Republicans want to take control of Legislature
By SCOTT MOONEYHAM, Associated Press Writer
October 29, 2002 11:53 am
Posted on 10/30/2002 6:00:27 AM PST by Constitution Day
Republicans want to take control of Legislature
By SCOTT MOONEYHAM, Associated Press Writer
October 29, 2002 11:53 am
RALEIGH, N.C. -- After more than a year of court battles, voters will finally have their say next week on who should control the state House and Senate for the next two years.
The election could affect everything from tax policy to education spending. But ultimately the results will come down to how people in rural, suburban and city legislative districts feel about local candidates seeking a seat in the 120-member House and 50-member Senate.
"I couldn't tell you who is going to be in the majority, but it is going to be very close," Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine said this week.
Democrats enter the election holding a majority in the both chambers of the General Assembly. In the House, the margin is 62-58; in the Senate, Democrats have a 35-15 advantage.
They had hoped to extend those margins with new legislative districts drawn last fall. But Republicans successfully challenged the plans in court and they were declared unconstitutional. A state judge imposed his own interim districts for this year's election.
"It's been a tough, tough year for Democrats because the party in power draws themselves into an advantage for the next 10 years," said John Davis, executive director of NCFREE, a business-sponsored think-tank that tracks legislative races. "That advantage was taken away."
Now Republicans are looking to cash in by taking control of the chambers.
"When you put all that into the mix, and all the money that the Democrats are putting into the races, it's a nail-biter," said House Minority Leader Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston.
Daughtry predicted that Republicans would control the House with 61 to 68 seats; House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, predicted the Democratic majority would rise to 65 or 66.
Despite the court ruling, the new House districts are still slightly more favorable to Democrats.
"The main thing is that I have recruited pretty good candidates, and they are well-funded," Black said. "So that's why I am so optimistic."
Even Democrats conceded that their margin will shrink in the Senate. Many independent observers believe that the chamber could turn on one or two key races, and that Democrats could even lose control despite their current 20-seat margin.
With the new court-imposed Senate map, Democrats and Republicans hold advantages in voter registration in 22 districts each. The new map has six swing districts.
"I think we will hold one. Obviously, the margin has changed and the whole deal has changed. They did what they could (in court), but I don't believe they did quite enough," said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland.
Rand said he believes that Democrats will ultimately keep control because people are comfortable with the party's role as protectors of public education.
"We honored our historic commitment to education," Rand said. "Look at the last time the Republicans controlled the House and what they did. They tried to cut over $100 million out of the university system."
But Ballantine said he senses that voters blame Democrats for state's budget problems and some of the economic woes.
"People are just tired of Democrats running this state. They control both houses and the governor's office, so they have no excuse," Ballantine said.
With the stakes so high, both the Democrats and Republicans are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in some districts.
Daughtry said Democratic leaders are using their caucus dollars to target some Republicans, including Reps. Marge Carpenter and Mark Crawford, with $40,000 television ad buys.
In the Senate, the spending in a couple of districts -- including the contest between incumbent Democratic Sen. Fountain Odom and Robert Pittenger, both of Charlotte -- is expected to approach $1 million.
Democrats are trying to keep Odom's district in their fold, even though it now favors Republicans.
Republicans are also targeting incumbent Democrats Allen Wellons of Johnston County and Scott Thomas of Craven County.
A race between Republican former state Sen. Tommy Pollard and Democrat Cecil Hargett in District 6 in Onslow and Jones counties is also expected to be close.
In the House, two longtime incumbents -- Democrat Ronnie Smith and Republican Jean Preston -- face each other District 13 in Carteret and Onslow counties.
Democratic Rep. David Redwine of Brunswick, a powerful co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, faces a challenge from Republican Bonner Stiller in a reconfigured District 17 that is less friendly to Democrats.
Rep. Lorene Coates, D-Rowan, faces a battle from a former House member, Republican Charlotte Gardner, in House District 77.
URL for this article: http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-282120.html
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7/16/02 - N.C. primaries at last scheduled for September
7/13/02 - Redistricting Maps approved by Justice Department for North Carolina
7/02/02 - Federal judges deny request to use '01 maps in Legislature (NC redistricting)
6/27/02 - State Redistricting Battle Moves To Washington, D.C.
6/13/02 - NC Senate DemoRATs Retaliate Against Judge, Staff After Redistricting Decision (my title)
6/05/02 - State Supreme Court Denies Motion To Stay Redistricting Decision
6/04/02 - Ashley Stephenson: The man behind (North Carolina) redistricting lawsuit
5/20/02 - (North Carolina) State Lawmakers Being Recalled To Fix Error In Redistricting Maps
5/17/02 - U.S. Supreme Court Denies N.C. Request For Redistricting Stay
4/30/02 - N.C. Supreme Court rejects redistricting (GOP victory)
4/24/02 - A way around proviso (NC Dems seek to amend Constitution to keep redistricting maps)
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The Supreme Court of New Jersey would consider that a hate crime, to judge by their lawless pro-Democratic Party decision regarding Lautenberg.Otherwise, what gave the author of this article the first clue?
Oh Yeah.....our government indoctrination centers are well renowned for their HIGH quality. What are we up to now? 48th out of 50, WOO HOO.......what a crock!
MKM
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