances Jackson wins Democratic primary (3/3/2020).....................................29

Anti-GenX chemical protesters demand clean water (3/7/2020)..........................................................30

Medium.com:............................................................................................................................................33

These Women are Running to Flip the House — NCDP Spotlight Series (3/31/2020)...........................33

After 25 Years of Serving in Her Community in HD-45, Frances Jackson is Ready to Serve in Raleigh (4/1/2020).............................................................................................................................................34

Project Vote Smart:...................................................................................................................................35

Bio (Undated)........................................................................................................................................35

Funding (Undated).................................................................................................................................36

Ratings & Endorsements (2020)............................................................................................................38

Other Internet Hits:...................................................................................................................................39

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ABC Commission of North Carolina: Cumberland County ABC Board (Undated)...................................39

Ballotpedia: Frances Jackson (Undated)................................................................................................40

Cumberland County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board: Board of Directors (Undated)........................41

Town of Hope Mills: Zoning Board Regular Meeting (7/28/2014).........................................................42

Court Listener: Burns v. Kingdom Impact Global Ministeries (2/7/2017)..............................................44

Spectrum News: Hope Mills Commissioner Frances Jackson Resigns (3/9/2017).................................48

Walden University: Jackson's Doctoral Dissertation: Millenial Generation College Students' Participation in Civil Righs Causes (2019)..............................................................................................49

ABC11: Local Elections (2020)................................................................................................................52

Future Now: North Carolina 2020 (2020)..............................................................................................53

Planned Parenthood Action: North Carolina Endorsed Candidates (2020)............................................55

WALB: NC-Winners (2/12/2020)............................................................................................................56

Watauga Watch: The Elections of March: Democratic Primary in NCH45 (2/11/2020).........................56

NC State AFL-CIO: NC Labor 2020 Voter Guide (2/13/2020).................................................................57

StarNews: Anti-GenX chemical protesters demand clean water (3/7/2020).........................................58

Bladen Journal: Protest at Chemours Co. continues quest for clean water, answers (3/8/2020)..........60

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FRANCES VINELL JACKSONSummary of Findings from Internet & Social Media

The following is a summary of findings based on a review of Frances Jackson, Democrat candidate for North Carolina House District 45:

Wrongfully Transferred Church Property in Congregation Dispute: In 2009, then-Pastor William Thomas Ford and other church members of Parks Chapel Free Will Baptist Church decided to withdraw their church from the United American Freewill Baptist Denomination. In February 2010, Ford incorporated Kingdom Impact Global Ministries which is headquartered about 1,500 feet from the Parks Church Chapel Building.

In May 2010, Jackson - identified as a trustee for Parks Chapel, signed documents filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State to officially merge Parks Chapel Church with Kingdom Impact Global Ministries. The following month, the Freewill Baptist Denomination appointed a new pastor for Parks Chapel and those church members who had opposed the withdrawal from the denomination continued their affiliation with it and met for worship at the old church property until Kingdom Impact denied them access. In September 2011, Jackson signed a deed transferring the Parks Chapel property from the trustees of Parks Chapel to the trustees of Kingdom Impact. Jackson was the only person to sign the deed to convey the property, unlike another land transfer deed made in 1984 that had all the Parks Chapel trustees' signatures.

Parks Chapel sued Kingdom Impact in November 2013, and in February 2017, a state Court of Appeals ruled that Kingdom Impact illegally took possession of the Parks Chapel property. According to the ruling, Jackson did not have the authority to

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transfer the property to Kingdom Impact without the signatures of all the trustees, so the land transfer violated state law. The plaintiffs also had alleged that Jackson was not a trustee when she signed the 2011 deed transfer.1

Opposed Rezoning Petition to Bring Walmart to Hope Mills: While on the Hope Mills Zoning Board, Jackson opposed rezoning from residential to commercial 8.6 acres of land in Hope Mills to allow a Walmart to open a 42,000 square foot store. The motion voted 3-3 on the motion, thereby failing to deliver a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on the rezoning petition. According to an engineer for the project, the proposed store would not be just a big box store, but would have a grocery store, deli, pharmacy and other departments. The engineer also said the developers would install a traffic light at a bus entrance to the nearby South View Schools and replace a 41-year old waterline, and there would be space for additional stores and services.

Jackson "expressed concern about commercial development spreading into a residential area, citing growth on Main Street as an example." She said, "There's no such thing as controlling it...Once it starts, it starts."2

Ran for Board of Commissioners in 2015, Wishy Washy on Tax Increase, Ran on Economic Development: In 2015, Jackson ran for the Board of Commissioners in Hope Mills. When asked if she would consider a tax increase, she said she would not "until after careful evaluation of the documentation of the specific deficiencies in service delivery to the citizens that has led the staff to the decision." She also mentioned that one of the top three issues facing the town was "enhancing economic development opportunities", which is ironic given her opposition to the Walmart project rezoning in 2014.3

1 https://www.fayobserver.com/b8e7bd3d-95d4-58c2-82dd-901bddc08a60.html;https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4346474/burns-v-kingdom-impact-global-ministries/ 2 https://www.fayobserver.com/dcb891c0-827b-5eea-b73c-31f20a980892.html 3 https://www.fayobserver.com/73aff370-7440-11e5-a715-9fec2282a9e1.html

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Resigned from Town Board after One Month: In 2017, Jackson was appointed to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners, after a death left a vacancy on the Board. However, Jackson resigned after a month of service "when it was determined that her job at the time as a court magistrate created a conflict of interest for her."4

Serves on County Alcohol Control Board: In July 2019, Jackson was appointed to serve on the Cumberland County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, where she serves as Vice Chair.5

Doctoral Dissertation on Declining Millennial Participation with Civil Rights Groups: In 2019, Jackson submitted her doctoral dissertation to obtain her PhD from Walden University. Her dissertation was about the survey she conducted to find out why millennial college students are less likely to volunteer with or otherwise engage with major civil rights organizations. In her dissertation, she cited Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter as instances "where members of society united to address unjust laws through protests." She worries that because millennials college students are "not being adequate recruited", the "benefits" that major civil rights organizations and membership in those groups are not being realized. She also complains that most states in the U.S. do not require "equal pay for women and paid maternity leave".6

Protested at Chemical Plant; Wants More Regulations: In March 2020, Jackson was one of about 30 people to protest outside the entrance to the Chemours chemical plan, located on the Cumberland-Bladen county line. According to Jackson, she has cousins who live close to the plant and use bottled water instead of their well water due to pollution from the plant. She said if she was elected to the legislature, "I want to be able to go

