THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994            TAG: 9411090394
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   32 lines

J.C. COLE GRABBING LEAD TO KEEP 1ST DISTRICT BENCH

Partial results from the seven-county 1st Judicial District showed District Judge J.C. Cole rolling to a commanding lead in Dare, Pasquotank and Camden counties.

Cole, 45, was running against Elizabeth City lawyer James A. Beales Jr. Combined Pasquotank/Camden totals showed Cole with a 4,571-to-3,204 lead over Beales. Cole also led in Dare. Other results were not immediately available.

Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. appointed Cole in April to fill the seat vacated by his wife, Janice McKenzie Cole, after she took a job as U.S. attorney for North Carolina's Eastern District.

Cole has 10 years of experience as a federal law enforcement officer and was in private law practice when he was tapped for the bench.

In a move that angered Beales, all seven Democratic sheriffs in the 1st District endorsed Cole, with most weighing in at a well-publicized luncheon late last month. District Attorney Frank R. Parrish also came down for Cole.

Beales campaigned on his experience, noting in ads that he was the only candidate with 17 years under his belt in North Carolina courts, working with domestic and juvenile cases that make up the bulk of district court work.

KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA RESULTS by CNB