THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 24, 1996            TAG: 9601240419
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

CULPEPPER HAS RUNNING SHOES ON; WAITS WORD FROM SAWYER

Sometime this week, Pasquotank Commissioner Davis M. Sawyer Jr. probably will say ``I do not choose to run'' to former Mayor Levin B. Culpepper, and that will clear the way for Culpepper to seek Sawyer's Democratic seat on the county board.

``I wouldn't run against Sheriff Sawyer under any conditions,'' Culpepper told close friends Tuesday. ``But if he isn't in the commissioner's race, I'll be giving it a lot of thought.

``. . . A whole lot,'' Culpepper added.

That kind of news gets around fast in Democratic circles and it wasn't long before Sawyer, 68, a revered former Pasquotank sheriff, hurried to open the door for Culpepper in the May primary:

``I'm going to sit this election out,'' Sawyer said, ``Maybe later on, if folks still want me, I may take another look at politics - but not this year.

``And, anyhow, Levin Culpepper is a fine man; he's been my friend for a long time.''

Sawyer, who was top law officer in Pasquotank County for nearly 30 years, was appointed last Feb. 6 to fill a county board vacancy created when state Rep. W.C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr. was elected to the General Assembly.

Culpepper, 73, for many years has been an acknowledged leader of conservative Democrats in northeastern North Carolina.

He has been at various times an Elizabeth City councilman, the town's mayor, postmaster of the city and a member of the board of Elizabeth City State University. He serves on numerous trustee panels, boards and civic organizations.

Culpepper lives on Baxter Street in Elizabeth City, but he said this week he plans to move to the Rivershore Road section of the community.

Pasquotank County Election Board Supervisor Glenda Crane said she thought Culpepper would still reside in the Northern Inside election district that is represented by Sawyer.

Crane said that, so far, no other Democrats have indicated they plan to enter the race for Sawyer's seat.

Meanwhile, James A. Beales Jr., chairman of the Pasquotank County Republican Party, said he expected ``a strong GOP candidate'' will be in this year's county board contest.

Beales, an Elizabeth City attorney, declined to identify possible Republican challengers. Dr. Jerome H. Goldschmidt, an Elizabeth City ophthalmologist, has been frequently mentioned as a candidate. by CNB