4 https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2017/03/9/hope-mills-commissioner-frances-jackson-resigns; https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20191213/elections-patricia-timmons-goodson-files-against-us-rep-richard-hudson 5 https://abc.nc.gov/Districts/Board/73 6 https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8432&context=dissertations

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up there and make some regulations and get some things in place, make sure that we have the staff that can evaluate the water quality.”7

Guest at Local Anti-Trump Resistance Group: On January 25, 2020, Jackson was scheduled to appear as a guest at the local Cafe Fear Indivisible Monthly Social. Indivisible is a "resistance" anti-Trump group.8

Zero Score from NRA: Jackson has a 0% score from the National Rifle Association. It is unclear if she got that score because she did not respond to their candidate survey, or if she did take the survey and didn't agree with any of the organization's positions.9

Supports "Living Wage": On her campaign website, Jackson states that "Citizens should be assured a fair and living wage", a proposal that would likely be very costly for small businesses, especially those hurting now during the pandemic and resulting economic slowdown.10

Endorsed by AFL-CIO, Other Unions: Jackson has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the Sheet, Metal Air, Rail, Transportation (SMART) Union Workers.11

Endorsed by Pro-Abortion Groups: Jackson has been endorsed by the pro-abortion rights groups EMILY's List and Planned Parenthood.12

Concerned about Redistricting: Like many Democrats running for state legislative seats in North Carolina, Jackson opposes "gerrymandering" and she took a pledge "to support fair maps 7 https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200307/anti-genx-chemical-protesters-demand-clean-water 8 https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200119/inside-politics-nc-wants-to-give-criminals-second-chance-survey-says 9 https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/189019/frances-jackson 10 https://www.jacksonnc45.com/ 11 https://aflcionc.org/nc-labor-2020-voter-guide/;See “Social Media” section of this report for relevant screenshots. 12 https://emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-endorses-13-women-leaders-for-the-north-carolina-general-assemb; https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-votes-south-atlantic/legislative-updates/north-carolina-updates/north-carolina-endorsed-candidates

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and to end gerrymandering" with an independent redistricting process.13

Allow Vote by Mail: In the midst of the pandemic, Jackson has stated “We must encourage policies that speak to voting by mail” and of course called to end “voter suppression”14

Top Priority is to Undo GOP Policies: When asked what her top priority would be if a Democratic majority was elected, Jackson didn’t list any specific priorities but just “to undo the Republican policies and laws that work against the interests of voters and Democratic policies”.15

Campaign Light on Cash: According to a February 2020 report, Jackson reported that her campaign started with $50 and she gave herself an in-kind contribution worth $53 when she rented a post office box, leaving her with $50 as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2019.16 According to Project Vote Smart, Jackson has raised $3,815, of which she has personally contributed $800.17

13 See “Social Media” section of this report for relevant screenshots.14 See “Social Media” section of this report for relevant screenshots.15 See “Social Media” section of this report for relevant screenshots.16 https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200216/inside-politics-cumberland-incumbents-dominate-money-chase 17 https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/189019/frances-jackson

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Social Media: Facebook: Jackson appears to have a personal page that she is also promoting as her official campaign page on her campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/frances.v.jackson

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It is unclear how long she has had this page, as her only posts (at least that are viewable to the general public) are some updates on her educational background and endorsements of her campaign from labor unions and Planned Parenthood:

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Twitter:Jackson’s Twitter account can be found here:

https://twitter.com/JacksonForNC45/

It’s a new account, that was created in March 2020. So far, she has only posted 28 tweets. Of note were some of her responses to questions posed by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee:

Like many Democrats running for office in North Carolina, Jackson has complained about gerrymandering and has come out in support of “Independent Redistricting”:

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In the midst of the pandemic, Jackson has stated “We must encourage policies that speak to voting by mail” and of course called to end “voter suppression”:

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When asked what her top priority would be if a Democratic majority was elected, Jackson didn’t list any specific priorities but just “to undo the Republican policies and laws that work against the interests of voters and Democratic policies”.

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LinkedIn:Jackson’s LinkedIn page can be found here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-jackson-922756123/

Campaign Website:https://www.jacksonnc45.com/

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EMILY's List: EMILY’S LIST ENDORSES 13 WOMEN LEADERS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STATEWIDE OFFICES (2/11/2020)https://emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-endorses-13-women-leaders-for-the-north-carolina-general-assemb

EMILY’s List Endorses 13 Women Leaders for the North Carolina General Assembly and Statewide Offices

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed 13 more women leaders for the North Carolina General Assembly and statewide offices. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, released the following statement:

“North Carolina Republicans have consistently made a mockery of the democratic process and it’s time to vote them out and replace them with pro-choice Democratic women leaders who will work for North Carolina families. Whether they are pushing dangerous anti-choice legislation through their gerrymandered majorities or deploying despicable tactics to overturn the governor’s vetoes at the expense of their Democratic colleagues, time and time again, Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have put partisanship over people. Pro-choice Democratic women helped break the Republican supermajority in the House last cycle, and with fairer maps and a mobilized base, they will be crucial in the effort to turn North Carolina blue this November. EMILY’s List is proud to endorse these incredible candidates who are running up and down the ballot. Their leadership will help usher in a new era of progress for working families across the state.”

EMILY’s List endorsed the following slate of candidates:

Beth Wood (Auditor)

Dimple Ajmera (Treasurer)

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Jenna Wadsworth (Commissioner of Agriculture)

Natalie Murdock (SD-20)

Julie Mayfield (SD-49)

Marcia Morgan (HD-19)

Rosa Gill (HD-33)

Quanta Monique Edwards (HD-38)

Frances Jackson (HD-45)

Verla Insko (HD-56)

Evelyn Terry (HD-71)

Aimy Steele (HD-82)

Becky Carney (HD-102)

These endorsements are in addition to six previously endorsed EMILY’s List candidates in North Carolina: Representatives Jean Farmer-Butterfield (HD-24), Julie von Haefen (HD-36), Sydney Batch (HD-37), Christy Clark (HD-98), Rachel Hunt (HD-103), and Senator Natasha Marcus (SD-41).

