THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240242
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Despite the Republican revolution in November, northeastern North Carolina remains a bastion of Democratic strength in the state legislature with Democrats firmly in control of most legislative districts in the region.
In 1995, Democrats are in firm control of a 16-county area generally north of the Pamlico River and east of Beaufort County, where they will hold all but three seats.
But the upcoming session of the General Assembly will still bring changes to northeastern North Carolina.
The most significant change in the region's legislative delegation will be the absence of longtime state Rep. Vernon G. James, a Pasquotank County Democrat. James headed the powerful House Agriculture Committee and led the battle for funding in that chamber for regional agencies and projects ranging from an agriculture research station in Plymouth to the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City.
When the Democrats lost control of the House, Speaker Daniel T. Blue, a Wake County Democrat, became just another member. That means Sen. Marc Basnight, one of the party's more conservative leaders, will carry the burden of the Democratic Party for the next two years.
Sen. Frank Ballance, D-Warren, whose 2nd Senate District abuts Basnight's, will be the new majority whip in the Senate. Sen. Beverly Perdue, a Craven County Democrat, has told her hometown newspaper that she expects to become the first woman to head one of the legislature's powerful money committees.
In the House, three Republican sophomores from eastern North Carolina will see their clout increased.
Reps. Jean Preston of Carteret County, John Nichols of Craven County and Zeno Edwards of Beaufort County, elected in 1992, will move up from the back rows.
All three may head committees or subcommittees when the legislature convenes.
Meanwhile, Rep.-elect W.C. ``Bill'' Owens of Pasquotank County and other northeastern House Democrats will adjust to lesser roles than they had hoped before the Nov. 8 election.
Owens had been expected to move up quickly in the legislature thanks to his close ties with Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and Basnight. But as a freshman member of the minority party in the House, his role will be diminished at least for the next two years.
But Owens is optimistic that he can succeed in promoting a bipartisan agenda.
``The Republicans have treated me just fine, so far,'' said Owens in a recent interview. ``I'm not going to vote party line. . . . I'm going to vote on the issues.'' by CNB