TJJS - Best of JJ - Ep 52 - Talkin' with NC House Rep. John Autry! (One of most "REAL" guys I know)

On this show, I have the pleasure of speaking with my friend John Autry, Democratic State representative from District 100 in North Carolina.  

You will get to find out why he is such a great guy and a wonderful leader… thoughtful, forward-thinking, smart as hell and a truly fun-loving person!  My friend!

Join us as we talk about about a "Ton ‘O Stuff" that you will like!

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 What the Jeff Johnson Show “IS” and “IS NOT”:

IT IS NOT:

• It’s not a news show, but we learn stuff.
• It’s not a sports show, but Garinger beats Independence all the time and we love the game.
• It’s not an “artsy” show, but local artists/performers are always in the house.
• This is not a food show, but I love livermush!(‘Nuff Said”) So, we'll be talking about food a lot!

IT IS:

• It is a Labour of Love for myself and my Hometown.
• It is a show about you and me and finding out why the Charlotte/Metrolina region is a great place to be!
• It is a show that I get to introduce you folks I grew up with who influenced me in my life. (I got some "Very Unique" friends y'all so this should be interesting!)
• It is a show that I share some of the many talented friends I’ve met along the way.  (I got some "Very Unique" friends y'all so this should be interesting!)
• It is a show that works your emotions. (“...Laughing and Crying, you know it’s the same release..”)

Follow JJ: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!  The Jeff Johnson Show. Real. Genuine. Authentic. Jeff!

Transcript

Best of TJJS - Ep 52 - John Autry

[00:00:00] JJ: [00:00:00] It's the Jeff Johnson show brought to you by OTE@ofthisearthglobal.com of this earth. global.com clothing connection O T E.

[00:00:21] Greetings, or as we say it right here in the South, Hey y'all Hey, you know what time it is? It's time for another edition of the Jeff Johnson show a real, genuine, authentic podcast where I get to reconnect with the people and places and events of my hometown area. Charlotte, North Carolina. All right, everybody let's get this week.

[00:00:42] Show started off. Hey, everybody with me right now is a good, I don't even great. Wonderful friend of mine, who also represents the 100th district in the North Carolina house. Ladies and germs. Please give [00:01:00] it up for mr. John Autry.

[00:01:06] John Autry: [00:01:06] You are two kind, dude. 

[00:01:09] JJ: [00:01:09] Let me tell you something. Don't give a nerd technology. 

[00:01:13] John Autry: [00:01:13] Yeah, 

[00:01:15] JJ: [00:01:15] I brought you in with a crowd cheering for you. 

[00:01:19] John Autry: [00:01:19] I know. I know. And that's not something that we get a lot of. I know you don't like the position, 

[00:01:27] JJ: [00:01:27] you know, but, but here's the, here's the thing for me, you deserve that big round of applause.

[00:01:34] I mean, we've known each other for an awful long time and it is so good. To reconnect as a matter of fact, ladies and gentlemen, John, and I connected a little while back and it was just really nice just to talk and to hear his voice. Yeah. And, and to do that. So thank you so much for taking this time, man.

[00:01:52] I really appreciate it. 

[00:01:54] John Autry: [00:01:54] Yeah, I wouldn't have missed this for the world. 

[00:01:57] JJ: [00:01:57] Good. Cause guess what? You're going to be back on sometime. [00:02:00] You're the next time you'd be going. Oh no, he's calling again. Can you get somebody else? Who can this guy get on the phone? John? Let's let's let's just kind of revisit us how you and I met and I have been reflecting and it was all about the media.

[00:02:19] It was at WSO C right. 

[00:02:22] John Autry: [00:02:22] Exactly. the chief photographer and the sports director, and a few other photogs and editors were sitting around one afternoon before, you know, we were expecting the bottom to fall out any moment that we're discussing about bringing on this guy who had been doing a little. L P T V show you remember low power television, 

[00:02:49] JJ: [00:02:49] 100%.

[00:02:51] John Autry: [00:02:51] It was a flash in the pan. That's never really done any roots after the internet became a thing, b ut [00:03:00] I understood that this guy played music videos. to the local market. And it was basically a one man operation. You had a couple of tape decks and a camera and a little vision switcher, and you would sit there in the chair and, load a tape with one hand and throw the sweater to the tape with the other, as you introduced the video.

