THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 19, 1995 TAG: 9512190293
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
A former aide to Rep. Walter Jones Jr. says he will challenge his one-time boss in next year's congressional election.
George Parrott worked for Jones in his failed 1992 campaign against Eva Clayton and served as a special assistant to Secretary of State Rufus Edmisten.
The two have since had a falling out over Jones' decision to switch his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Parrott later filed a lawsuit against Jones seeking repayment of a $6,336 loan. Parrott dropped the lawsuit when Jones paid back the money.
Parrott said his decision to challenge Jones was not related to the dispute. He said he is entering the 3rd District race reluctantly.
``I know this is going to be a mammoth undertaking,'' Parrott said.
Parrott, a Democrat, said he hopes the popularity of Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. will encourage voters to take a new look at his party.
``They've cut taxes for the richest, and scaled back Medicare and Medicaid,'' Parrott said of congressional Republicans. ``When people start feeling these cuts by summer, hopefully they will look at the Democratic Party again.'' by CNB