News 14 Carolina's Shawn Flynn takes a look at the race for the congressional seat in North Carolina's ninth district.
CHARLOTTE -- Rep. Sue Myrick is seeking her seventh term serving North Carolina ninth congressional district, which is made up mostly of Mecklenburg, Union and Gaston counties. The former Charlotte mayor has made a name for herself of late with comments on former president Jimmy Carter and a 10-point plan to combat terrorism.
The Democratic candidates in the race are focusing their campaigns on defeating her rather than each other. The war in Iraq continues to be a large target on her back.
“I'm running because the people in Washington cannot and will not get anything done,” Democrat Harry Taylor said. “They are in constant gridlock."
Harry Taylor and Ross Overby are seeking the Democratic nomination for North Carolina's ninth congressional district.
Taylor's top issues are the economy, energy independence and bringing the troops home from Iraq. Two years ago, he confronted President Bush on the Iraq issue.
“In my lifetime, I've never felt more ashamed of and frightened by my leadership in Washington,” he said.
He says he is using that shame and fear to defeat the incumbent.
Ross Overby is also seeking the Democratic nomination. Fiscal responsibility, health care and education are his top issues. Overby recently stood with the Islamic community in Charlotte chastising Myrick for her plan on terrorism. He says Myrick is only targeting Muslims for political gain.
"Sue Myrick is casting shadows upon whole communities and she shuts down lines of communication and cooperation that are vital to our security," he said.
Rep. Sue Myrick
But the six-term incumbent defends her actions saying it's critical for the defense of this country.
"They're getting a foothold in our country that I don't like and this would be a way of stopping that," Myrick said of her plan.
Dealing with terrorism, illegal immigration and energy independence are her top priorities.
"I'm determined to try and make a difference and get some of them solved, particularly immigration, that's really a key," she added.
Myrick recently made national attention asking for the revocation of former president Jimmy Carter's passport after he met with Hamas leaders.
Myrick is being challenged in the Republican primary by Jack Stratton. He admits he doesn't want to be a congressman, but he is only trying to get back his 10 kids, who were taken away from him by the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services because of neglect.