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $600 million to elect pro-choice Democratic women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million members, EMILY's List helps Democratic women win competitive campaigns – across the country and up and down the ballot – by recruiting and training candidates, supporting strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect 150 women to the House, 26 to the Senate, 16 governors, and nearly 1,100 women to state and local office. Nearly 40 percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. During the historic 2017-2018 cycle, EMILY’s List raised a record-breaking $110 million and launched a record independent expenditure campaign. We helped elect 34 new women to the

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House, including 24 red-to-blue victories; enough seats to have delivered the U.S. House majority alone. Since the 2016 election, more than 50,000 women have reached out to EMILY's List about running for office laying the groundwork for the next decade of candidates for local, state and national offices.

EMILY’S LIST STATEMENT ON NORTH CAROLINA’S DOWN-BALLOT PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS (3/4/2020)https://www.emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-statement-on-north-carolinas-down-ballot-primary-election-resul

March 4, 2020

EMILY’s List Statement on North Carolina’s Down-Ballot Primary Election Results

Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, congratulated 12 women on winning their primary elections in North Carolina. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, released the following statement:

“These outstanding candidates are leaders in their communities and EMILY’s List is proud to support their campaigns to represent the people of North Carolina. In office, they will work to protect women’s access to reproductive care, expand economic opportunity for working families, and put an end to the partisan politics that have plagued state government and stifled progress in North Carolina. Pro-choice Democratic women have been instrumental in moving North Carolina forward, and we look forward to their victories in the general election.”

EMILY's List congratulates the following women as they advance to the general election:

Beth Wood (Auditor)

Jenna Wadsworth (Commissioner of Agriculture)

Natalie Murdock (SD-20)

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Julie Mayfield (SD-49)

Marcia Morgan (HD-19)

Jean Farmer-Butterfield (HD-24)

Rosa Gill (HD-33)

Frances Jackson (HD-45)

Verla Insko (HD-56)

Evelyn Terry (HD-71)

Aimy Steele (HD-82)

Becky Carney (HD-102)

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Fay Observer.com:Hope Mills Zoning Board votes 3-3 on rezoning petition for Walmart on Legion Road (7/28/2014)https://www.fayobserver.com/dcb891c0-827b-5eea-b73c-31f20a980892.html

HOPE MILLS - A divided Hope Mills Zoning Board failed to deliver a recommendation Monday to the Board of Commissioners on a rezoning petition that could bring a Walmart to Legion Road and N.C. 162.

The board voted 3-3 on a motion to deny the rezoning of about 8.6acres from residential to commercial.

Jimmy Clark, Jean Clark and Melvin Dove of the Hope Mills Zoning Board were in favor of the rezoning. Elizabeth Blevins, Joe Simpson and Frances Jackson were against it. Board member Connie Parker was not at the meeting.

The action came after a three-hour public hearing in which residents and developers spoke in favor and against the proposal in a capacity-filled Town Hall.

Some carried signs with inscriptions such as “Preserve our Neighborhood” and wore tags showing the word Walmart with a slash through it.

Chris Capellini, an engineer for the proposed project, said Walmart wants to build a 42,000-square-foot “neighborhood center” at the intersection. The store would include a grocery store, pharmacy, deli and other departments.

“It’s very similar to a Food Lion or Harris Teeter,” Capellini said. “It’s not a big-box store.”

The project would include 12 gas pumps and several adjoining stores that could house businesses such as a bank, fitness center and cafe, Capellini said.

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Capellini said the Walmart would be much smaller than a “super-center,” which averages about 182,000 square feet.

Capellini said the developers would make improvements to the area such as installing a traffic light at a bus entrance to the nearby South View schools, and replacing a 41-year-old waterline.

Pam Ray, one of the property owners who is trying to have the land rezoned, said her family has owned the land since 1869, but that it is no longer suitable as a residential neighborhood.

Ray said she has been trying to sell her house, but nobody wants to live in an increasingly commercial area.

“It’s been hard for us to come to this decision, but we have to go,” Ray said.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner and her husband Alex, a former state representative, both spoke against the proposal. The Warners live nearby the proposed project on Legion Road.

“If this turns commercial, it’s only a matter of time until the commercial spreads further,” Alex Warner said.

Other residents said the project would bring crime, traffic congestion and sprawl to the area. They said with a Walmart super-center on Main Street in Hope Mills, and others planned for the area, the store isn’t needed.

“It will generate so much traffic, it will be bottleneck,” Brenda Cameron said. “We need development, but we need it in a rational and careful method.”

Blevins questioned Capellini about exactly what kind of businesses would go in the out-parcels and how many delivery trucks per week would pull into the development.

Capellini said he was not prepared to get into such specifics.

Town Manager John Ellis reminded the Hope Mills Zoning Board members that they were not voting on approving a Walmart, only

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making a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners on the rezoning request. He said if the rezoning were approved, commercial development other than Walmart could conceivably be built at the intersection.

Frances Jackson expressed concern about commercial development spreading into a residential area, citing growth on Main Street as an example.

“There’s no such thing as controlling it,” Jackson said. “Once it starts, it starts.”

Dove said he didn’t agree with criticism of Walmart, saying he lived near the Walmart on Main Street, and saw his property value increase.

“It burns me when people talk about Walmart,” he said. “I love it.”

Commissioners will take up the issue without a recommendation from the zoning board at its Aug.18 meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Bob Gorman and Commissioner Jerry Legge, who were both in attendance Monday, wouldn’t predict how they would vote on the rezoning request.

“I can’t give you an answer to what’s going to happen,” Gorman said.

Bill Kirby: Is new Hope Mills Walmart progress or politics? (9/5/2014)https://www.fayobserver.com/58423fa3-baec-5d32-a4b5-a95854ea7ed8.html

HOPE MILLS - Pam Ray understands how some folks, and many of them longtime friends, feel about a zoning decision that likely will change the landscape along Legion and Elk roads.

But her house is no longer a home.

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“They need to stop and think,” Ray was saying Wednesday night after the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners, by a 3-2 vote, rezoned Ray’s residential property that will make way for a proposed mini-Walmart, replete with a grocery section, deli, pharmacy and likely gasoline pumps. “The road will be good for all of us, and in two years from now, you’ll be thanking us.”

Hmmm ... the jury might be out on that.

Especially with folks such as Brenda Cameron, Frances Jackson, Debbie Britt, former board members Terry Smith and Doris Luther and even Mayor Jackie Warner, all of whom have argued against rezoning of the property that has been in Ray’s family since 1849.

“There are 3,200 schoolchildren out there,” Luther was saying after the decision. “And already, two children have been killed near Baldwin Elementary School.”

