Patsy Keever, a member of the NC House from Asheville, will announce her candidacy for the 10th Congressional District Democratic nomination on Thursday.
Keever, a former school teacher, will make her announcement in Gastonia, the home of incumbent US Rep. Patrick McHenry. She will make her announcement at 1:30 p.m. on the steps of the Gaston County Courthouse.
She represents state House District 115. Keever was appointed by Gov. Bev Perdue to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Bruce Goforth, who resigned, and was elected to the seat in 2010. She ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign against Charles Taylor in 2004 for the 11th District seat.
Keever qualified to run for the 10th District after new district maps were drawn following the 2010 Census. McHenry’s district now runs into Asheville, and takes in all or parts of Gaston, Catawba, Lincoln, Cleveland, Polk, Rutherford and Buncombe counties.
Catawba County was split by redistricting. Most of the county remains in the 10th Congressional District, but much of Hickory is in the 5th.
Keever was born in Charlotte. She’s a graduate of Duke University. She moved to Buncombe, where she taught in the public schools for 25 years. She served 12 years as a Buncombe County commissioner. Her congressional challenge of the veteran Taylor came after the death of her husband, John Keever.
She is married to Jim Aycock, a retired publisher. A triathlete, Keever has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
During her time in the state House, Keever has served on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Environment, Government and State Personnel committees and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety.
Here is a glance at her positions on some issues:
Jobs and the economy:
* Support opportunities to revive manufacturing options for our region using our local resources to create jobs.
* Support small business through tax incentives and community college training programs to create work force with 21st century skills.
* Invest in the green job market.
* Revise the tax structure to create an equitable approach to raise funds for essential government services.
* Support adequate child care options so that parents who choose to do so can work.
Environment
* Support alternate energy sources, such as solar and wind energy.
* Protect our rivers and wetlands to ensure the viability of these vital resources.
* Support sustainable development that will encourage a new green economy in North Carolina.
* Support alternate transportation initiatives, such as public transit and more bike-friendly roads, to reduce vehicular emissions and fossil fuel consumption and to provide additional transportation options for those who need them.
Health care
* Support programs that promote wellness as a preventive health measure and, thus, save valuable tax dollars.
* Support health care for all citizens, especially children; expand SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program).
* Support access to primary care for all citizens and prevent the need for emergency rooms as a source of primary care.
* Support a public option as part of national health care reform.
Her web site is www.keeverforcongress.com.
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