The Carolina Cabinet

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler broadcast live on Election Night from the Cumberland County GOP headquarters at 1707 Owen Drive in Fayetteville, bringing you the races, the returns as they came in, and the people behind the ballot.

Through the night, the candidates, party leaders and volunteers who filtered into a packed headquarters sat down with us: Cumberland County GOP Chairman Bob Laverick on party unity; Judge Michael Byrne on running a judicial campaign; county commission candidate Greg West; Dr. Shamike Bethea of the Cumberland County Republican Women's Club; Leonard Bryant of the Frederick Douglass Foundation of NC; Commissioner Henry Tyson on schools, water and the county's long-range needs; Rep. Diane Wheatley; Jeremy Stanley, candidate for Soil and Water Conservation District; sheriff candidate LaRue Windham; county commission candidate Ron Ross; and Board of Education candidate Bryan Moore. Laura on the Loose works the room for the voices of volunteers and voters.

We cover the U.S. Senate, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals races, the three constitutional amendments, the local contests that shape daily life here at home, how the AP calls a race, and the reactions as results rolled in on a night of both celebration and disappointment.

Thank you to everyone who voted, volunteered and watched. Find every candidate conversation at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome back to another lively edition of the Carolina Cabinet, recorded live from the former Holiday Inn Bordeaux—now GOP headquarters—on Owen Drive. This episode captures the energy of an upcoming live election watch party, delves into behind-the-scenes technical preparations, and offers a spirited discussion on critical local issues facing Cumberland County. The conversation unpacks recent changes to zoning and regulation around data centers, the ongoing debate and developments surrounding homeless assistance facilities, and the intricacies of county property transfers. Alongside statewide and national election updates, listeners get candid takes on voter ID laws, economic concerns, and judicial races, all blended with trademark humor and a preview of exclusive on-location reporting. Get ready for insightful commentary, local happenings, and a few laughs as the Carolina Cabinet goes "on the loose" in the heart of Fayetteville politics.

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas sits down with Brooks Fuller, policy director at Common Cause North Carolina, about the State Board of Elections' September rule on absentee ballots: if the inner envelope comes back unsealed, the ballot is spoiled and the voter has to vote a new one or go in person. A federal judge declined to block it, and Common Cause is one of the groups that says it goes too far.

Peter presses him on the judge's reasoning that the rule is printed on the ballot materials and that opponents waited too long to sue. Fuller explains how county boards reach voters whose ballots are spoiled, why he says the rule is a solution in search of a problem, what it means for military and overseas voters in a community like ours, the Election Day 7:30 p.m. return deadline and the five-business-day cure period, and what to do if an absentee ballot is still sitting on your kitchen table.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. More at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas and Laura Mussler take on the final week of early voting.

Fayetteville City Council split 6–4 twice on data centers, and Peter explains why the city hasn't banned or paused anything while the county's own moratorium runs to December 15. Then the early-vote numbers: Cumberland County's opening day ran 53% ahead of 2022. Peter and Laura walk through all three constitutional amendments on your ballot, photo ID for all voters, the 3.5% income-tax cap and the property-tax levy limit, with Peter a yes on Amendment 1 and a no on 2 and 3, and Laura weighing in. They also cover the State Board of Elections' new rule rejecting absentee ballots returned with an unsealed inner envelope, which a federal judge declined to block, and close with Rapid Fire on the gas-tax holiday, chronic absenteeism in Cumberland County Schools and the fight on the county elections board.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. More at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Peter Pappas sits down with Cumberland County Commissioners Henry Tyson and Pavan Patel, both elected in 2024, to talk about getting out the vote and what's at stake in this year's at-large commission races.