The traffic concerned the anti-rezoning folks, along with their fears of commercial creep or crawl, and the disenfranchisement of nearby Pinewood Lakes as a neighborhood.

“But it’s not safe for us,” Ray was saying after the vote. “Or our grandchildren, who are ages 11 and 2.”

The Cumberland County planning staff didn’t concur with Ray and back in July recommended denying the rezoning because it would be a commercial encroachment into a residential area. The town’s Zoning Board couldn’t decide either way.

So, it fell to five town board members, excluding the non-voting mayor, and a near-capacity audience turned out Wednesday at the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation building in anticipation of how Edwin Deaver, Bryan Marley, Pat Edwards, Bob Gorman and Jerry Legge would vote. It all carried a measure of anxiety.

After all, no matter its growth over the past 10 years, Hope Mills still is a place where many residents know one another on a first-name basis, and know their families and grandchildren.

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“I have friends on both sides,” Legge, 70, was saying before the vote. “I hope they will be my friends tomorrow.”

Gorman called it the most difficult decision he has had to make as a board member, and you have to remember this is a board that has had to deal with the controversial failure and lawsuit regarding the Hope Mills dam and, sans Deaver, the ouster of Tonzie Collins, the commissioner who was embroiled in one controversy after another.

But Pat Edwards may have told us best.

“It’s very hard for me,” she was saying before we learned of the property’s fate, with Edwards later joining Marley and Deaver in ultimately giving a green light to the proposed 42,000-square-foot neighborhood market and other commercial entities “But Hope Mills is changing. We are growing , and people need to grow with it.”

Progress, politics or pure disregard for residents, it’s done ... and time will tell.

Hope Mills Board of Commissioners (5 seats available, 2-year terms) (10/18/2015)https://www.fayobserver.com/73aff370-7440-11e5-a715-9fec2282a9e1.html

Frances “Vinell” Jackson

Age: 53

Occupation:Educator

Elected office:None

Family: N/A

Contacts:fjackson004@nc.rr.com; 910-423-3649; Facebook- Frances “Vinell”Jacksonforhopemillscommissioner.com

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Q. What are your feelings about the proposed Walmart at Legion and Elk roads?

A. The requested rezoning of the property located at Legion and Elk roads was always a question of the suitability of transitioning from residential uses of the tract to commercial. As a planner, I learned years ago the ultimate decision of how community growth will occur is determined by the elected.

At this time, I question referring to the project as “proposed.” After extended discussion, there was a final vote by all of the elected officials, and a majority of all those same elected officials a decision was made to approve the rezoning request. My greatest concern is the distrust the commercial (supposedly a Walmart) approval created within the community, the distrust in government and the democratic process. I want the citizens to know that I believe in fair and open government.

Q. Do you favor continuing with the schedule that has been outlined for the new Hope Mills Lake dam?

A. I am in favor of the set schedule in restoring the Hope Mills Lake dam as a community asset. It is not clear if restoring the Hope Mills Lake dam at the water level of 105 feet will delay the project. At some point, the town has to be willing to accept technical advice from the technical experts. If the engineering firm the town hired was the best that was available, again it is time to move on, the more aggressive the better. Closure will give way for the community to move forward to other vital projects.

Q. There was no tax increase this year, but the board and town staff have indicated one might be necessary in the near future. Under what conditions would you consider a tax increase?

A. I would not consider a tax increase until after careful evaluation of the documentation of the specific deficiencies in service delivery to the citizens that has led the staff to the decision. The goal should be to maintain services provided to the citizens and improve efficiency.

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Q. What do you see as the top three issues facing the town over the next term?

A. Completing the Hope Mills Lake dam and possibly use it as an energy/ power source.

Enhancing economic development opportunities and simultaneously addressing the vacancies among commercial buildings within the town.

Creating mobility and diverse housing options within the community for the elderly, disabled and veterans. At the end of the day, enhancing the quality of life for our citizens.

Q. Why should someone vote for you?

A. My experience in local government will serve as an asset to the board by bringing knowledge, experience and leadership. In addition, experience serving on the zoning commission provided insight and experience in working with others when decisions are made.

My experience and education are directly related to the areas of contention the board has experienced over the last two years.

I have 20 years of experience in transportation, comprehensive and land use planning, which is directly related to the decisions regarding the southwestern cumberland county plan; and legal matters where I have completed all course work toward a Ph.D. in public policy and administration, specializing in law.

Everyone knows that it is my desire to make Hope Mills a better place to live, work and play.

We are better together.

Court of Appeals: New congregation illegally took land and church building from old congregation (2/7/2017)https://www.fayobserver.com/b8e7bd3d-95d4-58c2-82dd-901bddc08a60.html

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A split in a Fayetteville church congregation turned into a legal fight for ownership of church property, according to a state Court of Appeals ruling issued Tuesday, and other court records.

Parks Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and Kingdom Impact Global Ministries have been battling in court since November 2013 for a church building and land at and around 868 Amye St. Members of Parks Chapel accused Kingdom Impact of illegally taking possession of their sanctuary and kicking them out of it.

Tuesday’s Court of Appeals ruling says Kingdom Impact illegally took possession of the Parks Chapel property.

The decision and court documents outline a congregational schism that spilled into courtrooms in Fayetteville and Raleigh.

The ruling says that in 2009 at Parks Chapel, then-Pastor William Thomas Ford and some church members decided to withdraw their church from the United American Freewill Baptist Denomination.

There is conflicting evidence, the ruling says, on the circumstances of the congregation’s vote to withdraw - disagreement on whether church members got sufficient notice of the meeting where the vote was held, on who was allowed to vote and on the outcome.

Some Parks Chapel church members wanted to stay with the Freewill Baptist Denomination.

Regardless, in February 2010 Ford incorporated Kingdom Impact Global Ministries. That church is headquartered on Murchison Road, about 1,500 feet from the Parks Chapel church building, and Ford now is the pastor there.

The ruling says in May 2010, Frances Jackson, identified as a trustee for Parks Chapel, signed documents that were filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State to officially merge Parks Chapel Freewill Baptist Church with Kingdom Impact Global Ministries.

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“The affidavit testimony before the trial court however, challenged whether the merger was properly voted on by the members of Parks Chapel,” the ruling says.

The next month, the Freewill Baptist Denomination appointed a new pastor for Parks Chapel, the appeals court ruling says, and, “The members of Parks Chapel who had opposed the withdrawal from the Denomination continued their affiliation with the Denomination and met for worship at the sanctuary on the Property until Defendant denied them access to the Property.”

