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**MEDIA ADVISORY**

For: Thursday, April 7, 2005
Contact: Bryan Warner, N.C. Center for Voter Education
(919) 839-1200

The Key to Better Judicial Elections: An Inside Look at N.C. as a National Model

WHAT: A dinner event and panel discussion focusing on North Carolina’s unique system of public financing for judicial elections, and how it compares to other states -- where special interest groups have taken over these races. The event is open to the public, for the charge of $35, the cost of the dinner. Free and open to media.

WHEN: Thursday, April 7. Dinner starts at 6pm, program begins at 6:30pm

WHERE: Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center
4700 Emperor Blvd.
Durham, NC 27703
(Off I-40 at Exit 282/Page Road in RTP)

WHO: Judge Wanda Bryant, N.C. Court of Appeals
Judge Howard Manning, Jr., N.C. Superior Court
Mr. Bert Brandenburg, Executive Director, Justice at Stake Campaign
The Honorable Warren McGraw, former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice

Judges Bryant and Manning provide a special insight into North Carolina’s new system, having run as candidates in the 2004 judicial elections. Former Justice McGraw was the victim of deceptive 527 campaign ads by special interest groups common in other states. Bert Brandenburg is a national expert on judicial election issues.

WHY NOW: This inside look at North Carolina’s judicial elections comes as citizens can register their support for the Public Campaign Fund on their state income tax form.
The April 15 tax deadline is fast approaching. But before they support the Fund, taxpayers should know if the program works. This panel discussion will give an answer.

The Public Campaign Fund provides some public financing to candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court or N.C. Court of Appeals who agree to strict fundraising and spending limits. The Fund also produces the State Judicial Voter Guide, mailed to homes across North Carolina in the weeks before Election Day.

MEDIA RESOURCES: A press kit will be available at the event. The kit includes biographies of the panelists, along with facts on the Public Campaign Fund, research data on the impact of the State Judicial Voter Guide, samples of attack advertising from other states and a copy of the N.C. voter guide.

MORE ONLINE: Visit www.ncjudges.org to learn more about the Public Campaign Fund. Visit www.ncvoterguide.org and click on “General Election Edition” to see a sample of the 2004 State Judicial Voter Guide. Visit www.ncvotered.com to learn more about the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

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The N.C. Center for Voter Education is a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, dedicated to improving elections in North Carolina.