THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080410
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Challenger Ike McRee and incumbent District Judge Edgar Barnes were in a tight race Tuesday night, based on unofficial results from the seven-county district.
Buoyed by a strong showing in his home county Pasquotank, McRee had a narrow lead over Barnes 4,752 to 4,362. McRee is the county attorney in Pasquotank. But nearly half the votes in Barnes' home, Dare County, were still being counted at press time.
McRee carried Currituck County by 20 votes, 945 to 925.
In unofficial results, Barnes defeated McRee in Camden and Chowan counties. He carried Camden County 736 to 612, and defeated McRee in Chowan County 577 to 469. With eight of 16 precincts reporting in Barnes' home county of Dare, he led in that county, 827 to 335.
Barnes, 36, was appointed to the district judgeship in 1993. However, that appointment was delayed 22 months when the U.S. Justice Department challenged the creation of the seven-county 1st Judicial District. The challenge was withdrawn in May 1995. Barnes took office in June.
Barnes is a graduate of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and North Carolina Central Law School in Durham. Barnes' platform included a pledge to bring a greater sense of morality and ethics to the judicial system, as well as greater private sector involvement in preventing juvenile crime.
McRee, a graduate of St. Andrews' College and Campbell University School of Law, campaigned on a platform of bringing greater public access to the judiciary. Also, he advocated more community involvement in dealing with at-risk youth. McRee currently serves as the Pasquotank County Attorney.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA RETURNS RESULTS
JUDGESHIPS NORTH CAROLINA by CNB