Latest news with #CyrilJefferson
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congress campaign already grows heated
HIGH POINT — It didn't take long for the 6th Congressional District race to heat up as the campaign for Republican Rep. Addison McDowell said that Democratic challenger and High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson has a better chance of winning the lottery than the congressional seat, prompting Jefferson's campaign to respond forcefully. Jefferson made his bid official during an event Tuesday in High Point. Following the formal announcement by Jefferson, the McDowell campaign referred to the long odds of winning the game of chance in describing Jefferson's chances. 'Cyril has a better chance of winning the lottery than convincing the 6th District to vote for a woke, far left politician who raised taxes on middle-class families,' McDowell said in a one-sentence response to Jefferson making his bid official. The comparison led the Jefferson campaign to issue a page-length response. 'McDowell wants to talk about odds? Here's one: zero,' the Jefferson campaign said. 'That's how many times he's voted to put our communities first.' Jefferson cited congressional cuts in essential spending for a cross-section of Americans as the policies he said McDowell supports. 'He voted against our seniors, working families and veterans — the very people who rely on these services to survive,' Jefferson said. 'I'll bet against that record every time.' The 6th District, which includes most of High Point and all of Davidson County, is considered by political analysts as a race leaning heavily Republican, though during his announcement Tuesday Jefferson said it's a winnable contest for a well-organized and well-funded Democratic challenger. No Democrat ran in the 6th District in 2024 when McDowell, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the seat in his first bid for the office. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026, with primaries this March.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jefferson makes Congress bid official
Platform Democratic 6th Congressional District challenger Cyril Jefferson released his platform priorities in announcing his campaign Tuesday. They include: Bolstering economic development and infrastructure by modernizing transportation systems, supporting small businesses and expanding housing. Addressing housing affordability and supply by streamlining construction to expand housing options. Promoting public safety through modern policing, expanded mental health resources and developing youth intervention programs. Supporting education and workforce development by raising teacher pay and making child care more affordable. Protect Medicare and Medicaid, lower prescription drug costs and address food insecurity. Promote national security by strengthening borders, fixing the legal immigration system and providing support to military personnel and veterans. {related_content_uuid}f483e25e-3180-4f4e-b109-fcf93a3000e2{/related_content_uuid} HIGH POINT — At times battling back emotions, High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson told an enthusiastic group of supporters Tuesday that he will promote a message of what unites people, not divides them, as he seeks to become a congressman for the first time at the age of 33. Jefferson made his 6th Congressional District bid official during an event at Congdon Yards in High Point's core city. The High Point Enterprise reported two weeks ago that Jefferson had filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to run for Congress. Jefferson, who's about halfway through his first term as mayor, said he would bring his collaborative approach at City Hall, where leaders put aside divisions to achieve results, to the hall of Congress. 'North Carolinians are tired of the noise and the gridlock,' he said. 'They want leaders who listen, who solve problems and who deliver results. That's exactly what I'm committed to doing. That's why I'm running.' Jefferson was joined by his wife Raven and two children, Cyril II and Royce, as well as members of his immediate and extended family. Recognizing the support of his family was one of the moments in which Jefferson welled up with emotion. The 6th District seat is held by freshman Republican representative Addison McDowell, who has ties to Davidson County. McDowell won the seat after receiving the endorsement of President Donald Trump in the March 2024 GOP primary. No Democrat filed in 2024 for the 6th District contest. Former Democratic representative Kathy Manning declined to seek reelection, saying that the district was so gerrymandered after it was redrawn by Republican state legislators that a Democrat couldn't win the seat. At his announcement event, Jefferson acknowledged that the redrawn 6th District makes it harder for a Democrat. But Jefferson said that a well-organized, grassroots campaign could succeed. Jefferson didn't provide a figure for how much his campaign wants to raise, but he said his fundraising will be competitive. This year three Democrats so far have said they will run in the 6th District primary that voters will settle March 3, and one of the other challengers has ties to High Point. Keith Davenport, who lives in Welcome in Davidson County, is basing his campaign out of High Point, 'which is also the central hub for our campaign operations,' Davenport told The Enterprise. The other Democratic hopeful is Beau Blair of Salisbury, who has a background as a bartender and liquor brands distiller. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026. The 6th District includes all of High Point and Davidson County, as well as parts of western Greensboro, eastern and southern Forsyth County, all of Rowan and Davie counties and the western tip of Cabarrus County. Political analysts consider the district leaning strong Republican. Jefferson was elected mayor in November 2023 after serving a four-year term as a High Point councilman. His current term expires in December 2027, and he could remain mayor if he loses his congressional bid. If he were elected to Congress, Jefferson would have to resign as mayor since elected officials can't serve in more than one office at the same time. The High Point City Council would appoint his replacement as mayor. If he wins the general election, Jefferson would become the first Black leader to hold what's evolved into the modern 6th District post and the first High Pointer to take the seat. Jefferson said that he and his supporters 'don't take it likely that we would make history.' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor eyes congressional run