[00:03:24] And I said, I gotta meet this guy. And within a couple of weeks there you were in the station. stringing out sports stories on Friday night 

[00:03:33] JJ: [00:03:33] and I'll tell you, it was that I really enjoy that. I mean, you know, the music video thing, I was in the guests in the, Greensboro triad area, Greensboro hopper, and Winston Salem in that area.

[00:03:43] And it was great. I enjoyed it, but it was so nice getting back to WSOC because when I, you know, I went to Garinger high. And, and they had a wonderful TV radio department and I got to intern and yeah, WSOC and O well, so, so it, it was kind of a [00:04:00] thing, but, but that timePhil Tribow. Remember him. 

[00:04:04]John Autry: [00:04:04] Sure. 

[00:04:06] JJ: [00:04:06] Was he the sports director at the time and associate 

[00:04:10] John Autry: [00:04:10] producer for the sports.

[00:04:12] Okay. Okay. Okay. 

[00:04:14] JJ: [00:04:14] Well, Harold, well, Harold Johnson was the sports director and all you got to say is the big guy that's the man.

[00:04:24] John Autry: [00:04:24] Oh, 

[00:04:24] JJ: [00:04:24] everybody knows him, but. Yeah. That's where we got to meet each other and grow and develop this friendship. And there's been so many other things that have come out of that. But, you know, I know that you've probably told this story millions of times, but just give our viewers because I got folks.

[00:04:43] You know, I'm, I'm wide, I'm wide, I'm nationwide and international wide people over in other other countries. Hear me. Thank you all so much for listening. would you tell them a little bit about yourself? Where are you from what you did? Cause you've done a lot. 

[00:05:00] [00:05:00] John Autry: [00:05:00] Well, I, I'm a native part, you know, I was born and raised in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

[00:05:07] I'm a product public education. I had the opportunity and 1972 to move to California with my mother and go to school out there. I go to college because the junior colleges in California at that time were tuition. 

[00:05:25] JJ: [00:05:25] Yes, sir. 

[00:05:27] John Autry: [00:05:27] My stepfather was a, army recruiter. And he was going to be stationed in orange, California.

[00:05:36] And my mother said, if you want to come along with us, you can stay with us and go to school and we'll put you up. And how can I pass that deal up? So, I was, sharing a house with a couple of other folks and decided that I was gonna put all my stuff. Couple of number 50 Brown paper bags, and we jump on a plane and go [00:06:00] to Indianapolis and then drive out West with my mother, father and my little brother.

[00:06:06] And it was awesome. Why 

[00:06:09] JJ: [00:06:09] was it so neat out there? 

[00:06:12] John Autry: [00:06:12] Well, the main thing was just the, how, why and fast. The kinds of people that you could interact with, especially in a college environment. I mean, I mean, I thought the, the little theater in say it was pretty upscale, pretty mind expanding. Well, I mean, there was a lot of GI their family that were there.

[00:06:42] We had sample state university, people were playing in the theater. We had a Methodist college at the time now, Methodist university and people who were. all the staff and faculty there at Methodist were involved with the theater group bankers, prominent attorneys in the [00:07:00] town. this was a way for their family to have some cultural, interaction.

[00:07:06] And it was just, A hot mess of an international environment right there within a block of hay Mount Hill. And he said, wow. And it was fantastic. And so I'll just prepare her for California, but I wasn't prepared for calendar because it went on for ever in Southern California. You had orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County and Brinshore County.

[00:07:35] San Fernando Valley, all that area was just, I mean, I hit, just blew my mind that you've had so many people living in such a congested part of Southern California, and I met incredible folks and inspirational people and, was, encouraged by a lot of those folks to continue following my news, you [00:08:00] know?

[00:08:00] And, and so I did. And it was really something, but, you know, then I ended up with a wild hair one morning and went down and joined the Navy. 

[00:08:12] JJ: [00:08:12] I swear I was getting ready to get to that because listen, you've lit, like I said, lived a great life. Interesting life musician, muda media, executive producer, director camera, man.

[00:08:22] I mean, you just do it all actor, the whole nine yards. Why did you want to join the Navy? 

[00:08:30] John Autry: [00:08:30] Well, I had a, I actually had a draft of hurdle. I was, classified as one wide, but that did not prohibit me from enlisting. And, my stepfather, you know, and growing up in Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, that in itself gives me a certain sense of.

[00:08:51]obligation to service and to serve my country. So, for that first semester, I [00:09:00] pretty much said that I was gonna go into the service and joined the military for four years. Spent some time, gaining some knowledge, making some new connections, but who knows where that leads, but I felt that that would be a good opportunity and then come back out.

