Former Shelby mayor and longtime city resident Ted Alexander is running for U.S. Senate. Alexander announced his 2014 Senate bid Monday afternoon at Shelby City Hall with several dozen family members, friends and media members present.



Former Shelby mayor and longtime city resident Ted Alexander is running for U.S. Senate.



Alexander announced his 2014 Senate bid Monday afternoon at Shelby City Hall with several dozen family members, friends and media members present.



�It�s an inner tugging that you feel God�s compelled you to do it,� Alexander told The Star on Monday, in reference to the timing of his Senate bid. �I just had to be obedient to go ahead and do that. It�s something internal that I knew I had to do it now. I think our country is now in a very critical stage in its life. There are things I�ve learned over the years that I think could help our state, as well as our country, during this time.�







'A critical juncture'



In remarks during his announcement, Alexander cited America's 50-year "War on Poverty," programs first introduced by President Johnson to counter high rates of poor people in the country.



A U.S. Census Bureau report released this month shows almost one in three Americans were poor for at least two months between 2009 and 2011.



Alexander said he can't sit and watch as many of the county, state and nation's people continue to struggle.



"We are at a critical juncture in our state and nation's history, where we now find that the very programs that were intended to help those less fortunate in our country are now literally hurting those very same people, and in fact have now begun to hurt many others as well by taking away their dignity, initiative and the entrepreneurial spirit that has made our country great," he said. "My desire is to offer whatever life experiences that I have accumulated over the years, combined with a socially and economically conservative philosophy, in order to repeal Obamacare and bring federal spending and programs under control through a balanced Budget Amendment."







'Insight to the needs'



Alexander, 53, served two terms as Shelby mayor from 2003 to 2011. He said that during that time he worked to create jobs, support the community and decrease crime and build relationships.



He�s served as chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party for the past year and will resign from the post to run for Senate.



Alexander said he�s held a number of positions with statewide impact throughout his career, including a period as president of the N.C. Downtown Development Association, the N.C. Housing Finance Agency's Housing Partnership, the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and other organizations.



"Through these, I've come in contact with people all over the state of North Carolina," he said. "Both being a native and having lived out of state several years, I have a perspective of both worlds. That gives me insight to the needs, interests and concerns of the people of North Carolina."







'Give it all I've got'



Alexander is a native of Morganton. He�s lived in Shelby since 1988, except for two years when he served as coordinator of Virginia�s Main Street downtown development program.



"For 35 years I've been involved in preservation," Alexander said, adding he could have made more money in other trades but always loved what he was doing.



"Someone mentioned to me that the average senator is now a millionaire," he told the people gathered at City Hall on Monday. "I aim to shift that in the other direction."



Alexander said his run for Senate has been a process long in the works.



"I'm compelled to run," he said, "and give it all I've got."











Who else plans to run for the seat currently held by Kay Hagan?



The primaries are May 6.



* Democrats that have declared their candidacy include Kay Hagan, the incumbent, and Fred Westphal, retired professor and political activist.



* Republican candidates, in addition to Alexander, include:



Thom Tillis, NC House speaker



Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte and president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina



Heather Grant, nurse practitioner



Bill Flynn, radio host and candidate for NC�s 6th congressional district in 2012



Greg Brannon, doctor and Tea Party activist







When are filing, elections?



Filing for congressional seats begins in North Carolina on Feb. 10 and runs through Feb. 28.



The primary election is set for May 6, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 4 this year.







What could it mean?



Local political experts from the �Political Smackdown� show weigh in on what Ted Alexander�s U.S. Senate candidacy could mean for Cleveland County and what it would take to win the seat.







�I think that would be fantastic for not only Ted but for Shelby and Cleveland County. Ted is one of the nicest people you�d ever want to meet, certainly a fine Christian man.



Should he win, it would be a great accomplishment for Cleveland County. The key to a U.S. Senate race in winning is money. I would project the cost at a successful U.S. Senate race to be $15 million. I think it�s important the Republicans win the seat this time. While we have several candidates running, it�s important we put forth a candidate that can win in a general election.�



-- Dennis Davis, former state senator







�It�s always a wonderful thing if you can get someone local who can win a statewide office or an office like the U.S. Senate. I would say Ted has his work cut out for him.



I�m certain he�s following God�s lead and the money will come.�



-- Andy Dedmon, former state House member/majority whip







�Ted prays and does what he feels like he needs to do. I wish him the best. It�ll likely take $15 million or more to win that U.S. Senate race. It�ll be one of the most expensive Senate races there is.�



-- Mike Philbeck, former Shelby mayor and city councilman











(Original post 10:30 a.m. 1/13/14)



Former Shelby mayor and longtime resident Ted Alexander plans to run for a U.S. Senate seat in the 2014 election.



Alexander told The Star this morning that he plans to make a formal announcement at 2:30 p.m. today in Shelby.



Alexander, 53, served two terms as Shelby mayor from 2003 to 2011.



He�s served as chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party for the past year and will resign from the post to run for Senate.



Filing for congressional seats begins in North Carolina on Feb. 10 and runs through Feb. 28.



The primary election is set for May 6, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 4 this year.



�It�s an inner tugging that you feel God�s compelled you to do it,� Alexander said of the timing of his Senate bid. �I just had to be obedient to go ahead and do that. It�s something internal that I knew I had to do it now. I think our country is now in a very critical stage in its life. There are things I�ve learned over the years that I think could help our state, as well as our country, during this time.�



Alexander said he�s held a number of positions with statewide impact throughout his career, including a period as president of the N.C. Downtown Development Association.



He�s a native of Morganton. He�s lived in Shelby since 1988, except for two years when he served as coordinator of Virginia�s Main Street downtown development program.



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