THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 52 lines
Some North Carolina Democrats, including a Dare County member of the national platform committee, disagree with President Clinton's anti-tobacco proposals.
Some are skipping the Democratic National Convention that began Monday. But they say their absence from the national gathering in Chicago wasn't prompted by Clinton's anti-smoking policies.
``I just decided I have a lot to do this week,'' said R.V ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., the director of Gov. James B. Hunt's eastern office and a candidate for re-election to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, which he chairs.
On Friday, the president announced a proposal to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reclassify tobacco as a drug. Eastern North Carolina is the heart of the state's tobacco production.
Although he was planning to attend the Chicago convention, Owens said his sudden decision to unpack his bags and stay home Saturday night was not in protest of Clinton's position.
``I just don't think I need to be there, with all that's going on with the tobacco farmers. . . . I'm not mad at President Clinton,'' Owens said Monday. ``We're getting hurt closer to home. I'm very disappointed in the president's stand, but I do admire him for his initiative.''
Owens went to Pennsylvania earlier in the summer to meet with other members of the platform committee.
Hunt is also a no-show at the convention, but his decision was made long before the president's announcement last week, a spokesman said Monday.
``His schedule did not permit it,'' said Sean Walsh, adding that the governor's itinerary was ``nailed down weeks and weeks ago.''
In a statement released Thursday, Hunt said the White House is wrong to try to use government regulation to curb teen-age smoking. He added that the state may consider filing a lawsuit to block the FDA proposal.
North Carolina Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Harvey Gantt is scheduled to speak at the convention. Gantt also voiced his objection to the president's proposal. Gantt is challenging 26-year incumbent Jesse Helms, R-North Carolina.
``I do not support regulating tobacco as a drug,'' Gantt said in a statement released Wednesday. ``While I support President Clinton, I do not agree with him on this issue.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Senatorial candidate Harvey Gantt, in Chicago to speak during the
Democratic Convention, said he does not support regulating tobacco
as a drug - a Clinton administration proposal. ``While I support
President Clinton, I do not agree with him on this issue.'' by CNB