They Didn’t Show Up: North Carolina Candidates and Electeds Choose Silence

In January, we attempted something very simple: to invite candidates and elected officials—across parties and offices, local and statewide—to stand on the courthouse lawn with the people they claim, or hope, to represent. There was no platform.No speeches. No endorsements. No media payoff.

Just presence.

And while the event was ultimately canceled due to a measles outbreak, which was the responsible choice, by that point, the experiment had already yielded its result. Because, you see, out of 89 candidates and officeholders across the political spectrum, only three responded.

One was incumbent member of Congress, Tim Moore (R), whose staff replied that Congress was in session and he was unavailable. That's a real constraint, and a fair one. One was former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) whose staff stated that they had a scheduling conflict, and declined. And one, only one—a local candidate for Sheriff, Jamie Dunn (R)—responded with genuine interest in attending, stating that he'd adjust his work schedule so that he could attend. Only one treated the invitation as what it was: a request from the public, and not a transaction.

No one else replied. No explanation. No decline. No acknowledgment. Just silence.

This is not about partisanship. Democrats and Republicans, incumbents and challengers, those who describe themselves as allies, and those who do not, all failed this test in roughly equal measure. What this illustrates is something more uncomfortable and more structural: most candidates and officeholders do not show up for the public unless they perceive a specific benefit to themselves. They will, of course, attend fundraisers and party meetings, donor events, endorsement-driven forums, spaces where they are introduced, give speeches, are buffered, and applauded. But when the ask is simply to be present?

To stand together, as humans, in a public place, with no microphone or guarantee of payoff—where are the people meant to serve us? Most don't even respond. Three of eighty-nine. That's not a scheduling issue, that's an issue of concern. We so often hear that “people don’t engage,” or that “the public is apathetic,” that “no one shows up anymore,” but this experiment flips that narrative on it's head. What it shows is that the barrier to access is not public disinterest—but official absence.

If you are an ordinary person in Rutherford County and you try to reach your congressional representative, a statewide candidate, someone running for local office, your local mayor, a member of your school-board, a county commissioner or town council, the most likely outcome is not dialogue—it's silence. And that silence matters, because democracy is not sustained by campaign slogans or voting records along, it's sustained by availability. By the willingness to be seen, to listen, and to stand by their constituents without insulation.

The courthouse lawn is not a hostile environment. It's not an opposition space. It's not a trap. We choose it, consistently, because it is the most neutral ground we have, and if a candidate cannot—or will not—stand there without assurances, without an audience curated to their comfort, without a clear return on investment, then we should ask what “public service” actually means to them. Because if the only places you show up are the places where you are comfortable, affirmed, and rewarded, then what you're practicing isn't representation—it's performance, and the public notices.

Individuals Contacted

This list exists to illustrate a simple question of civic access: who is reachable when an ordinary person asks an ordinary thing of those who seek or hold public office. Invitations to this vigil were extended in good faith, without regard to party affiliation, ideology, incumbency, or likelihood of agreement. Responses, non-responses, and declines are reported exactly as received.

Listed by office sought or held. Inclusion on this list reflects outreach only and does not imply endorsement.

1. Josh Stein, North Carolina Governor (D)

2. Jeff Jackson, North Carolina Attorney General (D)

US Senate

1. Incumbent, Thom Tillis (R)

2. Incumbent, Ted Budd (R)

3. Incumbent, Don Brown (R)

4. Roy Cooper (D)

   1. "Hello, Thank you for the invitation for Governor Cooper to join you in Rutherford County. Unfortunately, his schedule will not permit him to join you all that evening. We send our best wishes for a safe and impactful event. Thanks, Team Cooper Scheduling"

5. Daryl Farrow (D)

6. Marcus Williams (D)

7. Orrick Quick (D)

8. Justin Dues (D)

9. Robert Colon (D)

10. Sharon Bray (L)

11. Michele Morrow (R)

12. Thomas Johnson (R)

13. Margot Dupre (R)

14. Michael Whatley (R)

15. Elizabeth Temple (R)

US House of Representatives

1. Incumbent, Timothy Moore (14) (R)

   1. "Thank you for your invitation. Congressman Moore is unavailable as the House will be voting during that time. Thank you, Grace Davis, Deputy Chief of Staff & Communications Director, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14)"

