WNCN spot

I filmed a message last week at the Raleigh studios of the NBC affiliate WNCN. Because it will not air until mid-October I am providing the text of my remarks below.

My name is David Rollins and I’m running for the General Assembly because I want to bring a new vision for Durham and all of North Carolina in the state senate.

For too long the progressive agenda in our city has been hamstrung by the cowardice of our representatives in Raleigh. My opponent doesn’t have the guts to stand up for the poor, but I do – I propose a “third way”…in the spirit of Bill Clinton and the southern Democrats.

If you’re a Republican, you should vote for me because I support the principles of the party such as the rights of ordinary americans to determine their own lives through lower taxes and a balanced budget. If you’re a Democrat, you should vote for me because I support the ideals of Barack Obama and the vision of a country with health care for everyone and energy independence.

You might ask yourself how this is possible. It’s because I’m a community organizer who has fought tirelessly for the rights of the underprivileged, through my work in Durham soup kitchens and my animal rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina. It’s because I’m a hunter, who teaches gun safety to the Boy Scouts and the minority members of our community.

I guess you could say I’m a “Waffle House Democrat”, or perhaps a “South Park Republican”.

Durham needs smart growth, not more highways and corporate welfare. We have an opportunity to preserve the historic buildings and homes that give Durham that gritty urbanism that we all know and love – one look at the Durham Bulls Stadium proves my point! We must stop urban sprawl and provide for mass transit by eliminating the gas tax and providing free bus service in the inner city. No one should be unable to get to their job or school because they can’t afford a car.

The Rollins family founded the Herald-Sun in our city, and my great uncle treated the sick and the poor as the public health director of Vance and Granville counties until the day he died. As your state senator, I promise to fight for the rights of the poor, the sick, the needy, AND the wealthy. I am the candidate for change this fall. Let’s Keep Durham Different!

Learn more about my campaign at keepdurhamdifferent.com.