THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170476
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Eastern North Carolina Republicans are vying for three top spots in the GOP hierarchy that will govern the House of Representatives.
Rep. N. Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston, a Smithfield lawyer, is running unopposed for majority leader. Rep. John M. Nichols, R-Craven, a New Bern mortgage banker, is one of five seeking the post of majority whip, and Rep. Carolyn B. Russell of Goldsboro is one of five running for speaker pro tem.
The posts are among five top party positions in the House that will be filled when Republican legislators meet in Salisbury this weekend.
Daughtry, 53, has served one term in the House and two terms in the Senate. He was considered a leading candidate for minority leader before the GOP took control of the House and Republicans faced the task of selecting the speaker and other top House officers.
Nichols, 50, has completed his first term in the legislature. He was one of the first legislators to propose a ``three-strikes-and-you're out'' law to impose life sentences on criminals convicted of three violent crimes; he received widespread support in the legislature for his proposal.
Nichols, considering a run for lieutenant governor in 1996, is opposed by Reps. Gene G. Arnold of Rocky Mount, Robert C. ``Robin'' Hayes of Mount Pleasant, Julia C. Howard of Mocksville and Larry Linney, a newly elected legislator from Asheville.
Russell, 50, has completed two terms in the legislature and is opposed by Reps. Theresa H. Esposito of Winston-Salem, Larry T. Justus of Hendersonville, Connie K. Wilson of Charlotte and Stephen W. Wood of High Point.
``Everybody who's running is qualified and all of us are good friends,'' Nichols said in an interview Tuesday from his New Bern office. ``If I don't win, I will support the team.''
The House Republicans also are scheduled to nominate candidates for speaker and joint House and Senate caucus leader.
Rep. Harold J. Brubaker, 48, an Asheboro businessman, is unopposed for speaker after Rep. Robert Brawley withdrew from the race earlier this week.
The House is scheduled to elect its leaders when the General Assembly convenes Jan. 25. Since the Republicans hold a majority of seats in that chamber, the nominees selected Saturday probably will be the winners of the posts when the full House votes next year.
Also scheduled to meet Saturday are the Senate Republicans who hold 24 of 50 seats in that chamber.
Sens. Betsy L. Cochrane, a seven-term legislator from Advance, and Donald R. Kincaid, a 14-term legislator from Lenoir, are scheduled to seek the post of minority leader in that chamber.
Senate Democrats, who are expected to nominate Sen. Marc Basnight of Manteo to a second term as president pro tem, have not set a date for their caucus, a spokesman for Basnight said Tuesday. by CNB