[00:09:17] But you got to go to school.

[00:09:22] Right. And I went down and, and to try to join the coast, but they have like a nine month waiting list in 1972. So I said, okay, if I go join the Navy here, what is that going to do to the relationship with my stepfather who's next door and the army recruiting office, 

[00:09:47] JJ: [00:09:47] you might not be able to come, 

[00:09:49] John Autry: [00:09:49] but he was absolutely before he, you know, he said I would have preferred to join the army, you know, that you're willing to, you know, to take [00:10:00] on a role in the armed forces.

[00:10:03] I'm absolutely supportive of that. And plus they had those cool bell bottom. 

[00:10:09] JJ: [00:10:09] The Navy's dappers they can be, they they're always on point with a unit. How about look, you know, this is always interesting to me. What was your role in the Navy? What did they have you doing? So 

[00:10:20] John Autry: [00:10:20] I worked in the dental field. I, started out my first duty station was the Naval hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia.

[00:10:30] And, the winter of 72, 73. And then, you know, that's when the pow yes. And so that was an intense and an interesting experience because we had to, conduct. Standards, typical dental examination. And x-rays with these guys that hadn't had any care for five, six, seven years, [00:11:00] eight years. Some of them for no care at all, and to evaluate their condition, set up a treatment plan for them.

[00:11:09] But then there was also this DOD. Form that had to be filled out by hand. And it was asked these questions, nothing, but these questions never reveal what any of these questions are or what the answers were. Write down the answers to your fullest, let the subject continue to talk as long as they want to impact everything you can.

[00:11:32] Wow. And so, you know, it was those stories about what they went through, what they experienced, what they endured. And how it affected them. And it was a profound experience. 

[00:11:48] JJ: [00:11:48] I got to say, that's gotta be, I mean, life changing to an extent. 

[00:11:54] John Autry: [00:11:54] Well, it gave me a lot of pride and perspective [00:12:00] about my service. Yeah.

[00:12:03] And what it means. 

[00:12:04] JJ: [00:12:04] Well, 

[00:12:05] John Autry: [00:12:05] an interesting tidbit from that, so I can not remember. The officer's name, but there was a lot of, scuttlebutt that just, you know, struggled, but is the Navy term for gossip?

[00:12:26] One of the, one of the returning to you that is a Lieutenant commander who. Yep. Talking about how he was going to get out of the Navy and go home to Arizona and run for Congress.

[00:12:43] And the only Naval officer who was a pow that I know of who after his Naval service was complete, went home to Arizona and ran for Congress. Was John McCain, John McCain. So I'm pretty sure [00:13:00] that I treated John McCain that year, while I was still serving at the Naval hospital in Portsmouth. But, I didn't complete my term of duty there.

[00:13:10] I, got a transfer to the, Naval dental center at camp Pendleton, California, and spent the last two years of my service in a little outline clinic up near San Clemente called Corno. And Horno is Spanish four 

[00:13:26] JJ: [00:13:26] of it. So in other words, is the warm up there wasn't 

[00:13:31] John Autry: [00:13:31] it was a warm affair,

[00:13:35] but it was another great experience. Let me say it the best duty that a sailor who is in the dental Corps or the medical Corps is with the Marine, because it doesn't matter what your rank is. They all call you doc. And they take care. Wow. Watch out for you. But because [00:14:00] there's that mutual appreciation for what one does and what the other does.

[00:14:05] And so, you know, I w one of my duties was I worked for an endodontist, but we did all these root canal. And then I did take calls. So I took all the X rays or the clinic. And then I also did some preventative. Care. And one day there was a staff Sergeant in the class and a bunch of privates and Lance corporals, you know, the, just the mixture of the entry level recruits and, first from a service guide and going through how to take care of their teeth in the field.

[00:14:45] And one guy was smarting off, pretty good and stuff. And then the Sergeant spoke up and said, listen, you've got to listen to the doc here because he's not going to be able to help you when you're out in the field and have a problem. And what he's telling you now is going to be the things that are going to prevent you [00:15:00] from having a problem in the field where you have to fall back from helping your fellow brothers out in the field.

[00:15:08] Okay. Cool. Thank you. Sorry, never had any, I've never had any more gruff from anybody about taking the red dye and brushing their teeth anymore. 

