THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080412
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
With nine of Dare County's 16 precincts reporting, incumbent Board of Commissioners members Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett and Clarence Skinner were well in the lead and challenger Martin Booth appeared destined to oust Commissioner Samuel O. ``Sammy''Smith during the Democratic primary elections.
In the Dare County Board of Education race, challenger Pamela ``Susie'' Walters and incumbent school board member Sam A. Twiford seemed destined for wins with commanding leads after nine of 16 precincts had reported.
Midgett was beating challenger Jack Quidley for the District 4 seat 967 to 485 at press time with seven precincts still to be tallied. Skinner was leading political newcomer Joseph Hassell, husband of board member Shirley Hassell, by 962 votes to 421 in the District 1 race. And Booth had 842 votes to Smith's 643 in the District 3 competition.
In the Republican primaries, Richard Johnson was beating Hiram C. Gallop 415 to 155 for the District 1 seat.
Gallop, 83, was recently arrested and charged with nine felony sexual offenses against minors, including statutory rape. He has been unavailable for comment.
The District 2 challenge for the Republican nomination showed Steve Sawin leading with 301 votes while Bill Stover was in second place with 169 votes and Bill Hauschild was behind with 128 votes.
Incumbent Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr. was uncontested on the Democratic ticket for District 2.
Libertarian candidate Tommy G. Perkins of Kill Devil Hills was unopposed in the same district.
Republican Cheryl Byrd was unchallenged in her bid for the District 3 ticket, as was the Republican candidate in District 4, Douglas J. Price.
The commission has been controlled by Democrats for the last eight years.
Seven commissioners are elected to staggered four-year terms.
In the Board of Education race, Walters led the Rev. David J. Daniels, the incumbent, 1340 to 942 in the District 2 race. Twiford had 1304 votes while his challengers, Kenneth D. Johnson and Clarence E. Lewis had 688 and 170 votes, respectively.
Incumbent Board of Education member Allen L. Burrus of Hatteras Village, who was running unopposed to regain his seat in District 4, easily won another four-year term.
Candidates elected Tuesday won their seats on the seven-member board and do not have to go back on the ballot in November. They will begin serving their terms in December. Although candidates ran by district, they were elected by all county voters in this at-large election.
Issues during the school board race included building a third Dare County high school to alleviate overcrowding at Manteo High, adding new technology to schools and providing a comprehensive curriculum throughout the Outer Banks' eight public schools.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA DARE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' RACE
RESULTS by CNB