Monday night's forum went a long way in displaying the differences between the three candidates for N.C. House. In a campaign previously dominated by the "me too" refrain of the two unaffiliated candidates, Joe Boylan demonstrated clear differences. Galloway and Shaver displayed their hypocrisies.

Joe Boylan decried wasteful spending and vowed not to vote for any new taxes. He further stated that we need to cut taxes to attract new high-paying industries to North Carolina. He is opposed to forced annexation, declaring it a "money grab for municipalities who want to spend more money, but don't have the courage to ask their own citizens to raise taxes."

He addressed the shortage of teachers by saying N.C. should make the education budget a "priority rather than an afterthought." Boylan further stated that Raleigh's education bureaucracy needs to be reduced so teachers can have more money, more teaching time and less worthless reports to complete.

Gerald Galloway professed to be a true "unaffiliated candidate," but voting records revealed him to be a Democrat during the May primary -- in which he didn't even bother to vote. He fell back on the liberal refrain of raising corporate taxes and supports forced annexation.

Galloway suggested that "tort reform," "a strong judicial system," and "education funding" are his priorities. This came from a man who didn't even care enough to vote for the judges who rule the judicial system, or the critically important school board.

Bud Shaver said he felt no need to run in the May primary because he liked Morgan. He then proceeded to ridicule multi-term legislators and special interest money. His hero, Mr. Morgan, was the poster child for those two egregious sins.

Joe Boylan emerged above two wannabes as a true champion.

Ed Kennedy

Pinehurst