Jennifer Mangrum, that’s who. Jennifer is running against Phil Berger, the president of the State Senate, who has pulled every string and passed every privatizing bill in his determination to destroy public education, the foundation of our democracy.
Jennifer is an experienced teacher and teacher-educator. Insiders say she doesn’t have a chance. But this is a strange election year, and you never know.
Jennifer was endorsed by the Network for Public Education Action Fund because of her support for public schools. If her Message gets to the parents in Berger’s District, he might be out on his ear.
That would be music to the ears of every public school teacher in the state.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
David Brinkley is challenging equally powerful Republican House leader Tim Moore. Moore and Berger have set back the most progressive schools in the south by decades.
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Diane,
Greetings from NC and a snowy day! I’m not sure who the “insiders” are that said I don’t have a chance but Phil Berger is vulnerable. After winning in 2000, he has only been challenged 3 times. Once in ’06 and then in ’12 and ’14. Neither of his opponents raised much money. I have raised in my first quarter more than those two gentlemen combined, over the course of both campaigns. Even still, his opponent in 2012 received 39% or the vote and his opponent in ’14 received 41%. That’s without trying very hard.
I will use that money to get my name out, share my vision and to cover the 1700 miles of district. The district is newly drawn (by him) and encompasses 3.5 counties. My opponent has never represented 3 of them.
His hometown and where he resides now, Eden, NC, was recently ranked the 6th worst town in our state because of the decline in job opportunities and crime. With all of his power, he has done nothing for his own district.
In fact, with all his “power” he has made a lot of enemies and they are quick to support my campaign. I have the support of both Democrats and Republicans, in fact, my largest donor who gave the maximum along with his wife, are Republican. I have been endorsed by Luther Hodges, Jr, a Republican in Eden. His father was North Carolina’s 64th Governor and served as Secretary of Commerce for JFK and Johnson. Luther Jr. changed his party affiliation in the 90s. He is known throughout the community and his endorsement is important.
I also have spoken directly to former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt and current Governor Roy Cooper and both have offered support and know that I can win!
I hired an excellent campaign manager who worked as a field director for Northram. We know the numbers of votes we need and we have a strategy.
While the urban myth resides that Berger cannot be beat, he has NEVER MET A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT LIKE ME. If he could ever be beat, this is the year. People can check out my website at jenmangrumfornc.com.
We got this!
Jen
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Jen,
You have the enthusiastic support of the Network for Public Education!
Your courage is impressive!
If you take down the meanest legislator in North Carolina, we will all be hooting and hollering.
Diane
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Diane,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Every group I speak to I share information about the NPE and the plight of public education under current government leadership. I responded to your post because my biggest battle are folks, mostly Democrats, who “think” he is unbeatable. When we work together, we will take back his power. It is only his because we gave it to him.
I’m coming to NY to hoot and holler with you after the election! (Hooting and Hollering happens to be an expertise of mine! Just ask the folks around me!)
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