THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270336
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
For Marc Basnight, a North Carolina state senator from Manteo who prefers deck shoes to neckties, the impending Lake Gaston pipeline settlement is political vindication.
For nearly 20 years, Basnight, who is the president pro tem of the state Senate, has bucked Raleigh administrations that have resolutely opposed any kind of a settlement that would let Virginia Beach have North Carolina water.
``I'm pleased to see this forthcoming agreement between our sister states,'' Basnight said Tuesday night.
``This will bring increased cooperation between our regions and I hope I can help with speedy approval by our legislative branch,'' he added.
Basnight's support of a Lake Gaston settlement was not always a popular stance in Raleigh.
Until very recently, North Carolina's Democratic Gov. James B. Hunt Jr., who started Basnight on his political career, had resolutely fought a Lake Gaston compromise.
When Basnight got into politics as a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation during Hunt's first two terms as governor, the Democratic administration in Raleigh first began putting roadblocks in the way of the pipeline.
From 1984 until 1992, Hunt's successor, Republican Gov. James G. Martin, also blocked the pipeline.
But Basnight, a struggling freshman state senator, saw another option.
``We probably ought to build the pipeline ourselves and sell the water to Virginia Beach,'' Basnight told a meeting of Currituck County officials more than 10 years ago when water shortages threatened development of the Currituck Outer Banks.
But in time, it became clear that many conservative Democrats in northeastern North Carolina, as well Republican businessmen, felt that regional economic cooperation between Hampton Roads and the Albemarle was being impeded by Raleigh's recalcitrance.
The first overt development came three years ago in a speech Basnight made to a group of Elizabeth City leaders.
``I think it's time we settled this dispute with Virginia like good neighbors,'' said Basnight, ``There's no reason why both states can't sit down and resolve our differences.''
For Basnight, it was a dangerous course. The wrath of the Hunt administration could cause immense trouble for Basnight in the General Assembly.
But instead of repercussions, officials in Virginia as well as in Raleigh were soon suggesting conversations on Lake Gaston. Legislators from both states met to talk things over.
Regionalism was in the air, and it had suddenly become popular in Hunt's Democratic administration as well as with Gov. George Allen's Republicans in Virginia.
KEYWORDS: LAKE GASTON PIPELINE NORTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA WATER by CNB