They walk through same-day registration during early voting, why they say county government should fund its core jobs first, the new water districts and the push for long-term drinking-water capacity after the Chemours settlement, replacing worn-out patrol cars and equipment for the Sheriff's Office, support for rural fire departments, and a first-ever assessment of county-owned buildings. They also explain why the board pivoted away from the downtown event center project, and close with a simple ask: judge the board by its actions, not its words.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Find all of our candidate conversations at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome back to The Carolina Cabinet, where we bring you the sharpest conversations in Cumberland County and beyond. In this episode, host Peter Pappas sits down with Judge George Cooper Bell, the Republican candidate for North Carolina Court of Appeals seat number 2 and a sitting Superior Court judge from Mecklenburg County. Judge Bell, a former criminal defense attorney with over a decade of experience, shares insights from the campaign trail, discusses his philosophy on the bench, and explains how appellate courts impact everyday North Carolinians. From courtroom movie favorites to the complexities of partisan judicial races, this candid conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to serve justice—and why elections like this one matter for all of us. Whether you're a Panthers fan, a casual observer, or knee-deep in the issues, you won't want to miss what's in store.

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. In this special session, Peter Pappas sits down with Joe Hallatschek, candidate for the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. It's a nonpartisan race at the very bottom of your ballot: seven candidates, and you vote for two. Hallatschek is a retired Army Corps of Engineers officer with public works experience and has served on Fayetteville's Stormwater Advisory Board since 2020.

He explains what the Soil and Water board actually does for farmers, towns and homeowners, from soil testing and cover crops to ponds, wells and drainage; how state cost-share programs work and why he says every town in the county can use at least one of them; why he'd make clearing stream debris a priority; and how stormwater rules apply as farmland turns into subdivisions, solar farms and data centers.

Find all of our candidate conversations at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. In this special session, Peter Pappas sits down with Rep. Charles Smith, the Democrat representing District 44 in the North Carolina House, who is unopposed on the November 3 ballot. A Fayetteville native who played college basketball at Emory & Henry and earned his law degree at UNC Chapel Hill, Smith came home to prosecute domestic violence and child abuse cases as an assistant district attorney before winning his House seat.

Peter and Rep. Smith talk about why he came back to Fayetteville, what prosecuting hard cases taught him about listening, his yes vote on the $34 billion state budget, why he wants an income cap and accountability on Opportunity Scholarships, why he opposes writing an income tax cap into the state constitution, his bill to give state-hiring preference to veterans and their spouses, and where he thinks the state should set the rules on data centers. He also explains how constituents can reach him directly, even when they disagree.

Find all of our candidate conversations at thecarolinacabinet.com.

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. In this episode, host Peter Pappas sits down with Rob Hasty, Republican candidate for Superior Court Judge in Judicial District 14A. A lifelong county resident, seasoned attorney with over 25 years of experience, and former certified mediator, Hasty shares insights into his legal career, the distinctions between Superior and District court, and his perspectives on judicial impartiality and local court operations. The conversation delves into the realities of partisan politics in judicial elections, the impact of technology on the local court system, and the experiences both lawyers and everyday citizens encounter at the courthouse. Whether you're curious about the inner workings of Cumberland County's courts or the challenges and choices in a judge's race, this episode offers an informative and candid look behind the bench.

Judge Stephen Stokes was invited twice and did not respond. Here at the Cabinet, we think it's fair to let you know we've reached out, and we hope to hear from them whenever they're ready.

Welcome to a special edition of the Carolina Cabinet. This week, host Peter Pappas sits down with LaRue Windham, Republican nominee for Cumberland County Sheriff, for an in-depth conversation spanning his decades-long career in law enforcement, his family's legacy of service, and his vision for the future of the sheriff's office. From reminiscing about his first patrol car and favorite cop shows to outlining concrete plans for improving staff retention, pay, and public transparency, LaRue Windham addresses the challenges facing Cumberland County and makes his case for leadership as Election Day approaches. Tune in as they tackle tough questions about staffing shortages, immigration enforcement, and the importance of visibility and accessibility in law enforcement—and hear why LaRue Windham says he's ready to lead with professionalism, transparency, and a team-oriented approach. Whether you agree with him or not, this is a candid conversation you won't want to miss.