THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050607
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
At 2:12 p.m. on a brisk, bright Wednesday, Republican Walter Jones Jr. took office as the Congressman from North Carolina's 3rd District.
Jones, 51, a Farmville businessman, follows in the footsteps of his late father, Walter Jones Sr., a Democrat who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 26 years. The younger Jones' office is only a few steps from his father's in the Cannon House Office Building.
``It's a wonderful, special day,'' Jones said. ``This is a special day for America and for the people of the 3rd District of North Carolina.''
Jones, a Republican who defeated incumbent Democrat Martin Lancaster in the November general election, said a variety of emotions flooded his mind as he took the oath of office from new House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
``I have the privilege, thanks to the people of the 3rd District, to serve in the same body where my father served for so many years. My first priority will be to give the people of the 3rd District the same kind of constituent service my father gave to them while he was here.''
Jones, who will serve on the House National Security Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, said he is putting the finishing touches on staff selections for his Washington and his district offices.
Jones' administrative assistant, Glen Downs, said the orientation for the new staff will be on constituent service.
``When a staff member is working on the National Security Committee, his major focus will be on the military bases in Northeastern North Carolina and the families who live in and around those bases. Our priorities will be more toward our constituents and less toward a legislative agenda.''
However, when it comes to legislation, Jones said the new Congress' top priority will be the passage of bills promised by Republicans.
``I plan to work with the leadership to enact the legislation outlined in the Contract With America in the first 100 days of the term,'' Jones said. ``We may not be able to pass all of it, but I think we should be able to pass several of the bills.''
A large number of visitors crowded into Jones' office Wednesday afternoon, including many constituents from the district. Among the well-wishers were 43 residents of Northeastern North Carolina who chartered a bus at Currituck and returned home after the ceremony.
``This is an overwhelming responsibility,'' Jones said. ``Because the people spoke in November, we had a revolution at the ballot box and not in the streets. This is an exciting time to be in Washington.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Walter Jones Jr., a Republican from North Carolina's 3rd District,
is sworn in during a ceremonial re-creation on Capitol Hill
Wednesday by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The actual swearing
in took place earlier in the day on the House floor.
by CNB