2. Lakesha Womack (14) (D)

3. Ahmed Kargbo (14) (D)

4. Brent Caldwell (14) (D)

5. Kate Barr (14) (R)

Senate

1. Incumbent, Tim Moffitt (48) (R)

2. Doyle Brown (48) (D)

NC Supreme Court, Associate Justice

1. Anita Earls (01) (D)

2. Sarah Stevens (01) (R)

NC Supreme Court of Appeals

1. John Arrowood (01) (D)

2. Matthew Smith (01) (R)

3. Michael Byrne (01) (R)

4. Tobias Hampson (02) (D)

5. George Bell (02) (R)

6. James Whalen (03) (D)

7. Christine Walczyk (03) (D)

8. Craig Collins (03) (R)

NC State House of Representatives

1. Incumbent, Paul Scott (111) (R)

2. Incumbent, Jake Johnson (113) (R)

3. Jerry Blake (111) (D)

4. Michael Hager (113) (R)

5. Mason Rhodes (111) (D)—We understand that Mr. Rhodes has since dropped out of the race.

6. Gary Schwartz (113) (D)—we understand that Mr. Schwartz has since dropped out of the race.

   
   

District Court Judge

1. Incumbent, Robert Martelle (R)

2. Andrew LaBreche (R)

3. Michelle McEntire (R)

4. Ellen Shelley (R)

District Attorney

1. Incumbent, Ted Bell (R)

2. David Norris (R)

Rutherford County Board of Commissioners

1. Incumbent, Chair, Bryan King (R)

2. Incumbent, Vice Chair, Alan Toney (R)

3. Incumbent, Commissioner, Donnie Haulk (R)

4. Incumbent, Commissioner, Hunter Haynes (R)

5. Incumbent, Commissioner, Michael Benfield (R)

6. Jim Owens (01) (R)

7. Anthony Morrow (01) (R)

8. Brian Thompson (01) (R)

9. Clark Poole (01) (R)

10. Allen Hardin (01) (R)

11. Jason Toney (04) (R)

12. Adam Yelton (04) (R)

13. Phil Burney (05) (D)

14. Scott J. Haynes (05) (R)

15. Lazarus Margolin (05) (R)

16. Chris St. Clair (05) (R)

Rutherfordton Municipal Officials

1. Incumbent, Mayor, Jimmy Dancy

2. Incumbent, Council member, Stanley L. Clements

3. Incumbent, Council member, Alan Herrick

4. Incumbent, Council member, Dr. Doug Sheets

5. Incumbent, Council member, Doris Crute

Rutherford County Board of Education

1. Incumbent, Superintendent, David Sutton (R)

2. Incumbent, Board Chair, Phillip Morrow (R)

3. Incumbent, Vice Chair, Angel King (R)

4. Incumbent, Brandi Nanney (R)

5. Incumbent, Thomas Crawford (R)

6. Incumbent, April Mayse (R)

7. Incumbent, David Linder (R)

8. Incumbent, Tracy Short (R)

9. Douglas Morales (01) (D)

10. Erica Carson Davenport (01) (D)

11. Joshua Millwood (01) (R)

12. Brandi Edney Nanney (01) (R)

13. Kisha McDowell (02) (D)

14. Kayla Suttle (02) (R)

15. Baylee Short (02) (R)

16. Tonja Caldwell Pratt (03) (R)

17. April Buchanan Mayse (03) (R)

Rutherford County Clerk of Court

1. Incumbent, Steve Hoyle Owens (R)

2. Kandy Keyser Hoyle (R)

Rutherford County Sheriff

1. Incumbent, Aaron Ellenburg (R)

2. Jason Ray Wease (R)

3. Paul James Dunn (R)

   1. "I am scheduled to work that night but I will see if I can go in late and attend. Thank you for the invite and I will give you a definite answer as soon as possible. Thank you, Jamie"

      We did follow up with Mr. Dunn, alerting him to the cancellation and offering him the opportunity to provide a comment for this article, about why he chose to respond positively and what showing up for members of the public means to him, even when there was no guaranteed audience or political upside...

      
      

      He never responded.