Talk:James Holshouser/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Steelkamp (talk · contribs) 13:12, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

Hello, I will be reviewing this article over the coming days. Good luck. Steelkamp (talk) 13:12, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

Well written
Lead:
 * where he focused on restructuring government and higher education institutions and drug abuse legislation. – This could use a serial comma. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.
 * Could the general election be linked to 1972 North Carolina gubernatorial election? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.

Early life
 * His mother was a registered member of the Democratic Party, though she eventually switched to independent status before becoming a Republican in 1972. – Is the term "independent" used for people who aren't politicians? I would switch this to His mother was a registered member of the Democratic Party, though she eventually left the party before becoming a Republican in 1972. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * "Independent" is a matter of voter registration affiliation in NC, it doesn't have to do with or entail any actual political activity (I'm currently registered as an independent). But your wording is more clear and communicates the same, so I've adopted it.

Early political career:
 * Throughout his tenure he focused on restructuring government and higher education institutions and drug abuse legislation. – Same as above. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.

Gubernatorial career:
 * He decided to run in spite of his doctor's concerns about his health, as he was suffering from kidney disease. – Change this to Suffering from kidney disease, he ran in spite of his doctor's concerns. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.
 * Is there a page that Piedmont could link to? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * There should be one for the region as a whole, but currently is not. I'll link urban Piedmont to Piedmont Crescent.
 * Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, and Wilmington – Could these be linked? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.
 * Would it be better to say "black people" rather than "blacks"? Not sure what the consensus is in the United States. Here in Australia, the term Aboriginal people is preferred over Aboriginals. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Changed to "black voters". It's not considered very polite, but "blacks", "whites", etc. is still sometimes used for convenience.
 * including five-year license plates – It's unclear to me what this means? Could it be clarified. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Meaning license plates that last five years before having to be renewed. I know it's not ideal but I'm not sure how to concisely rephrase that. -Indy beetle (talk) 07:05, 17 July 2022 (UTC)

Verifiable with no original research

 * but Allen, Ramsey, and Hunt—all one day hoping to be governor—stopped these challenges. – Did these guys explicitly say they were hoping to be governor, or is the source just speculating they want to be governor. We can't know for sure unless they actually say they wanted to be governor. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Well with Hunt it's obvious, since he ran for governor in 1976 and went on to become North Carolina's longest-serving governor. I'm not as familiar with the careers and aspirations of Allen and Ramsey, but I don't doubt Tom Eamon's credibility (he quite clearly says that the three were "all hoping one day to be governor").
 * My source spotchecks went well. Steelkamp (talk) 07:49, 19 July 2022 (UTC)

Broad in its coverage

 * On that bit about the awarding of patronage, how was this received by the electorate? Sounds like corruption to me, but did voters care? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * I've found nothing of significance in the database of North Carolina newspapers. There were some complaints when Holshouser's appointee for labor commissioner fired six Democrats, but that was a back and forth between the commissioner and the fired employees with each accusing the other of political motivations. Patronage hiring was incredibly common in North Carolina at this time (Holshouser's successor, Jim Hunt, was somewhat infamous for stacking the transportation department with supporters) and it wasn't until after more Republicans kept getting elected that both parties agreed to institute some civil service protections for government workers to prevent unnecessary turnover. My guess is that the mass firings were met with a degree of public anticipation and apathy.
 * Do we know his mother's maiden name? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Dayvault is the maiden last name, what original middle name she had is not easily found.
 * Do we know the school/s he attended before high school? Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * No, that information usually isn't available for these types of figures short of a full-length biography being printed.

Illustrated, if possible

 * Images could do with alt text. Steelkamp (talk) 09:44, 16 July 2022 (UTC)
 * Done.

General
Ok, I'm satisfied the criteria are met. Passing the review now. Steelkamp (talk) 07:49, 19 July 2022 (UTC)