HIGH POINT — High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson has filed federal paperwork indicating he is considering a run for Congress next year. Jefferson filed a statement of candidacy on Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission stating that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives 6th District seat in the 2026 election. The seat is held by Republican Rep. Addison McDowell, who said Wednesday that he plans to seek reelection. 'I'm proud of the work we're doing for the 6th District and, if he makes it to the general election, I'll certainly be ready to put my America First record up against the radical left's agenda any day of the week,' McDowell said in a statement to the Enterprise. Jefferson declined to comment Wednesday on his statement of candidacy filing. He has not publicly announced anything about plans to run for higher office. Candidate filing for congressional races opens in December. FEC filings show one other Democrat, Beau Blair of Salisbury, has filed a statement of candidacy for the 6th District seat. Primaries would be held in March 2026, with the general election to follow in November 2026. The 6th District includes all of High Point and Davidson County, as well as parts of western Greensboro, eastern and southern Forsyth County, all of Rowan and Davie counties and the western tip of Cabarrus County. The district leans heavily Republican, according to the Cook Political Report. It was redrawn for the 2024 election cycle, and McDowell finished first in a six-person GOP primary field that included Jay Wagner, a former High Point mayor, who finished fifth. Former Rep. Kathy Manning of Greensboro, who represented the 6th District at the time, declined to seek reelection in 2024, saying that its new configuration was so gerrymandered by the Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly that no Democratic candidate had a reasonable chance of winning. McDowell did not face a Democratic opponent in the 2024 general election, only Constitution Party candidate Kevin E. Hayes, whom he defeated 69% to 31%. Jefferson's statement of candidacy filing says he is establishing a principal campaign committee for the 2026 election called 'Cyril for Congress.' The committee has not reported any fundraising results to the FEC yet and said in a recent filing that it had not reached the $5,000 threshold for contributions and/or expenditures that would have required a report to be filed by July 15. Jefferson was elected mayor in November 2023 after serving a four-year term on City Council. His current term expires in December 2027. If he were elected to Congress in 2026, he would have to resign as mayor, and the council would appoint his replacement. Staff writer Paul Johnson contributed to this story. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council awards nonprofit grants
HIGH POINT — The City Council has approved grants for 28 local nonprofits in its annual outside agency funding allocations. The awards total $465,500 out of $1.79 million that was requested by 50 agencies. The funding will be included in the city's new budget that will take effect July 1, which the council adopted Monday. In approving the funding, the council stuck to its long-standing policy of allocating no more than the value of one-third of a penny on the city's property tax rate, which equals approximately $465,804. The individual award amounts were recommended by the council's Finance Committee, which used a new city policy aimed at making the grant process more objective by using scoring criteria for projects. The new policy also seeks to ensure that city funds are used by nonprofits on their programs or projects that benefit the community and not for their internal operations. In approving the funding on Monday, Mayor Cyril Jefferson and council members Patrick Harman and Tyrone Johnson recused themselves from votes involving specific grants to organizations they or their immediate family members serve as voting board members or employees. The recusals were to comply with a state law that requires elected officials to abstain from approving funds to nonprofits with which they have ties. The agencies awarded grants are: • A Simple Gesture, $5,000. • A Special Blend, $5,000. • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Piedmont, $5,000. • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater High Point, $15,000. • C3 — Community Collaboration for Children, $15,000. • Carl Chavis YMCA, $20,000. • Carolina Core Football Club Academy, $9,000. • Commander Peace Academy, $8,000. • D-Up, $12,000. • Friends of John Coltrane, $10,000. • Greater High Point Food Alliance, $25,000. • Helping Hands High Point, $10,000. • High Point Arts Council, $60,000. • High Point Community Against Violence, $12,000. • High Point Discovered, $10,000. • High Point LEAP, $12,500. • High Point Schools Partnership, $15,000. • Macedonia Family Resource Center, $20,000. • Mental Health Associates of the Triad, $17,000. • Open Door Ministries, $50,000. • Piedmont Triad Film Commission, $7,000. • High Point by Design Foundation, $20,000. • Salvation Army, $20,000. • Theatre Art Galleries, $15,000. • Triad Food Pantry, $20,000. • West End Ministries, $30,000. • Youth Focus, $8,000. • YWCA of High Point, $10,000. In adopting the budget, the council added a $50,000 grant for the Southwest Renewal Foundation. It did not take action on pending nonprofit requests from the UNC-Greensboro Tenant Education Advocacy Mediation program, which assists tenants facing eviction, and an additional request from the High Point Schools Partnership to keep its youth mentoring position funded. The council said it plans to consider these requests in the coming months and may use the city's remaining balance of $154,984 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
SBI completes fatal shooting probe
HIGH POINT — The State Bureau of Investigation has completed its review of a fatal shooting last October at a residence in northwest High Point, and the case was recently handed over to a state association of district attorneys because the incident involves relatives of Mayor Cyril Jefferson. Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump decided to let the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys handle the decision on whether to prosecute anyone in the death of Hasson Williams, 32, of Greensboro, Senior Assistant District Attorney Cyrus Brown told The High Point Enterprise on Friday. Crump 'felt that our office had a conflict, which is why she made her decision,' Brown said. 'It was her decision to make a formal request for the Conference of District Attorneys to review the incident and any findings so that they could make a determination on how it should be handled.' One of the roles of the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys is to step into cases where there's a possible conflict of interest in a local jurisdiction, according to the association's website. The Raleigh-based conference was established as a state agency in 1983 by the N.C. General Assembly to assist county district attorneys with the administration of their offices. The SBI was brought in to take over the case in October at the request of the High Point Police Department because of the potential conflict of interest with Jefferson. Relatives of the mayor included Williams and other people at the house in the 400 block of Ridgebrooke Drive where the shooting took place Oct. 19. The Enterprise reported in October, based on the initial incident report and a 911 call by a woman in the residence, that Williams died in an apparent accidental shooting while handling a 9 mm Glock pistol with another person. The incident report, developed by the High Point Police Department before the SBI received the case, said that several other people inside the house reported that the pistol went off while the two were handling it. Williams was shot in the head. The woman who called 911 told an emergency dispatcher that the shooting was a 'mistake.' The residence on Ridgebrooke Drive is in the Davidson County part of the city of High Point, but Davidson County District Attorney Garry Frank told The Enterprise earlier this week that the area of the city around Ridgebrooke Drive falls under the oversight of the Guilford County District Attorney's Office.
