Old Fort woman seeks U.S. Senate seat

By: Mike Conley | McDowell News
Published: March 01, 2010

Susan Harris of Old Fort knows she is a long shot in running for the U.S. Senate but she hopes voters in North Carolina will step forward this year and say that professional politicians and lawyers have been in charge for far too long.
"I have no illusions," she said. "It's going to be a long-shot battle but if this is going to be the year for an upset, I would like to be there."
Harris, 53, is making her first attempt at seeking elected office by running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Richard Burr. A resident of 390 Big Bear Blvd. in Old Fort, Harris filed Friday as a Democratic candidate at the N.C. Board of Elections in Raleigh. She is one of six Democrats who are running for the Senate and the filing fee was $1,740.
However, Harris says she is running more as a centrist. She added the state has made it almost impossible for third-party candidates to get anywhere in North Carolina.
"I am really disappointed with the Republicans and the Democrats," she said.
Harris said both Burr and Democrat Erskine Bowles spent $26 million to run for a job that pays $174,000 a year. "It tells me they don't care about the job," she added. "The job is a status symbol."
As she prepares for her statewide effort, Harris said she is mostly concerned about the national debt and what it will mean for future generations.
"Nothing is going to matter until we fix this debt," she said. "We have 14 trillion reasons to stand up and scream. If you spend more than you make, you will eventually go bankrupt."
She added that North Carolina's economy has been devastated over the years with the loss of textile and furniture jobs.
"We have got to get back to our basics," she said.
Harris said she would like for cities and towns in North Carolina to erect vinyl greenhouses where people could grow food and the efforts would be shared like a coop. It's a concept that has worked in other places and could work here too.
Regarding the war on terrorism, Harris said she is tough on terrorism and crime in general. She thinks the war on terrorism can be won.
"We just have to outlast them, like the Cold War," said Harris.
One big reason why she's running for the Senate came about when she heard that the Obama administration suggested taking $500 billion out of Medicare and using it to fund the new health care proposal.
"It's just ridiculous," she said. "We're circling the drain. I am really concerned about the future of our children."
Harris worked as an accountant but has been more or less retired from that job for the past few years. She now works part-time as a photographer. She also wants to create quality, faith-based programs for children.
Harris and her husband, Randy, have a 28-year-old daughter, a 23-year-old son who attends Western Carolina University and a 7-year-old grandson. She attends North Cove Christian Fellowship, which is located in the old North Cove Elementary building. She is the church treasurer there.
The chairmen of both political parties in McDowell said they could not recall when a person from McDowell ran for the U.S. Senate before.
Harris said she's not intimidated by running for the Senate. She knows she doesn't have a lot of money and name recognition for a statewide campaign like this one. But she hopes she can make a difference.
"I think the American people want the truth," said Harris. "It's going to be hard fixing this situation. I am hoping to get Washington's attention and let them realize North Carolina is not going to tolerate this kind of behavior."

Old Fort woman seeks U.S. Senate seat

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