Governor Easley Visits MIX 101.5

Governor Mike Easley takes a moment to pose with MIX GM Ardie Gregory.

North Carolina Governor, Mike Easley, stopped by WRAL-FM while on the campaign trail. Governor Easley came by the station on Tuesday, October 26, 2004, to record several political commercials. Easley was running for re-election against Republican Patrick Ballantine.

NCNN News Anchor/Reporter Steve Shumake caught up with the Governor in the MIX 101.5 hallway and got in a few questions after the recording session.

Shumake asked Governor Easley about the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of ten North Carolinians on their way to the Martinsville (Virginia) Motor Speedway on October 24th. Several family members of Nascar team owner Rick Hendricks were killed in the crash. Hendricks and the Governor are long time friends. In fact, Governor Easley once wrecked Hendrick’s #48 Lowe’s car during a test drive at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

The Governor told NCNN’s Shumake, “The entire Hendrick family is of course having a rough go of it right now, and they all have a lot of friends. They’ve done an awful lot for a lot of people, and I think you will see people rallying around, doing everything they can.” He continued, ” But it is still going to be a long haul, a tough journey, for them through this tragedy, and I hope everybody will offer their prayers as well as their thoughts for the entire Hendrick family.”

Governor Easley defeated Republican challenger Patrick Ballantine in the election on November 2, 2004.

Thanks to WRAL-FM’s Paige Ellis for this Capcom story and photo.