THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9601010046
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 117 lines
The wait is nearly over for political junkies champing at the bit for the start of the 1996 election season.
Although the November general election is 11 months away, most candidates for office will need to throw their name into the ring before filing closes on Feb. 5, and campaigns will be in full swing well before the May 7 primary.
The filing period technically opens at noon today, but enthusiastic office-seekers will have to ride out the holiday until county elections offices open Tuesday or Wednesday.
``I expect we're going to come in here Tuesday and they're going to be waiting for us,'' said Linda Page, deputy director for the Pasquotank County Board of Elections. ``This one's going to be tough.''
Virtually every office, from the president of the United States to local registers of deeds, will be up for grabs as the year unfolds. Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms are both up for re-election, as are U.S. Reps. Eva Clayton, D-1st District, and Walter B. Jones Jr., R-3rd District.
Council of State offices such as state superintendent, state treasurer and state auditor will be on the block. All General Assembly seats are open, as are a flurry of county commission and local school board positions.
With a surge of successful Republicans putting teeth into the two-party system in the South and discontent over the federal budget stalemate casting a bad light on the status quo, elections officials are bracing for a heavy workload.
``They've been calling our office since November of '94 to get on the ballot,'' said Johnnie F. McLean, deputy director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections. ``It's going to be a busy year.
``Maybe at least it will create enough interest that the voters will decide to exercise their right to vote.''
Among the sitting politicians eager to get into the fray is Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr., who has already made an appearance at the Pasquotank elections office and said he plans to file Tuesday.
``I certainly have enjoyed serving,'' said Owens, who is finishing his freshman year representing the 1st District in the General Assembly. ``I wouldn't be honest if I told you I enjoyed campaigns, but it's part of the job, so you have to do it.
``I think we spend too much money and resources on campaigns. I've been in office 11 months and one week, and I've got to file for re-election.''
Owens, a Democrat whose district covers Currituck, Pasquotank, Camden and part of Perquimans counties, says he hasn't received notice of anyone who plans to run against him, ``but I'd probably be the last to hear.''
Republicans said Friday they haven't pinned down a candidate for Owens' seat, but several are urging his 1994 opponent, John Schrote of Corolla, to make another run.
``I can't say never,'' Schrote said after a lunch meeting with area Republican leaders. ``There's a lot of contemplation that's necessary. The logistics are tough.
``I hate to see anybody get a free ride.''
There is already talk of a contested Democratic primary for the 86th state House district held by W.T. ``Bill'' Culpepper III. Two Washington County businessmen are reportedly considering a run.
Culpepper, whose district encompasses Dare, Tyrrell, Chowan, parts of Washington and most of Perquimans counties, has been in office since May 1993.
``I enjoy it, I like it,'' Culpepper said. ``I'm trying to learn and trying to do a good job.'' Competition, he said, ``comes with the territory.''
County elections officials say they expect the presidential election to bring many voters to the polls. But local political observers say they expect some fireworks for county offices, as well.
``I'm sure there will be a lot of interest in both commissioners and Board of Education,'' said the director of Dare County's Board of Elections, Lynda Midgett. MEMO: ELECTION FILING PERIOD
The following northeastern officeholders are up for re-election in
1996. The filing period begins Tuesday in most counties and ends at noon
Feb. 5. Election offices' hours vary from county to county.
CAMDEN COUNTY
Register of Deeds: Betty Mae Jones.
County Commissioners: South Mills township, J.C. Rountree; Courthouse
township, Larry G. Lamb; at-large, Samuel K. Shaw Sr.
Board of Education: Kenneth L. Winslow, David E. Meiggs.
CHOWAN COUNTY
North Carolina House of Representatives, 86th District: W.T. ``Bill''
Culpepper III.
Register of Deeds: Susan Rountree.
County Commissioners: District 2, Seat 1, George Jones; District 3,
Seat 1, James Taylor; at-large, Jerry Downum.
CURRITUCK COUNTY
Register of Deeds: Charlene Dowdy.
County Commissioners: Crawford township, Gene A. Gregory; Fruitville
township, Ernie Bowden.
Board of Education: Moyock township, Janet Taylor; Fruitville
township, John E. Barnes.
DARE COUNTY
North Carolina Senate, 1st District: Marc Basnight.
County Commissioners: District 1, Clarence P. Skinner; District 2,
R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr.; District 3, Samuel O. Smith; District 4,
Joseph ``Mack'' Midgett.
Board of Education: District 2, David J. Daniels; District 4, Allen
Burrus; at-large, Sam A. Twiford Jr.
GATES COUNTY
Register of Deeds: Sharon G. Harrell.
County Commissioners: Sunbury district, Hollis F. Creecy; Hobbsville
district, Frank Rountree.
Board of Education: Eure district, Linda D. Eure; Sunbury district,
Dale Saunders.
PASQUOTANK COUNTY
North Carolina House of Representatives, 1st District: W.C. ``Bill''
Owens Jr.
Register of Deeds: Dollie Summerour.
County Commissioners: at-large, Zee B. Lamb; northern inside, Davis
Sawyer; southern outside, Hugh W. Clinkscales.
Board of Education: at-large, Robert Thorne; inside city limits,
Peggy McPherson; outside city limits, Marion Harris Jr. by CNB