Watch the New Digital Ad Here
RALEIGH – Today, the Cooper for North Carolina campaign released a new digital ad highlighting DC Insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley’s failure to deliver critical federal funding and resources for Helene recovery in Western North Carolina after being appointed as the federal Helene recovery czar earlier this year. The new ad will run on digital platforms in Western North Carolina.
You can read a transcript of the digital ad below and watch it here:
“Reporter 1: President Trump made Michael Whatley recovery czar for Western North Carolina back in January.”
“Reporter 2: Growing frustration in Western North Carolina.”
“Reporter 3: For months, local residents say they haven’t seen Whatley doing anything.”
“Reporter 4: In recent weeks, questions have been raised about his record as recovery czar.”
“Reporter 5: The state has only received about 9 percent of the funding needed for recovery.”
“Reporter 6: It’s a sentiment a lot of North Carolinians echo.”
“Narrator: Michael Whatley is failing Western North Carolina.”
Read more:
In January, President Trump appointed Michael Whatley as the Western North Carolina “recovery czar” and assigned him with the responsibility of “making sure everything goes well.”
Nine months later, critical federal relief is massively delayed in DC and Western North Carolina communities are still bearing the brunt of recovery. While hardworking families and neighbors are trying to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, Whatley has been nowhere to be found:
- Smoky Mountain News: Helene victims still waiting for Whatley
- “Whatley’s appointment was supposed to mean accountability. Instead, it has given rise to a question now being asked across the mountains and increasingly in Raleigh and Washington — where’s Whatley?”
- WYFF: More than 100 WNC residents request to remove Michael Whatley from FEMA Review Council
- “We’re hoping that if we could get someone to maybe come out with a fresh set of eyes and, hopefully, a little more enthusiasm to come and take a look at what still needs to be done here,” [NC Resident Anna] Caldwell said. “That– that could probably help galvanize the recovery and the flow of funding.”
- WLOS: ‘Our needs are urgent’: WNC residents say Michael Whatley isn’t helping after Helene
- “Residents and business owners from Black Mountain and Swannanoa held a news conference Monday to criticize Michael Whatley… They said they have not seen Whatley doing anything.”
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