THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 10, 1995 TAG: 9501100308
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Former Pasquotank Sheriff Davis M. Sawyer Jr. plans to tell the world today that he wants to succeed County Commissioner William C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr.
The announcement will directly challenge a group of younger Democratic Party leaders who want an Elizabeth City woman to serve the remaining two years of Owens' term on the county board.
Owens will resign this month to become a member of the N.C. House of Representatives.
``Sheriff Sawyer will make an announcement in the commissioners' room at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the county courthouse,'' said Pasquotank Commissioner Jimmy Dixon Jr., a longtime friend of the former sheriff. Dixon acted as Sawyer's spokesman Monday.
``I supported Sheriff Sawyer a year ago when he told me he was going to retire and I still support him to become a member of the Pasquotank board,'' Dixon said.
Sawyer, 67, confirmed Monday he was ``working on'' the statement. He told friends he has decided to actively seek Owens' job.
``I've been under a lot of pressure from my friends to accept this opportunity if it is offered to me,'' Sawyer said. ``I owe them my gratitude. I will take this occasion to clearly state my position.''
As soon as Owens' resignation from the Pasquotank board becomes official Jan. 25, the county Democratic executive committee will meet to nominate Owens' successor. The executive committee is made up of Democratic precinct captains and other political officials.
The remaining six members of the commissioners' board are then expected to elect the candidate selected by the executive committee. The commissioners are not bound by the executive committee recommendation and may pick their own candidate if they choose.
Sawyer's announcement would split the Pasquotank Democratic party. Many older Democrats have for months urged the widely admired Sawyer to continue his political career as a county commissioner.
But a younger political faction, under the leadership of Catherine Meggs, 32-year-old county party chairman, has been seeking a candidate more tuned into the aims of younger Democrats.
Meggs and her supporters worked actively last November to elect Pasquotank Sheriff Randy Cartwright as Sawyer's successor, and before that they used their influence to help elect Frank R. Parrish as district attorney.
Meggs last Saturday announced she would recommend to the executive committee that Cecelia Cartwright ``CeCe'' Austin, 60, an Elizabeth City educator, be nominated to succeed Owens. Austin was one of several women who have recently been put forward for Owens' job by Meggs and her Democratic allies.
Meggs last week said she was ``certain'' Austin would get the nomination.
Over the weekend, however, several older party leaders, reportedly including some members of the Board of Commissioners, decided Meggs' unilateral efforts to select Owens' successor were out of line.
Even Owens, whose election to the legislature started the squabble, said he was ``surprised'' by Meggs' move to lock up the nomination for Austin.
Meggs herself praised Sawyer in a Monday statement.
``Sheriff Sawyer has had a long and distinguished career in public service,'' said Meggs. ``He will be a strong candidate and the competition is good for our political process.'' by CNB