With a pig on the grille, and politicians on the stump, Coalition members and guests packed the house for the first ever TCC political pig picking. The event, which was sponsored by Torrey Homes, M/I Homes, and the Wake County Farmers & Land Owners Association, was attended by 130 people – including political candidates for the US House to local candidates for county commission. 

Several Libertarian candidates, including several of the “Ladies of Liberty” from Durham County, also made an appearance. TCC Chairman Steve Leach moderated the speakers and served as master of ceremonies for the evening. 

For over an hour, the mixture of Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians took turns giving their stump speech behind a slew of campaign signs, and persuaded the packed room to get their vote. Education, the economy, jobs, growth, and transportation were just some of the issues touched by the candidates. 

Many of the candidates spoke of their endorsements from various groups such as the Wake County Home Builders, the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, and the Sierra Club. Former Mayor Paul Coble, candidate for NC Senate District 16, informed guests that he would take the same common-sense approach of governing that he mastered as Raleigh’s Mayor to the NC Senate. 

At the end of the speeches, participants were able to vote in a “straw poll.” 
Click here* for the Durham County straw poll results. 
Click here* for the Wake County straw poll results.
Although the picking went late until the night, a majority of the audience stayed until the very end of to hear the election results, which are now located on the TCC website at www.tricc.org . 

TCC has received many good reviews of the event. The TCC Board of Directors has decided to make this an annual event and will be gearing up for next year’s round of pig, poultry and politics! Below are a few of the comments of the candidates who attended the event: 

“This was a great event and the TCC is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the future,” said Representative Sam Ellis, candidate for the NC House. 

“I was very impressed by the interest expressed by the TCC members,” said Wake County Commission candidate Tony Gurley. “It is so refreshing to speak with people who are so well informed about the issues.”

.