THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 14, 1995 TAG: 9501140168
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
An Elizabeth City State University mathematics professor emerged Friday as the latest candidate in the local Democratic Party's squabble over who will succeed Pasquotank County Commissioner William C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr.
Johnny L. Houston, a 54-year-old Democrat who has been on the ECSU faculty since 1984, is the first African American to enter the race for Owens' seat.
Two well-known white Democrats are in the running for Owens' job. The entrance of Houston, with the enthusiastic support of a large portion of the city's church-going black community, is likely to strain the personal as well as the party loyalties of the six county commissioners who must select Owens' successor.
Owens, who will join the General Assembly this month, was forced to vacate his commissioner's seat.
Elizabeth City blacks number slightly more than 51 percent of nearly 8,000 registered voters within the city limits, according to figures released Jan. 6 by Catherine Perry, supervisor of the Pasquotank County Board of Elections.
But 65 percent of the 15,940 registered voters in the county are white, and only slightly more than 34 percent are black, Perry's figures showed. The move to support Houston is viewed as an effort by the African-American community to reflect the central majority strength of city voters.
``I have been active in community efforts for many years, and this is a logical progression,'' Houston said Friday when his name was put forward by a group of Pasquotank County black ministers meeting at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church.
Houston's selection as a nominee was the first major political move by the Progressive Ministers Coalition, headed by the Rev. John E. Trotman, pastor of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church.
``This is the beginning of a total political program for whites as well as blacks,'' Trotman said. Trotman has been a leader in organizing the Progressive Ministers Coalition as an African-American political action group.
Other ministers in the coalition are the Rev. Ronald V. Butler of Mt. Lebanon A.M.E. Zion Church, the Rev. Joseph Gregory of New Calvary Baptist Church, and the Rev. Charles Foster of Holy Trinity Community Church.
Trotman said the ministers sent word Friday to Catherine Meggs, chairman of the Pasquotank County Democratic Party, that they expected her to offer Houston as a nominee when the county Democratic executive committee meets Jan. 31 to select a successor to Owens.
Meggs then reportedly spent more than an hour with the ministers at Cornerstone Church. One Democrat who was present at the stormy session said the ministers dismissed Meggs' plea for support of a white female candidate she favors, and insisted that only Houston could be the nominee.
Meggs already has tangled with old guard Democrats who want former Sheriff Davis N. Sawyer Jr., 67, selected to succeed Owens. Meggs. A group of younger Democrats is supporting Cecelia ``CeCe'' Cartwright Austin, a popular educator and school administrator. Austin is 60.
There are about 42 members of the county Democratic Party executive committee, made up of elected officials and precinct captains.
When the executive committee members decide on a nominee, the six county commissioners who will remain after Owens is sworn in as the newly elected 1st N.C. House District representative will vote on his successor.
The commissioners are not bound to abide by the committee's recommendation. The only requirement is that the successful nominee must be a Democrat, as is Owens, and must reside in either of the city's predominantly white 1st or 2nd precincts, represented by Owens.
Registered black voters in precincts 1 and 2 number 888. There are 2,340 white voters in the same area, according to the Pasquotank County election rolls.
W.C. Witherspoon is the only black member of the county board. He and three white commissioners gathered in implied support at the courthouse last week when Sawyer formally announced his candidacy. Patsy McGee, the only female on the board, and Chairman Zee B. Lamb did not attend the meeting for Sawyer.
Witherspoon, a revered political leader among blacks and whites alike, said Friday he wants ``to examine the qualifications of all three candidates before making up my mind.'' MEMO: JOHNNY L. HOUSTON
Houston holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Purdue University, and has
other science degrees from Atlanta University and Morehouse College. He
is a full professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer
Science at Elizabeth City State University.
Houston's list of academic awards and achievements covers three
single-spaced pages of his curriculum vitae. He joined ECSU in 1984 and
was vice chancellor for academic affairs from 1984 to 1988. He has
authored at least 20 scientific papers.
Houston lives at 602 W. Main St., Elizabeth City, with his wife,
Virginia Lawrence Houston, and two daughters.
KEYWORDS: PASQUOTANK COUNTY COMMISSIONER by CNB