100 Stories: Keith Vandegrift
Keith, an organizer in Raleigh, is the product of North Carolina’s public school system and the son of a public school teacher. He understands that our school systems are being neglected by the current administration. He wants to elect Hillary, Roy and Democrats up and down the ticket because he knows they respect public education and our teachers.
My name is Keith Vandegrift, I am from Gibsonville, and I am doing this work because North Carolina used to be the beacon of progress in the South, and I want it back.
Growing up in North Carolina, I went through the Guilford County school system and that was a good education that prepared you to go to college. But there are a lot of different places in the state that don’t have the resources of the Guilford County school system. My mother is an educator in the Alamance-Burlington school system, and I know directly through her that our schools do not have the resources they need to successfully educate our students. So right now maybe some kids are getting a good education and maybe some aren’t.
Also, there is definitely a job market out there for people with a high school degree if they go into a trade or that sort of business. Guilford County is okay on that. But Republicans do not want to fund those programs at an adequate level. Even when our local governments are succeeding they face the constraints of the general assembly.
So I support strongly Roy Cooper and all the Democrats on the ticket because they are the only ones that will address those inefficiencies.
Everybody should come out to help us. Democrats win when we drive up turnout. So making sure that everybody is registered, knows about One-Stop Early Vote, knows where their polling place is and can go to the polls and can vote, that’s how we win in November.
Help us register voters by volunteering with us today! And don’t forget to share your story about why you want a Democratic win in North Carolina.