[00:15:18] JJ: [00:15:18] It is amazing sometimes to me, how, and, you know, first off, thank you for your service and all the service of any service, people that are listening to this, because it really makes a difference.

[00:15:29] You've made a difference for us, but just to hear. What you w what you've gone through in that end to know you. I see that character. I see this person that I've come to love and come to know and know now even more where it all came from. And that's a big deal to me.

[00:15:53] John Autry: [00:15:53] What life handed me. 

[00:15:54] JJ: [00:15:54] It was, yes, it was. Okay. And listen, I'm going to take a little quick break because there's, [00:16:00] there's still so much to talk about, but when I come back, I just want to talk a little bit about why you got interested in being a public servant. And we'll do that. We'll talk a little music, we'll talk some color of a couple of other things, and we're going to talk voting right now because that's, that was one of the main reasons I'm wanting to get your opinion on that.

[00:16:19] So, folks, we're going to be back in just a minute with mr. John Autrey. You're listening to the Jeff Johnson show. Don't you dare go anyway. 

[00:16:29] John Autry: [00:16:29] Help protect your family from flu this season by taking three easy steps first. Get yourself and your family, a flu shot it's quick and can protect you all season second, take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of germs like flu.

[00:16:44] Cover your cough. Stay home from work or school. If you're sick and wash your hands. Often third, there are drugs that can treat flute illness. These work best when started early, learn more at cdc.gov/fight flu.

[00:17:04] [00:17:00] JJ: [00:17:04] Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Jeff Johnson show. I am speaking with John Autrey. He is the representative, the North Carolina house representative from district 100 in North Carolina. And you know what? First off I want to, I don't know where to go here, but I want people to you to explain your district, where is it?

[00:17:28] And what's its makeup life. 

[00:17:31] John Autry: [00:17:31] Okay. So, district 100 is in East Charlotte. It's a very diverse and, both, socially, ethnically and economically. we have a lot of immigrants and not just immigrants from South of the border, but immigrants from Africa, immigrants from the middle East. Immigrants from Southeast Asia and immigrants from Asia immigrants, from China, [00:18:00] and even the Soviet union, you know?

[00:18:03] Wow. Russia, immigrants. So, but you know it, yes, yes, yes. It's such a, an eclectic and there's, an area that city called central Avenue that runs, Write down one of the edges of the district in the Northern part, 

[00:18:22] JJ: [00:18:22] I grew up on that side of town. I went to guarantee high Eastland mall, all of that Albemarle road, all that area.

[00:18:29] That was my set. 

[00:18:32] John Autry: [00:18:32] So there is back in the nineties, and early two thousands. there was a lot of upheaval in. The societies and the communities from these immigrants that they were having impact on. And then with the changes around independence Boulevard, a lot of businesses closed down. And what happened after that was that these immigrants went in [00:19:00] and took advantage of the lower commercial properties and started up businesses.

[00:19:03] The role. Yeah. And, you know, one of the studies that we had when I was on city council was that immigrants are 25% more likely to start a small business than anyone else. And so it became this. Nate colored neon and a collection of smells that are all over the place. I mean, you can start up at the Plaza Midwood and the central Avenue in Estonia and, Bolivia.

[00:19:37] And make your way all the way down to the other end of the Avenue and have some of the best, drop dead Mexican food that you can get anywhere on the planet. I mean this one little place, I mean, I'm a big plant fan and the best mole Lake in the state. I am certain. [00:20:00] Exists over there on the album, on central Avenue.

[00:20:02] JJ: [00:20:02] Hey, give him a shout out, you know, and this, listen, this is a labor of love for me. Don't nobody sponsor this show, but me who is it? So I can go. 

[00:20:10] John Autry: [00:20:10] So it's carnitas, Guana, Watson, and, they have just. Off the shelf, kind of I'm in all out top on the top shell kind of Mexican food that is authentic. And one of fans of all who's the owner and the operator there.

[00:20:35]I always bragged on his low lights off. He said, well, it's my mother's. Thank you, mom. And he's from Delores Hildago, in Mexico. And I had the great fortune to visit there back in 2014 on a trip with several municipal leaders and city leaders from union County. Nice one bird [00:21:00] County to go visit Mexico city , walk.

[00:21:05] So, lay home. And it was just quite an experience to really get an understanding of the immigrant experience from the Southern side of the border. What that means the loss of human capital to Mexico, from people coming to America to earn a living. I mean, we don't really think about that much here in the United States, but it has an impact.

