DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997             TAG: 9703260440

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

GOVERNOR PICKS REPLACEMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION BOARD POSITION

Hertford businessman Charles H. Ward has taken the wheel from R.V Owens III on the state Board of Transportation.

After four years at the unsalaried post, Owens asked the governor not to reappoint him for another term representing Division One in northeast North Carolina.

Gov. James B. Hunt called Ward, 59, Friday afternoon to notify him of the appointment. It has not been officially announced.

Ward, chairman of the Perquimmans County Board of Commissioners, said he was delighted. Owens recommended Ward to the governor.

``I think everyone wants this job,'' Ward said. ``I just want to get involved. It helps the whole region. You know the more highways we get the more we grow . . . We want to see all the progress we can in northeastern North Carolina.''

On Monday, Ward resigned from the Northeast Economic Development Commission because it created a conflict with his new post. Ward owns an auto parts business and a shopping center in Hertford.

The state Department of Transportation met Tuesday with Ward to bring him up to date on current and planned projects in his district. As a member of the 24-person DOT board, Ward will oversee roads in 14 counties in the northeast corner of the state.Owens, a 39-year-old Dare County restaurateur, said he decided to step down because it was ``just time for a change. It's time to do something different.''

But the outspoken owner of R.V.'s Restaurant didn't elaborate on what he has in mind. Owens is the son of veteran politician Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr., the governor's eastern representative. He is also the nephew of state Sen. Marc Basnight, who held the DOT Division One post before he was elected to the state legislature.

Board members essentially lobby for road projects in their districts, the younger Owens said.

``It's fighting for your people,'' he said. ``Charles is going to be in for the shock of his life because he's going to find out there's never enough money to go around. But Charles will do a good job.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

Charles H. Ward

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