THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050428
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SERIES: Decision '96
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: 146 lines
Months of campaigning have come to an end, and North Carolina voters have 13 hours today to pick the men and women they want in local, state and national offices.
Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. in the Albemarle and across the state. At stake are jobs for the famous and jobs for the little-known.
Hottest statewide race is for the U.S. Senate, where Democratic challenger Harvey Gantt is trying again to unseat Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, North Carolina's Mr. Conservative.
The usually overlooked secretary of state race also has drawn attention, with Republican Richard Petty of stock-car fame hoping to outrun Democrat Elaine Marshall, an attorney.
Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. is considered a solid favorite to shake off the challenge of state Rep. Robin Hayes, and both incumbents are favored in congressional races in the northeast.
The hottest local race is the battle for four seats on the Board of Commissioners in Dare County, where Republicans are trying to topple the Democratic stranglehold on the panel.
Here are the North Carolina races:
Position: Governor
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat James B. Hunt Jr.
Republican challenger Robert C. ``Robin'' Hayes
Libertarian challenger Scott D. Yost
Natural Law Party challenger Julia van Witt
Position: Lieutenant governor
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Dennis A. Wicker
Republican challenger Steve Arnold
Position: U.S. Senate
Candidates: Incumbent Republican Jesse A. Helms
Democratic challenger Harvey B. Gantt
Libertarian challenger Raymond C. Ubinger
Natural Law Party challenger Victor Pardo
Position: U.S. House of Representatives - 1st District - includes Elizabeth City
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Eva Clayton
Republican challenger Ted Tyler
Position: U.S. House of Representatives - 3rd District - 19-county district that encompasses portions of the east and central parts of the state, including Dare County and Greenville
Candidates: Incumbent Republican Walter B. Jones Jr.
Democratic challenger George Parrott
Libertarian challenger Edward Downey
Position: Secretary of state
Candidates: Democrat Elaine F. Marshall
Republican challenger Richard Petty
Libertarian challenger Lewis Guignard
Natural Law Party challenger Stephen Richter
LOCAL CONTESTED RACES
IN THE ALBEMARLE
Dare County
Dare County has 15,578 registered voters; 8,302 are registered Democrats; 4,816 are registered Republicans with 2,451 registered Independents. Five voters are registered Libertarians. Although commissioners represent districts, voters can vote in all district races.
Seat: Commissioner - District 1 - Roanoke Island, mainland
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Clarence Skinner
Republican challenger Richard Johnson
Seat: Commissioner - District 2 - Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Colington
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr.
Republican challenger Stephen S. ``Steve'' Sawin
Libertarian challenger Tommy Perkins
Seat: Commissioner - District 3 - Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk
Candidates: Democrat Martin Booth
Republican Cheryl L. Byrd
Seat: Commissioner - District 4 - Avon, Waves, Hatteras, Frisco
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Joseph ``Mac'' Midgett
Republican challenger Douglas Price
Currituck County
Currituck County has 9,738 registered voters, including 5,750 Democrats and 2,399 Republicans. All voters cast ballots in all races.
Commissioner for Crawford Township
Candidates: Democrat Gene Ansell Gregory
Republican William Dobney
Seat: Commissioner of Fruitville Township
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Ernie Bowden
Republican challenger Gary Montalbine
Seat: Nonpartisan Board of Education representing Moyock Township.
Candidates: Janet Taylor
Patricia Ferebee Blowe
Camden County
Camden County has 4,329 registered voters, including 3,206 Democrats and 682 Republicans. All voters cast ballots in all races.
Seat: Registrar of Deeds
Candidates: Republican Kristie Sawyer Corprew
Democrat Peggy Ervinia Kight
Seat: Commissioner for South Mills
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat J.C. Rountree
Republican challenger Michael E. Andrews
Pasquotank County
Pasquotank County has 19,078 registered voters including 12,816 Democrats and 3,987 Republicans. Voters may cast ballots only for the Board of Commissioners candidates within their district. Voters may cast ballots for any Board of Education candidate.
Seat: Commissioner - at large
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Zee B. Lamb
Republican challenger Jerome H. Goldschmidt
Chowan County
Chowan County has 7,299 registered voters including 5,524 Democrats and 1,482 Republicans. Two are Libertarians and 291 are unaffiliated.
Seat: Commissioner, at large
Candidates: Democrat Allen F. Downum
Libertarian John L. Sams
Perquimans County
Perquimans County has 6,971 registered voters including 5,133 Democrats and 1,174 Republicans. Two citizens are registered with each the Reform and Libertarian parties and 660 are unaffiliated.
Three seats on the county Board of Commissioners are open. Voters may select one candidate and the top three vote-getters will be elected.
Candidates: Incumbent Democrat Archie W. Miller
Democrat challenger Shirley Yates
Democrat challenger L. Wayne Howell
Unaffiliated challenger Bert Hayes ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
DREW C. WILSON
Candidates' signs were in place Monday at a polling place at the
East Lake Community Center in Dare County - ready for voters who
will march past today on their way to cast ballots. by CNB