Jackson in September 2011 signed a deed transferring the Parks Chapel property from the trustees of Parks Chapel to the trustees of Kingdom Impact, the ruling says. The ruling notes that Jackson is the only person to sign the deed to convey the property, unlike another land transfer deed made in 1984 that had all the Parks Chapel trustees’ signatures.

The Parks Chapel plaintiffs say Jackson was not a Parks Chapel trustee when she signed the 2011 deed transfer.

“Plaintiffs contend that Kingdom Impact, claiming ownership and control of the Property based on the deed, dispossessed Plaintiffs of the Property and prevented them from continuing to worship there,” the ruling says.

Court records say Kingdom Impact has been leasing the Parks Chapel site to third parties and has received $2,000 per month in rent.

The Parks Chapel trustees sued Kingdom Impact in November 2013.

Superior Court judge Tanya T. Wallace in June 2015 filed on order saying Parks Chapel owns the Parks Chapel church building and land and ordered Kingdom Impact to give it up.

Her order was stayed while the case was appealed.

The Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld Wallace’s decision to return the property to Parks Chapel.

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Among the reasons, appeals court Judge Lucy Inman wrote that Jackson did not have the authority to transfer the property to Kingdom Impact without the signatures of all the Parks Chapel trustees, so the land transfer violated state law.

Judges John Tyson and Wanda Bryant concurred.

Elections: Patricia Timmons-Goodson files against US Rep. Richard Hudson (12/134/2019)https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20191213/elections-patricia-timmons-goodson-files-against-us-rep-richard-hudson

Other Fayetteville-area filings: Frances Jackson files against state Rep. John Szoka; Christopher Leyhew enters the county commissioners race....

Jackson is challenging four-term incumbent Szoka in the state House.

She previously served for a month on the Hope Mills town board, then resigned when it was determined that her job at the time as a court magistrate created a conflict of interest for her.

Szoka is among the upper-ranked members of the state House and has been in office since 2013.

District 45 was recently revised to comply with a court order to do away with partisan gerrymandering of the legislative districts. The old district had been a safe Republican territory. The revised district has a more diverse mix of Democratic and Republican voters and overall appears to be lean-Republican....

INSIDE POLITICS: NC wants to give criminals a second chance, survey says (1/19/2020)https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200119/inside-politics-nc-wants-to-give-criminals-second-chance-survey-says

...Political events

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• Black Voices for Trump Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, Hilton Raleigh North Hills, 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. Panel discussion and appearances from Robin Armstrong, Clarence Henderson, and Diamond & Silk.

• Cape Fear Indivisible Progressive Coalition Canvass. Saturday, Jan. 25. Volunteers gather at 1 p.m. at Revolutionary Coworking at 100 Hay St., then groups go to neighborhoods to canvass.

• Cape Fear Indivisible Monthly Social: 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, Fayetteville’s Bakery Cake and Coffee Shop, 3037 A Boone Trail Extension, Fayetteville. Guests: N.C. House candidates Kimberly Hardy and Frances Jackson.

INSIDE POLITICS: Cumberland incumbents dominate money chase (2/16/2020)https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200216/inside-politics-cumberland-incumbents-dominate-money-chase

...House 45 Democrats

Democrats Keith Byrd and Frances Jackson are seeking the nomination to challenge Republican incumbent House District 45 Rep. John Szoka.

Byrd reported that his campaign had no donations and no spending beyond starting a checking account with $100.

Jackson reported her campaign started with $50 and that she gave herself an in-kind contribution worth $53 when she rented a post office box. This left her with $50 as of Dec. 31.

N.C. House District 45: Frances Jackson wins Democratic primary (3/3/2020)https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200303/nc-house-district-45-frances-jackson-wins-democratic-primary

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A long-time Hope Mills resident, government planner and professor will take on incumbent John Szoka in the state House District 45 race this fall.

Frances Vinell Jackson defeated Keith Byrd in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, according to complete but unofficial results. Jackson received 5,297 votes compared with Byrd’s 2,360 votes...

Jackson will face Szoka in the Nov. 3 general election.

Although Szoka, a Republican, has easily won reelection since 2013, the district is expected to be more competitive because of redistricting.

Jackson, 57, is an adjunct professor at Fayetteville Technical Community College. In 2017, she briefly served on the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners before resigning because of a conflict with her job at the time as a magistrate.

Jackson said important issues for her are increasing teacher pay, assuring water safety in the Gray’s Creek area and protecting women’s reproductive rights.

Jackson, a 25-year resident of Hope Mills and graduate of E.E. Smith High School, said she looks forward to the general election battle against Szoka.

“The people of the community are my basic concern. Their quality of life is my main concern,” she said.

Jackson said it was a tough campaign.

“I’m very excited about the win,” she said. “People in the community trusted me and respected me, and I worked very hard to show them that I’m very much concerned about them and their needs.”

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Anti-GenX chemical protesters demand clean water (3/7/2020)https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20200307/anti-genx-chemical-protesters-demand-clean-water

GRAYS CREEK — About 30 people protested for clean water Saturday at the entrance to the Chemours chemical plant on the Cumberland-Bladen county line.

The participants included people from Cumberland County, Bladen County and Wilmington. They gathered as ongoing controversy surrounding the plant is well into its third year.

The plant for years (and not in violation of environmental regulations) emitted PFAS “forever chemicals” into the air and the Cape Fear River. Specifically, one called GenX that is made here.

The chemicals are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and are used to make many everyday consumer and industrial products, such as nonstick cookware and lubricants. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t readily break down. Research in recent years has led to suspicions the PFAS chemicals are carcinogenic.

The GenX chemical contamination became public in summer 2017 when The StarNews in Wilmington reported the chemical had been found in Wilmington’s drinking water. Wilmington gets its water from the Cape Fear River.

The chemical later was found in the drinking water wells of homes and other properties near the plant.

So the Chemours Co. has taken steps to abate its air and water PFAS emissions. This in part has been driven by a court order it agreed to in a lawsuit with the state over the contamination.

The company in December brought online a newly-built $100 million thermal oxidizer. This heats the plants’ waste gases to more than 2,000 degrees so the PFAS can be extracted and disposed of safely.

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Chemours has said it halted its intentional discharges into the Cape Fear River. However, it appears the chemical still is getting into the water from the soil in the Chemours property, so the company has made a proposal to the state on how it will control this.

The proposal still is under review.

