THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260402
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
At 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, with his supporters whooping it up at a nearby hotel reception, Rep. Bill Owens of Elizabeth City stayed in the House to watch the activities on the floor.
First day on the job, and Owens was already tied up by legislative business.
``It's an important day for him and his family,'' Owens said as he watched the ceremonial swearing-in of 38th District Rep. Harold Brubaker, the first Republican speaker of the House in North Carolina this century.
``The business of the House is more important than a reception for me,'' Owens added later as he walked briskly through the parking lot to his party at the Holiday Inn Downtown.
A cheer rose from more than 75 well-wishers as Owens, longtime commissioner of Pasquotank County, entered the room. Most of the greeters had made a special trip by chartered bus from the Elizabeth City area to watch Owens be sworn in as the 1st District representative.
He succeeds Vernon G. James, who retired after decades of duty in the House.
At mid-morning, Owens had entered the red-carpeted House chamber with the energy of a first-day elementary school student. Like hundreds of members, media, staff and family that swarmed through the room, Owens bumped, jostled and greeted those he encountered while working his way to his fourth-row seat.
He had spoken with pride earlier this week in announcing his seat number, 45, an assignment that placed him in subtle prestige ahead of 25 freshman Republicans. It's the second-best freshman seat in the House, a nice place to be for a Democrat in a Republican-controlled environment.
``This is my seat, right here,'' the beaming Owens said, patting the desk as he spoke. ``Sat in it last week. Got a little practice.''
Practice became reality at noon when the gavel sounded and Owens as the lst District representative was the first to stand and pronounce ``Present'' in the session's first foll call. With his wife, Cynthia, holding the Bible engraved with Owens' name, he joined in the simultaneous affirmation of legislative duty.
It didn't take long for the House to stop speaking as one and turn to partisan wrangling. And the very first agenda item presented a dilemma for the new lawmaker from Elizabeth City.
Owens, who has said many times he will work with Republicans and Democrats alike and had indicated he would support Brubaker for speaker, was caught in the middle by an 11th-hour Democratic decision to put up Rep. Jim Black for speaker. Owens said the Democratic caucus in December had voted not to oppose Brubaker's impending nomination.
``I'm gonna vote for Brubaker,'' said Owens, adding that he needed to stick to his pledge of bipartisan cooperation. Owens was one of about a dozen Democrats who broke ranks and supported the Republican.
But when it came to approving the rules for this session, Owens stuck with the prevailing Democratic sentiment. In two hours of debate, Owens supported five Democratic amendments, all of which were defeated. He voted against the rules resolution, which passed 81 to 37.
Although Owens, 47, is new - he had to ask for directions as he hurried out of the legislative building - he has many of the advantages of an old hand.
Principal among them is his secretary, Marie Sheets, who worked 15 years for Vernon James and has a reputation for knowing the ropes in Raleigh.
``She's very familiar with the constituents in the area,'' Owens said.
``It's good that she'll be here to guide me along.
Sheets was with Owens briefly on the floor before the session opened, going over last-minute details as the jumbled din of the other settling lawmakers surrounded them.
When Owens broke free from the session and entered his reception, he thanked his supporters for making the trip to Raleigh and pledged to do his best for them.
``I know I'll make some mistakes,'' Owens said to a crowd of elected officials, local party leaders and community activists, ``but I'll certainly be here to represent you as you want to be represented.''
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATURE by CNB