HENDERSONVILLE — American politics today is afflicted by ever-worsening polarization, which could result in future crises, state Senator Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson County, said during an address to the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club at its breakfast meeting on Sept. 14 at American Legion Post 77 here.

“I don’t think our founders ever expected our nation to be so polarized” as it is now, Moffitt told the turnout of about 75 Republicans.

He then asked, rhetorically, “How many of you saw the debate?” 

(Moffitt’s reference was to the Sept. 17 United States presidential face-off between Republican nominee (and former president) Donald Trump and Democrat nominee (and current vice president) Kamala Harris. 

(During the debate, Trump was “fact-checked” a reported five times by ABC News moderators, while Harris never was “fact-checked,” despite accusations by a number of GOP officials and pundits that she asserted a number of factual inaccuracies during the widely viewed clash.  

(After the debate, a number of Republican leaders publicly complained that it was “rigged,” making it three-on-one against Trump, with Harris aided by what — some Republican leaders have alleged — were biased, left-leaning ABC News’ moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis.)

Between what happened during the debate in particular, and what is happening with increasing political polarization in general, in today’s world, Moffit lamented, “It’s a tough political environment.”

Further, he pointed out, “technology is a hugely disruptive voice.”

For instance, with artificial intelligence, that he referred to by the acronym of “AI,” Moffitt asserted, “The machine makes the decision.”

He added, “One of these tech leaders said that, pretty soon, AI will solve all of the diseases that will affect mankind in the next 15 or so years.”

After a brief pause, Moffitt asserted, “If you start looking at retirement, and you’re running that out another 25 or 40 years” with lives significantly extended by that length, the number of retirees could be much higher than the finances for the current retirement system could support.

In the U.S., he said, “We rely on empirical data and actuarial data.... An example is car insurance... We all know that young men ages 18 to 26 are most prone to have accidents,” so they are charged higher rates for car insurance. 

With AI, “We’re going from actuarial data to actual data” – and what’s going to happen very soon is insurance companies will be moving from actuarial data to actual data. So this will affect us....”

He added, “So when we look at the future — I’m excited about it, but also there are concerns.”

Earlier in his address, Moffitt began by noting that his Senate district includes Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties. 

On a political note, Moffitt said, “This is the time of year, as a candidate, when you encourage people to stay on task and get out the vote.

“This past week in the (state) Senate, we had the experience of overriding five vetos, which always is fine... So when we don’t agree with the governor (Roy Cooper, a Democrat), we take the opportunity to do an override...

“So this is the sprint to the finish line... Polls are just polls. Many are inaccurate. Some would say polls are there just to dispirit you — not to inform you,”

Turning to specific citizen concerns, Moffitt said, “There’s nothing more frustrating, as a public servant, than” dealing with constituent complaints about problems related to “going to the DMV (state Division of Motor Vehicles). They (the DMV) work with us very well — when you (the citizenry) get us (politicians) to work with them (the DMV).”

Also, Moffitt noted, “Everything — going up to the pandemic — was working just fine. During the pandemic, it seemed like everything was broken....’

Moffitt prompted laughter from the crowd when he quipped, “Sometimes... I feel like ‘the Rapture’ happened — and I got left behind!” 

Noting the signs around businesses almost everywhere, advertising for workers, the state senator asked, rhetorically, “Where did they (Americans who used to work) go? 

“It seems like everyone (every business) has more work to do than people (available) to do it. What has changed, cutlurally, that makes it OK not to be fully employed?

“We are facing an era of tough decisions, an era of decisions that are not going to be popular... As your candidate for Senate District 48, I’d like your support. There are a lot of outside pressures to change who we are.” 

As Moffitt closed his address, he prompted applause from the crowd when he noted that “I don’t feel we’re paying homage to our farmers. We need to support those who feed us!”

During a brief question-and-answer session that followed, Moffitt was asked to address concerns about potential voter fraud in the upcoming general election on Nov. 5.

Moffitt replied, “I’m not an expert in election law... The left likes to do ‘lawfare’— and they have lots of money to spend” on attorneys to outlast opponents.

“To your question, we’re doing the best we can... I really find it hard to believe that there are people who are against making sure” that elections are lawfully held.

“It is a problem. We do have people who are non-citizens who are voting... As politicians, we always have known that fraud exists... But before, we weren’t worried that it moves the needle... Now, it’s getting very close... There is concern that all of these people are arriving here illegally... In some states, some of these people are getting driver’s licenses... In our state, it is required that you be a citizen to legally vote in our state.. Again, these are hectic times....”

To a question about how many people are voting illegally in Henderson and Buncombe counties, Moffit replied, “There is a clandestine effort to send illegal people” to Henderson and Buncombe — “by blue states and blue cities. It happens... Does it happen enough to change the outcome?... People should be rightfully concerned....”

Prior to Moffitt’s address, a number of GOP candidates — mostly for Hendersonville and Henderson County seats — appeared at the invitation of the club to introduce themselves and to speak of their goals.

HCRMC President Bruce Hatfield opened the meeting by noting that “early voting starts Sept. 17.” He asked the meeting attendees “to bring like-minded to the polls for early voting,” reminding them — with a smile — to make sure everyone “looks for just the little ‘R’” after each candidate’s name

Hatfield also said he asked “all of our candidates to bring yard signs to this meeting, so feel free to take some with you.”

The candidates’ portion of the program then began, as Hatfield noted that U.S. Sen. Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock, had a scheduling conflict and could not attend, but that he “has a special representative to speak.”

Then, Rhonda Glance, Edwards’ chief of staff, spoke on behalf of Edwards, and she prompted laughter from the crowd when she quipped that “I was born and raised in Buncombe County — but don’t hold that against me!”