The company on Saturday issued a statement in response to the protest.

“Community groups have helped raise awareness of PFAS, and we respect their right to peacefully protest,” it says. “Chemours’ definitive actions have significantly reduced PFAS emissions, and we remain committed to moving forward and continuing emissions control progress at our Fayetteville site.”

Chemours has been providing bottled water and filter systems to nearby residents whose wells have a certain amount of PFAs or more. Protester Carrie Adkins said her home gets 15 gallons of bottled water per week.

Sarah Kirkland said she and her 7-year-old son, Jake, have a filtration system under their kitchen and bathroom sinks to filter GenX out of their well water.

Kirkland does not consider herself to be an environmentalist, she said. But now that her home is affected, she and Jake stood on the side of N.C. 87 on a chilly and windy Saturday to hold up protest signs and a protest flag to passing motorists.

The protesters included Frances Jackson of Hope Mills, who is the Democratic candidate this year for state House District 45, and Bev Pone, wife of Cumberland County Chief District Court Judge Ed Pone. The Pone’s live in southern Cumberland County.

Bev Pone said the church she attends, Willis Creek AME Zion Church, is near the plant.

“They said that we are within the limits when they tested our well, but — you know — we have our doubts,” she said.

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Many in the congregation drink bottled water at church, she said.

Jackson said she has cousins who live close to the plant and who are using bottled water instead of their well water. She said if elected to serve in the state legislature, “I want to be able to go up there and make some regulations and get some things in place, make sure that we have the staff that can evaluate the water quality.”

House District 45 includes Gray’s Creek.

Jackson is running against Republican Rep. John Szoka. Szoka has sought and voted for legislation to monitor the pollution and find solutions to the situation.

Szoka and Democratic state Sen. Kirk deViere recently told The Fayetteville Observer they are working together to continue to help the people in the community. They have scheduled a community forum on PFAS and GenX for 6 p.m. March 26 at Gray’s Creek High School.

The meeting itinerary includes a presentation of new research on PFAS contamination and how to remove it from water and a chance for the public to bring questions to the researchers.

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Medium.com:These Women are Running to Flip the House — NCDP Spotlight Series (3/31/2020)https://medium.com/@NCDemParty/these-women-are-running-to-knock-down-the-house-ncdp-spotlight-series-213f306ea31b

...After 25 Years of Serving in Her Community in HD-45, Frances Jackson is Ready to Serve in Raleigh

Frances Jackson is a long time resident of Cumberland County and has been living in Hope Mills, North Carolina for over 25 years, and she believes that her education, professional experience, community service and values make her the best candidate to represent the citizens of NC District 45.

Having spent her time growing up in Cumberland County, she attended and graduated from E.E. Smith High School, before moving on to North Carolina A&T State University to receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Transportation and Economics. Since then, she has pursued higher education at Fayetteville State University and Walden University to obtain a Master’s in Political Science and a Phd in Public Policy and Administration, respectively.

Since obtaining her education, she has had an extensive career in state and local government, and has become a profound leader in her community. For 11 years after college, she acted as a transportation and community planner in the Cumberland County planning department, before serving as a zoning administrator and Director of Transportation in Hoke County. Most recently, she served as the Cumberland County Magistrate and has begun teaching as an adjunct professor at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Frances’ platform is focused on people, jobs, education, and the environment. She is committed to increasing access to healthcare and bringing new jobs to District 45 in order to improve the quality of life in her district for all its residents. She

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is supportive of a pay increase for teachers and support staff and in funding education at levels to best prepare children for success.She is committed to protecting our environment and maintaining clean air and water for our citizens.

To learn more about Frances and her campaign, go to her website at: https://www.jacksonnc45.com/

After 25 Years of Serving in Her Community in HD-45, Frances Jackson is Ready to Serve in Raleigh (4/1/2020)https://medium.com/@NCDemParty/after-25-years-of-serving-in-her-community-in-hd-45-frances-jackson-is-ready-to-serve-in-raleigh-87f0cc3890b9

Frances Jackson is a long time resident of Cumberland County and has been living in Hope Mills, North Carolina for over 25 years, and she believes that her education, professional experience, community service and values make her the best candidate to represent the citizens of NC District 45.

Having spent her time growing up in Cumberland County, she attended and graduated from E.E. Smith High School, before moving on to North Carolina A&T State University to receive a Bachelor’s of Science in Transportation and Economics. Since then, she has pursued higher education at Fayetteville State University and Walden University to obtain a Master’s in Political Science and a Phd in Public Policy and Administration, respectively.

Since obtaining her education, she has had an extensive career in state and local government, and has become a profound leader in her community. For 11 years after college, she acted as a transportation and community planner in the Cumberland County planning department, before serving as a zoning administrator and Director of Transportation in Hoke County. Most recently, she served as the Cumberland County Magistrate and has begun teaching as an adjunct professor at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

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Frances’ platform is focused on people, jobs, education, and the environment. She is committed to increasing access to healthcare and bringing new jobs to District 45 in order to improve the quality of life in her district for all its residents. She is supportive of a pay increase for teachers and support staff and in funding education at levels to best prepare children for success.She is committed to protecting our environment and maintaining clean air and water for our citizens.

To learn more about Frances and her campaign, go to her website at: https://www.jacksonnc45.com/

North Carolina Democrats believe that our representatives from the top to the bottom of the ticket should reflect the diversity of our state — and that means electing a lot more women. Pitch in $10 or more during Women’s History Month to help us support Democratic candidates who will fight equal opportunities in 2020: ncdp.org/elect-more-women

Project Vote Smart:Bio (Undated)https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/189019/frances-jackson

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Funding (Undated)https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/189019/frances-jackson

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Ratings & Endorsements (2020)https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/189019/frances-jackson

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Other Internet Hits:

ABC Commission of North Carolina: Cumberland County ABC Board (Undated)https://abc.nc.gov/Districts/Board/73

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Ballotpedia: Frances Jackson (Undated)https://ballotpedia.org/Frances_Jackson_(North_Carolina)

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Cumberland County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board: Board of Directors (Undated)https://www.cumberlandabc.com/board-of-directors

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Town of Hope Mills: Zoning Board Regular Meeting (7/28/2014)http://www.townofhopemills.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/07282014-191

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Court Listener: Burns v. Kingdom Impact Global Ministeries (2/7/2017)https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/4346474/burns-v-kingdom-impact-global-ministries/

[See link for full NC Court of Appeals Decision]

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Spectrum News: Hope Mills Commissioner Frances Jackson Resigns (3/9/2017)https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2017/03/9/hope-mills-commissioner-frances-jackson-resigns

A newly selected Hope Mills commissioner steps down.