[00:21:30] And we went to one place, which had an incredible resort, you know, place there. But, the little street that we took off the main road to get to the Hacienda, which all these beautiful houses. Great brick, masonry, you know, everything. And the guide told us as well. Most of the people, are in America now earning a living, 

[00:22:00] [00:22:00] JJ: [00:22:00] basically it just wiped it wiped out there.

[00:22:02] Did it wipe out their economy? Did it wipe out? 

[00:22:06] John Autry: [00:22:06] Yeah, well, there isn't a negative impact, but it also provides them to build homes that just. Very darn you know, and they're not in tonight. So they go back home, you know, their seasons down there and they still have, you know, families there.

[00:22:36] JJ: [00:22:36] Gotcha. John how'd, you know, me knowing that area as I do and how I love it. And those kinds of things, you know, you're doing this for so many different reasons. Has it been what you expected and have you been able to deal with all of the politics that [00:23:00] go into what you do? Cause you've been doing it for a while now, city council, you know, now in the state house, you know, what do you think?

[00:23:09] John Autry: [00:23:09] So, is anything, does anything that you anticipate or look at. Doing or anticipating. Is there anything like that that actually turns out to be what you thought before you got started? No, it isn't. And, and it's, it's, it's better than what I anticipated. Not because it is a. It certainly does not. 

[00:23:42] JJ: [00:23:42] Wait a minute.

[00:23:44] I know you got some cash, please. Come on now. 

[00:23:47] John Autry: [00:23:47] Well, the thing as a legislator. Yes, sir. My take home is $432 a month. [00:24:00] Wow. 

[00:24:02] JJ: [00:24:02] Ain't doing this for money. 

[00:24:04] John Autry: [00:24:04] No, but look, it's been the most rewarding, the most frustrating, the most aggravating, the most humbling, the most gratifying experience, except for being a father and grandfather.

[00:24:20] I 

[00:24:20] JJ: [00:24:20] don't want to come to that a little bit later. Seriously. I mean, people don't even understand yet. I mean, that, that part of your life is huge. We want to come back to that in just a second. So. As you continue down this road in, in the political sphere, you know, we've got a major election coming up and the voting issue is a huge, huge thing.

[00:24:45] How do you feel North Carolina stacks up? How do you feel Charlotte stacks up? Are we ready for the vote? Are people that, you know, our friends, are they ready to vote? Because it's so interesting. I just got my absentee ballot. Five minutes before I [00:25:00] called you for this interview. And I am so excited about opening it up.

[00:25:04] I don't know why I am, but you know, you know what I mean? So how has that, what's your thoughts on this particular season of voting? 

[00:25:14] John Autry: [00:25:14] Okay. So your question is, is North Carolina ready to vote? Yes. What day is it? 

[00:25:23] JJ: [00:25:23] Saturday? The 5th of October. 

[00:25:26] John Autry: [00:25:26] Because there are so many conflicting dynamics at play right now, North Carolina is such an important state in this election.

[00:25:38]that it's, it's, it's hard to tell. I mean, we got up yesterday morning. there was another, lawsuit. to vacate the rules that the state board of elections had put forth on how to deal with absentee ballots and deficiencies within absentee ballot and the process to cure those deficiencies. So [00:26:00] everybody who's eligible to vote that their vote counts.

[00:26:04] Well, then in the afternoon, I like about, four 30, four 45. We got word that a judge had vacated that request for the stay of those rules. And now the new rules are back in place. That's 

[00:26:22] JJ: [00:26:22] confusing, John. 

[00:26:24] John Autry: [00:26:24] It is man. It can swing 180 the day to day and people are, People are already voting absentee. 

[00:26:36] JJ: [00:26:36] Right?

[00:26:37] John Autry: [00:26:37] Right. We have like a 90 some thousand ballots that have already been passed and accepted by the state board of elections. And, and don't get me wrong. 97% of those ballots have been accepted as that remaining 3% has some deficiencies with them and the board of elections. And being mindful of the [00:27:00] issues around the pandemic.

[00:27:01] And we're just talking about things like, okay, the witness signed it, the voters signed it, but the witness it print out their name, 

[00:27:11] JJ: [00:27:11] little things, but they make a difference though. 

[00:27:14] John Autry: [00:27:14] But it makes a difference in the, you know, how that board of elections processes, that balance got a hundred counties in North Carolina and every County has its own County board of elections who is accepting those ballots.

