#ncpol: Outsiders jumping into GOP races for Secretary of State, Agriculture Commissioner
It appears the #DaoudCrowd is going to have some company in the GOP primary for secretary of state. Durham businesman Michael LaPaglia (R) is tossing his hat into the ring for the opportunity to take on ‘Occupy Elaine’ in November. LaPaglia is a consultant for museums whose previous experience includes a stint as an operative for the 1994 US Senate campaign of Fred Thompson (R-TN). . 
His motivation for running? Here’s what his website says:
Small businesses are the backbone of North Carolina’s economy and as a free-enterprise champion, I believe the Secretary of State should be an active advocate for business within state government.
We know Government doesn’t create jobs, entrepreneurs and investors create jobs.
We need a conservative in the Secretary of State’s office that will work to get government out of the way and allow North Carolina’s entrepreneurs and businesses owners to thrive.
My understanding of business, government, and the economy are rooted in twenty-five years of real-world business and life experience.
After you to take a look at my background, my experience, and my skills, I hope you’ll join our team because I need your help to retire the most liberal statewide official in North Carolina!
A.J. Daoud, the other Republican in the race, has an apparently unsettled issue of a noncompliance fine handed down by the board of elections. According to BOE documents, Daoud may not file or run without paying off the fine. Daoud says the board waived the fine. But no one — in or out of Daoud’s camp – -can produce evidence of said move.
Tea Partier Andy Stevens of Guilford County signed on the dotted line today to take a whack at incumbent agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler. What appears to be the 
major piece of Stevens’s platform? The chicken registration mandate handed down by Troxler’s NCDA. Owning even ONE chicken requires registration with the state and openng your property up to inspection by state employees at any time (probable cause or not).
The SBOE is not the only issue with Daoud. Someone should do some digging about his tenure on the NC Lottery Commission that he is constantly bragging about. Seems as he was doing a lot of name calling to everyone else on the Commission, traveling the state promoting himself under the cover of speaking on behalf of the lottery but in fact was not telling the truth or giving accurate facts and numbers. This became so out of hand that it is rumored that other commissioners reprimanded him on the matter.
Hey Eno River Man….. Put up or shut up. Rumors are BS, Facts are what we need here.
The put up is easy if anyone bothers to look at Daoud’s facebook page where he barraged other republicans by referring to himself as the “lone fiscal conservative” which is not the case. He also sat through numerous official meetings more occupied with texting others, such as his “buddies” in the Governor’s office, and while on these texts he referred to the Commission Chairman as a “d–k”. His statements were so incorrect and wrong regarding the NC Lottery that staff of the lottery had to be sent to the groups he was speaking to in an effort to try and correct and monitor the mis-statements he was making. If you want to know more reach out to the current commissioners of the lottery, many of which are well known in political circles, and ask them. I doubt you will find any of them endorsing Daoud.
“According to BOE documents, Daoud may not file or run without paying off the fine. Daoud says the board waived the fine. But no one — in or out of Daoud’s camp – -can produce evidence of said move.”
Well, given that Daoud actually has filed, I’d surmise that the evidence has been submitted.