
DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709280096

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: DECISION '97

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:  121 lines

ELIZABETH CITY MAYORAL RACE ECONOMICS, SOCIAL ISSUES DIVIDE VOTERS

In a city where black voters outnumber white voters by nearly 500, a white, male Republican candidate for mayor might be at a disadvantage.

Not so in this election.

The city's 4,645 black registered voters appear to be divided between two-term Mayor Rick Gardner and challenger Anita Hummer.

Gardner, 70, is getting public support from three of the four black members of the City Council and a large chunk of their friends.

Hummer, a white Democrat, has received an endorsement from the Inner City Forum, a black grassroots organization.

Hummer, 63, is giving up her seat on the council and her position as Mayor Pro-tem. She presents herself as more in touch with the common folk, especially the middle class and lower income blacks.

Gardner is a longtime supporter and board member of Elizabeth City State University, a historically black university.

``I think the things he's supported have been very good,'' said Councilwoman Myrtle Rivers, who is black. ``He's proven himself to me.''

Black councilmen A.C. Robinson Jr. and Jimi Sutton have also announced their support for Gardner. Dorothy Stallings, who is not seeking re-election, has not publicly voiced her support.

``I support Mayor Gardner because he has been beneficial to both cultures,'' said Sharon Bazemore, a young black woman who passed out Gardner flyers at a recent forum at Elizabeth City State University.

Paul Bryant, president of the 33-member Inner City Forum, scoffs at the endorsements from the council.

``They support Mayor Gardner because they feel he's going to win,'' Bryant said. ``It's notorious in the black community. It's all about jumping on the winning team.''

Bryant said this race is divided more along social and economic lines than racial ones.

Hummer is following the common strategy for challengers, calling for change and attacking the incumbent's record, while Gardner defends his administration.

In recent forums and debates, Hummer has charged Gardner with conducting city business behind closed doors and portrayed him as out of touch with common people because of his wealth.

Gardner is a retired contractor and lives in a spacious home on the Pasquotank River.

``I think people should have a voice in government,'' Hummer said.

She speaks so softly she can hardly be heard, yet her words have often enraged Gardner and fellow council members during her four years on the council.

``People from all over the city call me with problems. I can relate to what their problems are because I am involved. I feel I am in touch with people.''

Gardner disputes her claims.

``My door is always open and always has been to anyone who wants to talk to me,'' he said. ``I would ask people of Elizabeth City to look at the record, and it will show we do have an open and effective government here.''

Gardner points to extensive renovations of the waste treatment and water plants, large-scale drainage improvements in the Roanoke Avenue area with more to come, and a long-range plan that sets aside money for major projects in every city department.

``Council is made up of individuals that have their own ideas as to what is best for the city,'' he said. ``Those ideas must be taken seriously by the majority. Then, through compromise, they reach a consensus of agreement. No one can ever be a leader with the attitude that it is my way or no way.''

Gardner and Hummer both rank crime as the number one problem in the city. Both support the Community Police Leadership Group, though Hummer has been the most active in the movement. The very successful Community Police Leadership Group, begun 10 months ago, has blended citizens and police officers to clean up several neighborhoods that were once drug infested.

Hummer plans to take crime fighting even further if elected.

``On my first day in office I will call a summit of federal, state and local law enforcement officers to study what the problems are,'' Hummer said in a recent interview. ``I'm going to take an extended tour of the city once I'm elected. I will go door to door, especially in the African-American community, to see what their thoughts are on the drug problem.''

Hummer has been endorsed by the Albemarle Chapter of the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association.

In 1991, Hummer founded a vocal and effective Community Watch group. Just two years later as a political novice, she won a council seat.

Four years ago, Hummer ran against a popular and wealthy contractor, Charles Haskett Jr. Haskett was favored to win, but Hummer visited hundreds of homes to solicit support. She's done the same this summer, knocking on 500 doors in one day alone.

Hummer credits her tenacity and community involvement to her grandmother, who worked for 40 years in the Elizabeth City Cotton Mill to support Hummer's siblings and mother.

``She was a very strong-willed woman,'' Hummer said. ``She would go to city hall and help defend people she felt had not been treated well. She gave away her food stamps during World War II to people more needy than herself.''

Gardner calls his parents heroes for raising eight boys and four girls to be good citizens. At one time all eight brothers and Gardner's father worked for Gardner Construction in Kinston.

``The primary thing my parents taught us is to never look up to anyone, and more importantly, never look down on anyone because all of us are equal,'' Gardner said. ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/File color photos

Rick Gardner, incumbent

Republican

Age: 70

Retired contractor

Anita Hummer, challenger

Democrat

Age: 63

Retired medical administrative assistant

Graphic

VOTING SITES

Precincts 1A and 1C - Pasquotank County Library.

Precinct 1B - RiverWind I.