[00:27:29] And that board meets to determine whether that ballot meets will be criteria to be accepted, or whether there is a deficiency to be identified. If those denim deficiencies qualify to be cured by the voter.

[00:27:48] JJ: [00:27:48] What John, I mean, I'm sure your constituents, your friends, people there, they come to you for advice. When it comes to this, what kind of advice are you giving them? When it comes to voting right [00:28:00] now, what do you need to do? 

[00:28:01] John Autry: [00:28:01] Make a plan. So you need to make a plan on how they're going to vote, because they're going to vote by asking seatbelt.

[00:28:08] They need to get that ballot and then they can get it in the mail. I'm saying by at least October 15th. I agree. Now, now you can, now in North Carolina ballot can be accepted. Up to nine days after the date of the general election, 

[00:28:27] JJ: [00:28:27] that scares me. 

[00:28:28] John Autry: [00:28:28] And as long as it was postmarked before election day, it can be counted.

[00:28:35] Here's an example. We have a colleague here in Mecklenburg County, a representative Rachel Hunt. Does that name ring a bell with you? 

[00:28:47] JJ: [00:28:47] Ah, yeah. I think somebody has been in politics for a long time in North Carolina with the name? Yeah, 

[00:28:54] John Autry: [00:28:54] governor Jim HOD, the only North Carolina [00:29:00] governor to serve 16 years.

[00:29:02] Wow. 

[00:29:03] JJ: [00:29:03] I 

[00:29:03] John Autry: [00:29:03] remember consecutive term in the eighties and then two more in the night. And anyway, she was up against a. a very prominent, Republican, incumbent who, sat on the front front row of the legislature, you know, that's the pecking order. They're the ones with the grease and the juice. 

[00:29:25] JJ: [00:29:25] Right.

[00:29:26] John Autry: [00:29:26] So, and, she won her election, but it wasn't until six or seven days later. That the election was called because of the absentee ballots that were still coming in and they know what ballots went out and are waiting for them to come in. They all have a unique barcode. They can identify the voter with, and she won that race by 44 votes.

[00:29:54] JJ: [00:29:54] My goodness, that just goes to show you, you got to get out [00:30:00] and do it and vote. 

[00:30:02] John Autry: [00:30:02] Yep. So if you're going to vote by asking, see, do it that way early voting in North Carolina starts October 15th, and we're fortunate that we've got the majority party to go along with some minimum level of expanding the early voting period due that the pandemic.

[00:30:21] So, previously there had only been one Sunday during the early voting period, voting was allowed. This cycle are going to be three, here in, in Charlotte and now around the state, we call that souls, 

[00:30:39] JJ: [00:30:39] get him out there, roll them souls through the pole. I don't care how you get there. You need to get there.

[00:30:45] Hey John, I'm going to take another quick break. And when we come back, because that segment was very important to me from the standpoint of the voting thing, because you know, I'm all about it. I talk about it and I would just hope [00:31:00] people heed our advice, but we're going to be back in a minute to kind of wrap all this stuff up.

[00:31:04] Cause I still got, we gotta talk about cheering grandchildrens. And all those kinds of things. Cause those are the things that make you laugh and smile. Hey folks, we're coming back in just a minute with more of the Jeff Johnson. So John archery with me, we'll be right back

[00:31:20] John Autry: [00:31:20] right now. One 

[00:31:21] JJ: [00:31:21] in five 

[00:31:22] John Autry: [00:31:22] eligible people in this country are not even registered to vote. And I know it's not because people don't 

[00:31:28] JJ: [00:31:28] care. We all 

[00:31:30] John Autry: [00:31:30] care. The only way to make change in this country is to get out and vote for the change you're looking for. 

[00:31:37] JJ: [00:31:37] What if this year 

[00:31:38] John Autry: [00:31:38] we actually did that. What if this year, every eligible American decided to step up and be a voter?

[00:31:45] What can actually happen when we all vote? Imagine the kind of leaders we can elect leaders who are committed to creating a better world for my girls. 

[00:31:56] JJ: [00:31:56] When we all 

[00:31:57] John Autry: [00:31:57] vote, we have the power to shape [00:32:00] the future. My father was deported when I was eight years old. If you can't vote, 

[00:32:04] JJ: [00:32:04] you said

[00:32:07] translate.

[00:32:12] John Autry: [00:32:12] I spoke today, not tomorrow, not the next day, but today 

[00:32:16] JJ: [00:32:16] that means all of us. 