More seriously, she stated, “Congressman Edwards already has been recognized from his peers” for his diligent legislative efforts and tireless work ethic.

In noting Edwards also holds many significant committee assignments, Glance noted that “new members of Congress” (like Edwards) do not usually get them, “but Congressman Edwards does” because of his reputation as being smart and a hard-worker.

As for the Republicans, generally, she said “we control only half of — or one-third of — the government, with Democrats generally in control.

In a verbal jab at former president Donald Trump’s opponent for the top job, Glance declared that Vice President “Kamala Harris is the most radical left-wing candidate ever to run for Congress. We need (former president) Donald Trump and Congressman Edwards elected” — and re-elected, respectively.

Next, attorney Monica Gillett spoke, noting that she is “an independent-thinking candidate for judge (in District 42 Court) — and I’m not originally from this area.” 

Gillett said she was born to teen-age parents and “lovingly raised by her grandparents.” While she is not from the area, she said she spent many of her childhood summers in Hendersonville, ultimately making it her home in 2000.

She described, at age 21, having her first child as a major challenge, but, at that point, resolved she would not be “a statistic” and understood it was her role to provide the best life possible for her son — and that Gillett said she feels she has accomplished that aspiration.

Gillett said she attended Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock and then earned her bachelor’s degree at UNC Ashville. “Then, I began law school — the same year that my son began kindergarten.”

Further, she noted, “Eventually, I opened my own law firm. I have been practicing law in this area for 17 years” and also is a  board-certified parenting coordinator.... I’ve been in the system my whole life. I’ve been in the ‘system’ as a child, an adult and as an attorney....

“I am a Republican, so you know what I believe and how I feel... My opponent is running as ‘unaffiliated,’ but is completely backed by the Democratic Party.”

Gillett triggered some laughter when she noted, “It’s way more expensive than I knew to run for office....”

As she concluded, Gillett asserted, “Y’all have to vote the whole ballot. Don’t just vote for Trump and turn it in. Flip that ballot over, because your local candidates (including her) need your support — and they have the most impact on you.”

After Hatfield recognized some other candidates who were in attendance, including (among many) James Marshall, running unopposed as an judge; Jay Egolf, an incumbent running unopposed for a seat for Henderson County Board of Commissioners; and Robert Bridges, running for re-election to the Henderson County Board of Education..

Speaking next, Jennifer Balkom, running for re-election to House District 117, began by noting, “Monica’s great... as is Chuck Edwards!

“You’ve seen me down there in Raleigh... A lot of things have affected how I judge things.” As did Gillett, Balkom, noted that she “had rough beginnings in her life....”

On a lighter note, Balkom said someone recently asked her: “Did you know they’ve passed 86 bills that you submitted this year?”

To that question, she told the meeting attendees, “That’s pretty good for a girl who came out of nowhere as a freshman congresswoman...”

More seriously, Balkom said, “So there’s a lot more to do — and I do have an opponent... It’s very important that you look at the back of the ballot and vote for me.”

Besides noting that her district has been redrawn, “somewhat,” she noted that “there is a very, very liberal Democrat running against me.”

With a smile, Balkom concluded by pointing out that a bill she filed to protect farmland “did pass.”

Hartwell then told the crowd, “Just keep in mind that (state Rep.) Jake Johnson (a Saluda native and Republican) represents the other portion of the district adjoining Jennifer Balkom... We can’t emphasize enough that you need to vote the entire ballot,”

Next, Sheila Franklin, who is running for District 2 county commissioner, said, “I am a retired teacher and very passionate about children. To me, safety is paramount. I’d like to see (safety as a priority) continue here.”

With a smile, Franklin then said in reference to her fellow Republican and friend, “I’m not running against Jay (Egolf). Luckily, Jay is not running opposed. Unfortunately, I am. I have a Democratic challenger.”

Franklin noted that she is “stressing voluntary farmland preservation, with an emphasis on ‘voluntary.’

“Lately, the things I’ve been working on” have included “educational policy — and informing officials about the state educational plans... I have thoroughly enjoyed working with that. I’ve been delving thoroughly into Smart Start… I think the main emphasis should be (improving) reading (skills) in Henderson County.

“My other emphasis is workforce housing... It’s distressing to learn that nobody who works here can afford to live here. We need to take care of the people who take care of us,” Franklin asserted.

She noted that, through the years, she has served on Hendersonville City Council and a number of other city — as well as county — boards.

Franklin concluded her talk by noting that her main values are stressed on her campaign cars as follows: “Conservative, Christian, common sense.”

Another speaker, Jennifer Hensley, was introduced as “one of our (the GOP’s) few representatives on Hendersonville City Council.” (When questioned after the meeting about the exact number of Republicans on Hendersonville council, Hensley told the Daily Planet that she is the only one.) 

In her address, Hensley noted that she has lived in Western North Carolina for 20 years and became interested in joining council after “my daughter has expressed distress over how her fellow students speak (disrespectfully) to their teachers.”

Hensley said she feels her efforts have helped Hendersonville, as her daughter made her feel proud recently when she said that, before games, “on her volleyball team, we stand in a circle, hold hands and say the ‘Our Father’ (aka ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’)... ‘It gives me hope in the kids these days... I’m (also) glad to see she values hard work...

 “I’m on seven subcommittees for the City of Hendersonville. “We all make sacrifices to be elected officials. They (the officials) ‘bust their behinds’ every day...

Hensley concluded her address as follows:

“It’s about how you’re raising them (the children) and leading by example. And showing them you can do everything,” if one puts in the effort. “I love what I do (on council). As a business-owner, it (serving on council) has given me a totally different perspective... You have to be able to make more than you spend... City Council is a nonpartisan race... Our firefighters and first-responders are very important... I want to be able to keep our folks here who support us... I ask for your vote — it means the world to me!”