The Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO) serves to connect, engage, and empower elected officials who identify as Democrats across the US. To further that mission we initiated our Blue Star Candidate Program, strengthening our membership by drawing national attention to local Democratic candidates. These candidates have been vetted and recommended by their DMO State Chapter, and their election may swing a city council or mayor’s office from red to blue.

The Blue Star program is conducted through our state chapters. Chapters like North Carolina, chaired by Winston-Salem Councilmember Dan Besse, which started only a few years ago building their capacity to move on statewide issues. Along with support from our state chapters, DMO connects Blue Star Candidates with a network of mentorship and fundraising resources, strengthening their campaigns and giving them a leg up after inauguration day. We also want to use the Blue Star program to inform you how to support a rising peer.

Our first Blue Star Candidate is Val Applewhite, an Air Force veteran running for Mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina. She has served three terms on the Fayetteville City Council, where she successfully worked to improve the city’s transit system, as well as improved law enforcement and community safety through cameras in police vehicles and a new police substation. She missed out on her first bid for mayor in 2013 by only 260 votes. This year she is running to recover the mayor’s office for good community-oriented governance by replacing the Republican incumbent. With just a little bit of extra help, she will win.

After her Air Force career, Val served in a leadership position at the Pentagon. With her husband Ken (a Navy veteran), she has one son in college and another in public high school. Her vision for Fayetteville includes bringing in quality jobs, protecting the community, and improving municipal services. She is supported by both labor and business leaders. Fayetteville is a critical city for North Carolina. Home to Fort Bragg, eight of the ten top American defense contractors have a presence in the metropolitan area.

With her exemplary history of public service, she is uniquely positioned to restore progressive Democratic leadership to this community of strong military roots—and a victory in Fayetteville in 2015 will kick off the drive to restore strong Democrats to seats across the entire state of North Carolina in 2016.

You can support Val by sending her an encouraging note or by making a contribution. As you know, campaigns run on positive energy as well as money. And if you know of a Democratic Municipal Official who might not be getting our emails, let them know about Val Applewhite’s campaign. Election Day is less than two months away, on Tuesday, November 3rd. You can help make Val Applewhite the next Mayor of Fayetteville.

You can learn more about Val, make a contribution, and keep up with news from the campaign trail on her website.