[00:32:17] John Autry: [00:32:17] When we all know that's how change happens in America.

[00:32:31] JJ: [00:32:31] Welcome back everybody. It's your boy, JJ. Having a great time with my good friend, John archery representative democratic representative from the 100th district of the North Carolina house. John, we've been talking about a lot of crazy stuff. We've been talking about how we met the vote politics, but let's get down to the real.

[00:32:54] Meat of what this is all about on grandchildren. Incredible. 

[00:33:02] [00:33:00] John Autry: [00:33:02] You 

[00:33:02] JJ: [00:33:02] are. Oh my Lord. 

[00:33:05] John Autry: [00:33:05] If I'd have known how much fun they were out with, 

[00:33:08] JJ: [00:33:08] that's what I'm saying. Look, I don't have grandchildren, but I don't, you know, me and kids, I'm a major kid. I mean, I don't care where they are, what they do. I love them. You, I know you too.

[00:33:22] Your ties with your grandchildren are so important while your family in general, let's just, you know, your whole family. Cause I don't want to get any of, I don't want to get the fair Rebecca mad at me. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't want no 

[00:33:39] John Autry: [00:33:39] pain. 

[00:33:41] JJ: [00:33:41] Yes. And you might be find yourself up on the tree of woe if you do that.

[00:33:47] But yeah. With all of that said, is that kind of your you're away CIS to go to, to get away from all the craziness. Talk about that a little bit. 

[00:33:59] John Autry: [00:33:59] Let me just [00:34:00] tell you that when I'm in session in Raleigh. Yeah. I stay with our son. We have three daughters and one son and he's the youngest and he just turned 41 in August.

[00:34:14] So it's unbelievable, but I don't have any children in their thirties anymore. He has, he has two boys and, Jude will be eight on the 21st of this month. And Ben was, four in may and they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. And the beauty of staying with him is. That no matter how crazy, how aggravated, how frustrated, how you know, how the feed is.

[00:34:51] Sometimes I feel when I walk out of the legislative building at the end of the day, I can go to his house and get [00:35:00] down on the floor and play hot wheels or some crazy game that they've concocted or just. Watch a crazy animated show, head over heels about our standby while, Jude plays Minecraft or what have you, but it just centers you and settles me and provides me with that rock that I can lean on every day that I am up there fighting the people's battles.

[00:35:37] I 

[00:35:38] JJ: [00:35:38] know exactly what you mean. I mean, just that, just knowing that's what you're fighting for. You know what I mean? 

[00:35:44] John Autry: [00:35:44] Yeah. When I, when I first ran and was elected to the Solon water conservation district board of supervisors County in 2006, I wanted to have a positive impact on my [00:36:00] community. And since the grandchildren have come along, My focus is now about what kind of world I am going to leave behind for them.

[00:36:12] Will they be able to fulfill themselves and realize their fullest potential and be productive members of our society? That is my hope. When I like to say that we all sit in the shade of trees. We didn't play. I'm just trying to get some nice seasonings in the ground so that my grandchildren will have ample shade to fulfill themselves with their there.

[00:36:34] JJ: [00:36:34] I'm telling you, I have seen those boys grow up and, and, and from the pictures and I am just. I love it. I love seeing the smiles. I love seeing your smile when you're holding them up and they're doing something silly to you and you just let them do it. I mean, you don't know what, what did you do? You just, you just go with the flow.

[00:36:53] It's it's, it's that, that part of life that keeps you who you are, but let me also ask you about this, [00:37:00] you know, you and a love of music. Oh, boy. Do we share a love of music? I mean, I could tell some stories, but I ain't gonna, if they want stories big, we'll have to pay for that. But yeah, your record collection, I remember back in the day.

[00:37:21] When we met each other and I would come over to your house and I look at your record collection and I just thought, Holy is this, all this God does is buy albums and vinyl. And since the time we've left, I can only imagine that that collection has grown. Talk to me about the love of music and how it helps you through 

[00:37:39] John Autry: [00:37:39] the day.

[00:37:42] Well, I I'm, I'm really passionate about three things. politics. My grandchildren and music and music has, you know, since like one of [00:38:00] the first things I can ever remember on television was Elvis Presley. And, everything that came from that has, Impacted me about the way I perceive so much of the world about the way I interact with other people.

