THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509230294
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
A former political opponent says Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. was elected in violation of state residency laws.
Owens' response?
``Hogwash.''
Bill Stover of Kill Devil Hills has asked the North Carolina Secretary of State and the Attorney General to investigate Owens' election to the board.
Owens represents District 2, which includes Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Colington. Stover claims that Owens lives in Manteo, in violation of state law that requires candidates to live in the electoral district they represent.
``This particular infraction is so flagrant as to suggest violation not only of election laws, but laws dealing with fraud and conspiracy,'' said Stover, who lost to Owens in 1992. He has requested a State Bureau of Investigation probe.
Owens, a former Nags Head restaurateur, acknowledged that he and his wife have a house in Manteo, but said his permanent residence has always been Nags Head.
``Ever since I was 13, I've lived a nomadic lifestyle,'' Owens said. ``I sleep in Manteo. . . . But I shave at the beach. I shower at the beach. My credit card bills come to mypost office box in Nags Head.''
Stover said he has been approached by several residents who expressed concern about Owens' residency.
``This was brought up after the last election, but it kind of died down. But I'm a Yankee and I'm a Republican living in a Democratic stronghold,'' Stover said. ``I feel it's getting about time for a big change.''
Stover denied charges by Democrats that his complaints are merely political sour grapes from a loser.
``If that's the way the ball bounces, let it go that way,'' Stover said. ``We just need to get it cleared up so that it doesn't happen in the future.''
Owens said he will abide by whatever action the state agencies may take.
``I have nothing to hide,'' he said. ``If the Board of Elections or the Attorney General says it's illegal, then I'll step down. I'll leave it up to them.''
Owens said Stover's complaints are politically motivated.
``I don't think you need to clean your windshield to see that,'' Owens said. ``It's obvious.''
Dare County Republican Chairman Danny Gray said that while the party has no involvement in Stover's action, the issue needs to be clarified.
``Several people have asked about the situation, and we think something needs to be done,'' Gray said.
Owens' wife Sarah is on the November municipal election ballot for a seat on the Manteo Board of Commissioners. Stover maintains that Sarah Owens' candidacy makes the residency issue all the more cloudy.
Owens said he is hurt and angry about involving his wife in the political fray.
``I've done a lot of things in my life that I'm not proud of,'' Owens said. ``But I'm proud of and I love my wife. She's very hurt by this. I think she'd be the best thing that ever happened to the town of Manteo.''
This is not the first time the residency issue has surfaced in local politics. In 1994, incumbent U.S. Rep. Martin Lancaster charged that then-challenger Walter Jones Jr. did not live within the boundaries of the 3rd congressional district. Republicans countered that federal law only requires that a congressman reside in the state he represents.
``This is the same principle,'' Gray acknowledged. ``But what matters here is what North Carolina law says.''
The North Carolina Board of Elections and Dare County Elections Supervisor Lynda Midgett could not be reached. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Bill Stover
Robert V. "Bobby" Owens
by CNB