To the Editor: Jeffrey “Jeff” Jackson, 38, a Democratic Senate Candidate for US Sen. Richard Burr’s open seat, conducted one of his town halls in Yadkin County on Sunday, June 13, at the Yadkin Memorial Park in Hamptonville. A diverse group of about 20 Democratic voters listened and asked questions for an hour, as Jackson described his unconventional campaign for the 2022 nomination. He described his town halls as “a shock of good faith to the system” for electing candidates.
Yadkin County is one of a hundred NC counties in which Jackson will conduct town hall meetings in 100 days. He said the that town halls give him direct access to the concerns of voters. He said that the closing of Hoots Memorial Hospital five years ago could have been avoided if the North Carolina General Assembly had approved Medicare expansion, which included money to support 19 rural hospitals in North Carolina.
In order to combat misinformation, Jackson recommended the use of listening and the human touch, which can allow a productive discussion to begin. “It is more effective than fact-checking,” he said.
He compared his 100-county tour to starting a marathon race with a sprint. His visits are designed to make every county in North Carolina to feel included.
As he spoke, Jackson listed the challenges facing voters in counties that he has visited so far: maintaining rural transportation systems, improving the Cape Fear River water quality, starting a minimum wage, reacting to climate change and hurricanes in Eastern North Carolina, and combatting the spread of misinformation.
Jackson is from Mecklenburg County, where he is married and has three children. After serving in the US Army in Afghanistan, he used the GI Bill to finish law school at UNC-Chapel Hill. While serving as a prosecuting attorney in Mecklenburg County, Jackson was appointed to fill Dan Clodfelter’s seat in the NC Senate, where he was elected the following year, then re-elected last year. He also serves as a captain in the North Carolina National Guard.
Jackson supports campaign finance reform that can shine a spotlight on dark money that is given without accountability to candidates. He supports an independent redistricting commission to create fair election districts in North Carolina. He prefers government that offers a rational approach to solving problems and more transparency in the process. He is very skeptical of abolishing the filibuster in the US Senate.
Jackson wants more broadband Internet coverage in rural areas. He supports more funding for rural cooperatives to achieve this. He supports early childhood education. He believes in the importance of rural counties in North Carolina. He knows they need better opportunities for education, good-paying jobs, and health care.
To this observer, Jackson comes across as a listener, who shows empathy with a voter’s concerns. He speaks with a practical knowledge of how government works and what it needs to do to benefit more citizens. He believes there are no easy answers to solving complex government problems, but he is willing to try, if elected.
Jackson plans another visit to Yadkin County before the primary election next year.