The board of commissioners and the historic preservation commission held a special meeting Wednesday night to accept the resignation of Frances "Vinell" Jackson.

The board voted unanimously to leave the seat vacant until the November election.

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Jackson was selected last month to fill the seat after Edwin Deaver passed away.

Walden University: Jackson's Doctoral Dissertation: Millenial Generation College Students' Participation in Civil Righs Causes (2019)https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8432&context=dissertations

[Click link to view Jackson’s full dissertation]

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ABC11: Local Elections (2020)https://abc11.com/politics/elections/local/

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Future Now: North Carolina 2020 (2020)https://www.futurenow.org/states/north-carolina-2020

CHAMBER MAKEUP

State Senate

21 Democrats

29 Republicans

State House

55 Democrats

65 Republicans

THE OPPORTUNITY

The tides have been turning in North Carolina. In 2016, Democrat Roy Cooper was the only Democrat to win the governorship in a state that Trump won, and in 2018, North Carolinians came out in record numbers to reject the legislature’s extremism and break Republican supermajorities. The state is now in a perfect position to ride favorable electoral trends to the best possible outcome in both chambers.

THE STAKES

For six years, the majority in North Carolina ran unobstructed in implementing greatest hits of the corporatist, far right-wing playbook, sharpening the state’s partisan divide and hurting its citizens. These significant legislative gains of 2018 broke Republican supermajorities, but failed to break their penchant

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for political machinations and gerrymandering to keep their power intact.

Passed the most comprehensive voter suppression package in the country and one of the most extreme gerrymanders.

Passed the notorious H.B. 2 “bathroom bill”—that also prevents anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ North Carolinians.

Passed a regressive tax code that hurts poor families and helps rich business owners and corporations—while refusing to expand Medicaid to help 500,000 people access health insurance.

Blocked all efforts to create an independent redistricting commission, implement a livable wage, and reduce mass incarceration.

2020 POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

In 2020:

The entire House and Senate are up for election.

A state court has imposed new, fairer districts in many areas across North Carolina. In the House, there are 5 Republican-held seats that have been carried by statewide Democrats in this decade and six more where they came close, many in areas that are trending Democratic.

Popular Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is running for re-election and will be working to ensure he finally has a legislature able to partner with him to improve lives.

In 2018:

Even under the current maps, Democrats broke a Republican supermajority and came close to flipping the State House, netting 10 seats and narrowing the Republican majority to 65-55. And that was without a major statewide race driving turnout.

Future Now Fund endorsed all 12 Democrats who flipped Republican-held House seats in addition to the next three closest finishers.

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Democrats made big gains in the State Senate too, narrowing the GOP margin to 29-21 and breaking the supermajority in that chamber as well.

MEET THE CANDIDATES...

Planned Parenthood Action: North Carolina Endorsed Candidates (2020)https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-votes-south-atlantic/legislative-updates/north-carolina-updates/north-carolina-endorsed-candidates

Our endorsed candidates are committed to protecting and promoting reproductive freedom in North Carolina. They can be counted on to stand up to ensure access to birth control, medically-accurate sexual health education and safe, legal abortion....

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WALB: NC-Winners (2/12/2020)https://www.walb.com/2020/02/12/nc-winners/

...State House - District 45

Frances Jackson, Dem

Watauga Watch: The Elections of March: Democratic Primary in NCH45 (2/11/2020)http://blog.wataugawatch.net/2020/02/the-elections-of-march-democratic.html

Frances Jackson

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North Carolina House District 45 in Cumberland County was redistricted and is now rated "Toss-Up" with a Republican incumbent, John Szoka, who was first elected to the seat in 2012. Two African-American Democrats are facing each other in the March 3rd primary, one a serious candidate -- Frances V. Jackson -- and the other apparently not (Keith Byrd, who has no campaign presence and no biography that we can detect).

Frances Jackson could be formidable -- and she'll have to be to take the seat in November -- so I was glad to see on her Facebook page that she's mounted at least one canvass in the district leading up to the primary. She's been endorsed by both the local AFL-CIO and by Planned Parenthood.

She teaches political science at Fayetteville Tech and holds a doctorate from Walden University in Minnesota. She's been active in civic life in Fayetteville. She was appointed to a seat on the Fayetteville City Council after the death of a member but was forced to resign after only a month because of a possible conflict of interest with her other appointed position as a Cumberland County magistrate.

According to Michael Bitzer, the newly drawn District 45 has a population that's 33% African-American, with Democrats out-numbering Republicans some 38% to 27%, and with unaffiliated voters holding the balance of power, accounting for 34% of registered voters. Bitzer classifies 79% of the district as "suburban voters outside a central city but inside an urban county." All of these numbers sound good for Francis Jackson ... except for this: Hillary Clinton took 47.37% of the district in 2016 to Trump's 49.93%.

Ought to be a pretty solid Democratic district. Goes wobbly, though, when the Democrat on the ballot fails to inspire.

Frances Jackson, assuming she easily wins her primary, will need an intense ground game -- especially canvassing those suburban neighborhoods -- to carry the vote come November. This could be

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an unanticipated Democratic pickup in the NC House is she's got the mojo, the volunteers, and the shoe leather.

NC State AFL-CIO: NC Labor 2020 Voter Guide (2/13/2020)https://aflcionc.org/nc-labor-2020-voter-guide/

List of Endorsed Candidates / Slates

How you vote is a personal decision, but unions of working people like yours did the research, conducted interviews, and recommend these candidates in the March 3rd statewide primary election.

For March 3rd...Eastern Piedmont CLC slate for March 3, 2020

Greater Sandhills CLC (Fayetteville area)

U.S. Senate: Cal Cunningham

Governor: Roy Cooper

Lt. Governor: Chaz Beasley

State Auditor: Beth A. Wood

State Treasurer: Ronnie Chatterji

Agriculture Commissioner: Jenna Wadsworth

State Superintendent: Keith A. Sutton

N.C. House 21: Raymond Smith

N.C. House 22: Albert Kirby

N.C. House 45: Frances Jackson

Paid for by NC State AFL-CIO and not endorsed by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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StarNews: Anti-GenX chemical protesters demand clean water (3/7/2020)https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20200307/anti-genx-chemical-protesters-demand-clean-water

GRAYS CREEK — About 30 people protested for clean water Saturday at the entrance to the Chemours chemical plant on the Cumberland-Bladen county line.