[00:38:24] And it's a, it's a, it's like glue for the life. I mean, you can remember the first time you heard that song and where you were and who was with you. Gosh, when was the last time I talked to that person, let me get them on the phone and ring their bell a little bit. You know, it's just kinda like a touchstone to keep you in line with where you've come from, where you are and what you're doing.

[00:39:00] [00:39:00] Going to be doing tomorrow. Yeah. It's probably such a, an important cultural map. I love literature and you know how crazy I am about cinema. Oh, 

[00:39:13] JJ: [00:39:13] you're off the charts about that, 

[00:39:15] John Autry: [00:39:15] but you know, I can take my music with me for those three hours that I'm driving to Raleigh. 

[00:39:22] JJ: [00:39:22] Yep. Yep. Well, not only do you take your music with you?

[00:39:26] Orally from the CDs or digitally. However you do it, you you're still playing a guitar, aren't you, 

[00:39:32] John Autry: [00:39:32] you're still playing it. Listen, I'll make a lot of noise

[00:39:38] and have some good cars. And I have a caustic and electric, some bandage, amplifiers, treasure. but you know, I tell people, they say, well, you're playing. I said, yeah. And you know what? I, I have mastered the guitar to the level that I had when I was [00:40:00] probably 27 years old. 

[00:40:04] JJ: [00:40:04] Hey, but gum, you're good at 27. I'm one of the best ones you ever heard, 

[00:40:10] John Autry: [00:40:10] but it's great to

[00:40:17] bring in and put it on a phone. Eight or nine and just where it starts to the store, you know, that nice creamy sounds, those old amplifiers and a pair of single coil pickup, sweet music to my ear. And I. I probably can't hear the full range 

[00:40:39] JJ: [00:40:39] a long time ago. I used to sit in those rooms with you and we'd be yelling at each other across the room.

[00:40:46] What did you say? Well, some crazy stuff, but it was, so it was just so heartwarming and, and, and we bonded from music. We bonded from the, the, the [00:41:00] relationships and things that we've known. And that is why I am so proud to call you my friend. And I'm excited and, and seriously, I'm going to bring, you know, I want to get back into Charlotte somehow some way, and you and I are going to hook up, I'm going to bring my guitar and my, I got a techno this speak, this, this, this, this amp, a little practice amp.

[00:41:19] It's by it's by a company called positive grid. I want people to know about it and it's called the spark amp and you can go and check it out. But it is one of the greatest amps ever seen. And we're going to jam a little bit. There's no doubt about that. But John, what I want people to do is I'd like for you to give them your website, ways they can get in touch with you and things like that.

[00:41:39]because people need to know you. So please. 

[00:41:44] John Autry: [00:41:44] Sure. It's pretty simple as John, all three thoughts, Tom. That's my campaign. And electives website is a great site. You can also find me on the Northland general assembly's website. you can, [00:42:00] connect with my office through that. And you can, you can also review the bills that I have filed and bills that I have sponsored and kind of get some idea of the kinds of work that I'm interested in and trying to.

[00:42:16]advanced here in North Carolina. 

[00:42:18] JJ: [00:42:18] Fantastic. My friend, I thank you for taking the time to talk to your boy a little bit and get hooked back up reconnected because we're going to get back together. No doubt, but thank you so much, John. I really appreciate it. 

[00:42:33] John Autry: [00:42:33] Jeffrey has been a, such a joy to connect with you.

[00:42:37] And like I told you the other day after we talked for so long that, you can tell the real true friends that you had in your life, no matter how far apart you are or how long it has been, as soon as you get back together. It's just like it was yesterday. 

[00:42:52] JJ: [00:42:52] The foolishness starts to ensue. 

[00:42:57] John Autry: [00:42:57] It 

[00:42:57] JJ: [00:42:57] does. And I love it, [00:43:00] John.

[00:43:00] Thank you so much. All right. 

[00:43:02] John Autry: [00:43:02] Thank you. You're welcome. 

[00:43:03] JJ: [00:43:03] Talk to you soon. Folks, you've been listening to the Jeff Johnson show and I truly appreciate it. Thank you for listening. Make sure you check out my website. Get JJ now.com. Tell your friends about it. Come back and talk a little bit more with me or listen a little bit more with me because we're not talking really.

[00:43:19] I'm doing all the talking, but Hey, join me and I really appreciate each and every one of you listening, have a great day. Everybody we'll see you again soon. It's the Jeff Johnson show brought to you by OT e@ofthisearthglobal.com of this earth. global.com clothing connection O T E.