Unofficial results from March 3 primaries, with the focus on Mecklenburg. Complete results as reported by the N.C. Board of Elections are here. Parties: D-Democratic; R-Republican; L-Libertarian; G-Green; C-Constitution. Local offices State offices Federal offices ... Continue Reading →
Blake issues statements on WBTV report on courtroom cases
Feb. 11, 2020 Judge Aretha Blake asked for time this morning to issue an apology for what she termed a disruption of the Forum by a WBTV reporter. The reporter’s interview with Blake took place Feb. 4 in the Forum meeting room, but before the Forum had begun. About a dozen people were in the ... Continue Reading →
County, court issues raised with March 3 primary candidates
Feb. 4, 2020 The March 3 primary election includes only one District Court challenge. Lynna Moen is challenging incumbent Aretha Blake for Seat 2. George Dunlap, longtime incumbent and current chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, is in a primary contest with newcomer Cade Lee for the ... Continue Reading →
Creating a nonprofit organization, and then funding it
Jan. 7, 2020 Some of the first-time visitors to the Forum this morning were nonprofit wannabes: folks armed an idea who were looking for information on how to navigate the rules, the regulations and, perhaps most important, the financial uncertainties that go with operating as a nonprofit ... Continue Reading →
Blake seeks re-election as judge in District Court
Website. Facebook. ... Continue Reading →
Women serving on Mecklenburg bench discuss roles, ways they cope
March 13, 2018 They joke about being "seasoned" judges or "baby" judges. The talk about conferencing about cases and seeking out advice from one another, and gaining support from one another as they are buffeted by the trauma and conflict of the humans of all ages that end up in their ... Continue Reading →
2016 Election Results
Nov. 8, 2016; last update 6:40 p.m. Nov. 11 Unofficial results from the Nov. 8 election, as they are available from the N.C. Board of Elections. Electoral College projections from New York Times. Names for each seat or position are listed in alphabetical order; the apparent winner's name is in ... Continue Reading →
Candidates in state, local judicial races
Oct. 25, 2016 Judge candidates don't promise to do specific things if they are elected to office. "Come to my court; I'll make sure you do minimal jail time." Instead, it is voters' job to listen to what judicial candidates say, where they have been, what they've done, how they've prepared for ... Continue Reading →
State, federal and judicial candidates
Oct. 18, 2016 Ten candidates for state, federal and judicial offices on the Nov. 8 ballot got 2 minutes each to make their pitch. But Forum participants' concerns, anxieties and needling questions about presidential candidate Donald Trump dominated the Q&A. Quipped N.C. Treasurer candidate Dan ... Continue Reading →
Candidates Speak: Aretha Blake
June 21, 2016 The candidates in the November 2016 general election come and go at the Forum. Videos made of their comments are posted as they become available. On this page: Aretha Blake, candidate for a District Court judge seat. Click the video to start it. [one_half] Oct. 25, ... Continue Reading →