The participants included people from Cumberland County, Bladen County and Wilmington. They gathered as ongoing controversy surrounding the plant is well into its third year.

The plant for years (and not in violation of environmental regulations) emitted PFAS “forever chemicals” into the air and the Cape Fear River. Specifically, one called GenX that is made here.

The chemicals are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and are used to make many everyday consumer and industrial products, such as nonstick cookware and lubricants. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t readily break down. Research in recent years has led to suspicions the PFAS chemicals are carcinogenic.

The GenX chemical contamination became public in summer 2017 when The StarNews in Wilmington reported the chemical had been found in Wilmington’s drinking water. Wilmington gets its water from the Cape Fear River.

The chemical later was found in the drinking water wells of homes and other properties near the plant.

So the Chemours Co. has taken steps to abate its air and water PFAS emissions. This in part has been driven by a court order it agreed to in a lawsuit with the state over the contamination.

The company in December brought online a newly-built $100 million thermal oxidizer. This heats the plants’ waste gases to more than 2,000 degrees so the PFAS can be extracted and disposed of safely.

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Chemours has said it halted its intentional discharges into the Cape Fear River. However, it appears the chemical still is getting into the water from the soil in the Chemours property, so the company has made a proposal to the state on how it will control this.

The proposal still is under review.

The company on Saturday issued a statement in response to the protest.

“Community groups have helped raise awareness of PFAS, and we respect their right to peacefully protest,” it says. “Chemours’ definitive actions have significantly reduced PFAS emissions, and we remain committed to moving forward and continuing emissions control progress at our Fayetteville site.”

Chemours has been providing bottled water and filter systems to nearby residents whose wells have a certain amount of PFAs or more. Protester Carrie Adkins said her home gets 15 gallons of bottled water per week.

Sarah Kirkland said she and her 7-year-old son, Jake, have a filtration system under their kitchen and bathroom sinks to filter GenX out of their well water.

Kirkland does not consider herself to be an environmentalist, she said. But now that her home is affected, she and Jake stood on the side of N.C. 87 on a chilly and windy Saturday to hold up protest signs and a protest flag to passing motorists.

The protesters included Frances Jackson of Hope Mills, who is the Democratic candidate this year for state House District 45, and Bev Pone, wife of Cumberland County Chief District Court Judge Ed Pone. The Pone’s live in southern Cumberland County.

Bev Pone said the church she attends, Willis Creek AME Zion Church, is near the plant.

“They said that we are within the limits when they tested our well, but — you know — we have our doubts,” she said.

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Many in the congregation drink bottled water at church, she said.

Jackson said she has cousins who live close to the plant and who are using bottled water instead of their well water. She said if elected to serve in the state legislature, “I want to be able to go up there and make some regulations and get some things in place, make sure that we have the staff that can evaluate the water quality.”

House District 45 includes Gray’s Creek.

Jackson is running against Republican Rep. John Szoka. Szoka has sought and voted for legislation to monitor the pollution and find solutions to the situation.

Szoka and Democratic state Sen. Kirk deViere recently told The Fayetteville Observer they are working together to continue to help the people in the community. They have scheduled a community forum on PFAS and GenX for 6 p.m. March 26 at Gray’s Creek High School.

The meeting itinerary includes a presentation of new research on PFAS contamination and how to remove it from water and a chance for the public to bring questions to the researchers.

Bladen Journal: Protest at Chemours Co. continues quest for clean water, answers (3/8/2020)https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/30585/protest-at-chemours-co-continues-quest-for-clean-water-answers

A polite protest was held in front of the Chemours Fayetteville Work Facility around lunchtime Saturday, with the cutting wind causing a few of the approximate three dozen to have to leave early, but the continued staunch supporters of the fight against PFAS chemicals held their ground.

They’re wanting clean water, and they’re still wanting answers to the locations and extent of contamination.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known by the acronym PFAS, are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX and many other chemicals. Their full effects on the body have not been determined, but chemicals in the PFAS family have been linked to cancer.

Mike Watters, the ever familiar face of the Gray’s Creek community surrounding the plant and among the most outspoken, came with his same plea for clean water.

Jane Jacobs, a newer face, came forward again to speak against the chemicals going into the water supply, a supply that her friends and family use not only for sustenance, but recreation as well.

“When things were way simpler you could go swimming in the river or you could drink out of a creek,” she said. “You could eat whatever.”

Jacobs wants positive change and unity.

“If we can’t make changes, and make positive changes, and if we can’t all band together to make these changes, with all differences from anything else aside,” she said, her voice trailing off.

News about the contamination of the Cape Fear River came in June 2017, following a report from the StarNews newspaper of Wilmington. Numerous public meetings by various entities have been highly publicized by newspapers, television stations and social media.

That news hadn’t met Sarah Kirklands before she had bought a house in the area, just a few miles from the Chemours plant.

“We moved here last year, and my parents were having some health problems and we thought if we live here we could help take care of them and they could help take care of my son,” she said. “And they found out that they are getting sick because of their water, and that they don’t really feel good enough to be here.

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“They are here now, and they are building on their property. We are pretty disturbed by this.”

She lives about four or five miles from the plant close to Gray’s Creek Elementary, where the well tested positive for chemicals coming from Chemours.

And another close place to the plant is the Willis Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, and Beverly Pone said that they are concerned with what is in the water.

“Our church is closest to this plant,” she said.

The church is on N.C. 87, on the Cumberland County side north of the plant. Chemours is in Bladen County, along the Cumberland County line and the Cape Fear River.

“My husband was born and raised here, and the original church was right down here on this DuPont Road,” she said.

The church has a cemetery down that road, and was originally built there, she said, around the late 1800s or early 1900s.

They use this water for cooking, for cleaning, for church gatherings.

“We have been cooking with this,” she said.

Frances “Vinell” Jackson is running for the N.C. House District 45 and is concerned about what this means for the area.

“I was the quality planner for Cumberland County,” said Jackson. “I know how contamination moves from one place to another, and they don’t stay in one place.”

Scott Layhew, a candidate for Cumberland County commissioner defeated in Tuesday’s primary, says people don’t really have a clear understanding of how far the contamination has spread because Fayetteville is on city water, and that is not being tested.

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“We need the information to combat it, and if we don’t get the information it takes twice as long, three and four times as long,” said Leyhew.

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