DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140664

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WANCHESE                          LENGTH:   64 lines

DEMOCRATIC LEADER GETS PREPARED FOR FUND RAISER

All may seem quiet on the state legislative campaign front. Elections are almost a year away. And candidates won't even announce their intentions to run until January.

But cash registers will start ringing Saturday for State Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight.

The Manteo Democrat, who has represented the First District for 12 years, is holding an afternoon fund raiser at Wanchese Seafood Park. Organizers expect more than 1,000 people. Gov. Jim Hunt is scheduled to be among them.

During his 1996 campaign, Basnight raised $487,926 - $183,000 more than the next-highest legislative fund raiser, said Jane Torcasso of the State Board of Elections.

Although Basnight was unopposed in his bid to retain his senate seat, he spent $428,835 running for re-election last year. Much of that money was given to other state legislative candidates so that Basnight could retain the president's post he has held for the past four years. The next highest spender on state political campaigns shelled out $266,000 in 1996 - about $162,000 less than Basnight.

The almost $60,000 Basnight raised for his last elective bid - but did not spend on that campaign - has been used for ``operational expenses of the president's office,'' he said.

``It's gone for travel, telephone costs and other expenses,'' Basnight said Thursday from his Raleigh office. ``I won't know how much money I'll need for this campaign until I see who is running against me.'' The senator said, so far, he hasn't heard of any opponents for the 1998 race.

``Many members of the legislature already have held fund raisers for their 1998 elections,'' Basnight said. ``I don't have many. This probably will be the only one I'll have.

``I like doing it at home - rather than in Raleigh. I've never had one in Raleigh. I live in the greatest district in North Carolina.''

While many candidates have $100 per plate dinners or black tie cocktail affairs, Basnight's bash will be a home-spun, Outer Banks-style affair. No minimum contribution is required. And dress is casual.

Charlie Fearing, whom the governor re-appointed to North Carolina's Seafood and Aquaculture Committee on Thursday, is hosting the event at his Top Fin Seafood Company.

Owens' Restaurant, owned by Basnight's brother-in-law, Bobby Owens, who recently was appointed to the state's utilities commission, is catering some of the food. Pork tenderloin, Cajun tuna, filet mignon, fried flounder and oysters prepared all ways are on the menu.

Jazz singer Laura Martier and her band will provide the background music.

And Fearing plans to hang a banner 20 feet long and 6 feet high lauding the senator. ``This is the second fund raiser I've hosted for him,'' Fearing said. ``We just want to pay Marc a special tribute for all he's done for all the North Carolinians.''

Hunt will attend Basnight's bash ``on his own time - at his own expense,'' said the governor's spokesman, Fred Hartman. ``The governor has been a strong supporter of him for a long time. They've worked on many things together - from improving schools to protecting the environment.

``He believes in Sen. Basnight.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

EVENT

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, will

sponsor a fund raiser for his 1998 campaign at noon Saturday at Top

Fin Seafood Company in the Wanchese Seafood Park.

For more information, call 473-5777.

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