With Democratic state Rep. Ty Harrell facing questions about his use of campaign money, his Republican challenger is looking at making another run at him.

Apex Town Councilman Bryan Gossage says he is taking a careful look at challenging Harrell again in 2010, Rob Christensen reports.

"Our message last year was that the liberal tax, borrow, and spend policies of the incumbent were wrong for the district and wrong for the state," Gossage said in a statement. "Unfortunately, higher taxes and unemployment numbers are some of the best proof of that."

Harrell defeated Gossage by a 54-46 percent margin in a strongly Democratic year in 2008. House District 41, which includes parts of Apex and Cary, is regarded as a swing district. Harrell won the district in 2006 by defeating six-term Republican Russell Capps. The Legislative Ethics Committee and State Board of Elections are investigating Harrell's use of campaign funds.

The N.C. Legislative Black Caucus will meet next week.

State Rep. Ty Harrell, a Raleigh Democrat in his first term, told Dome that he was contacted by caucus chairwoman Rep. Alma Adams this week about setting up a meeting before the special session.

On Thursday, the legislature will meet to discuss whether to expel Rep. Thomas Wright, a member of the caucus, for several ethics violations.

Harrell said he does not know what is on the agenda for the caucus meeting, and he did not want to respond to a recent statement from his Republican opponent, Bryan Gossage, that he should call for Wright to resign.

"There's going to be a lot of things said by my opponent and others on this issue," he said. "I'm a big believer in due process, regardless of how I'm leaning on this issue."

He would not say whether he favors expelling Wright, but he did say that he is frustrated that the legislature is being distracted by the issue.

"I'm not happy that Representative Wright has forced us to make this decision for him," he said.

Some Republicans say Rep. Thomas Wright should step down.

Longtime legislative assistant Joel Craig Raupe writes on the N.C. Republican Roundtable that holding a special session of the legislature to expel the Wilmington Democrat will be costly.

All this could be made instantly "moot" saving taxpayers $50,000 or so for the one day Extra Session by one simple action by one individual Member that would make the whole matter disappear until trial in a Wake County courtroom.

Five Wake County Republican candidates for state House are also calling for his Democratic colleagues to pressure him to resign. Duane Cutlip, Bryan Gossage, J.H. Ross, Paul Terrell and Eric Weaver issued a joint statement yesterday.

"For Democrats, this is another PR nightmare," said Gossage, owner of a small public relations firm in a statement. "Of course they want to keep a low profile and bring as little attention to this issue, and their dismal response, as possible."

Republicans have five seats in their sights so far.

Based on filings with the State Board of Elections, Michael Luthy of the N.C. Republican House Majority Fund singled out five districts where he thinks the GOP has a good chance:

3rd: Norman Sanderson of Arapahoe and Craven County Commissioner Renee Sisk face off in the Republican primary to run against Democratic Rep. Alice Graham Underhill.

41st: Apex Councilman Bryan Gossage, owner of Peak Media Group, squares off against first-term Democratic Rep. Ty Harrell.

86th: Valdese attorney Hugh Blackwell faces Democratic Rep. Walt Church Sr. in a rematch of the 2006 race.

88th: Former state Rep. Mark Hollo of Taylorsville faces Democratic Rep. Ray Warren in a rematch of the 2006 race.

90th: Mount Airy attorney Sarah Stevens squares off against Rep. Jim Harrell III.

Luthy said that he was excited about several other races, but did not want to talk about them until the candidates have filed.

Bryan Gossage, an Apex council member in his second term, said today that he's running for a state legislative seat that takes in a slice of western Wake County.

Gossage, 33, is a Republican and owns a marketing and communications firm. He said he's raised $22,000 for the election and has the backing of three House Republicans from Wake County: Paul Stam, Nelson Dollar, and Marilyn Avila.

He said in a news release that he is running to bring back honest government to the legislature and to try to keep taxes under control.

"I am running because I’ll be a strong, sensible voice for Wake County," Gossage said. "North Carolina needs experienced, innovative leadership, and that’s exactly what I’ll bring to Raleigh."

His Web site at Gossage.org also notes that he served as worked for a California state lawmaker for two years.

Gossage is seeking the District 41 seat currently held by Rep. Ty Harrell, a Raleigh Democrat. Harrell won the seat in 2006 by beating Rep. Russell Capps, a six-term lawmaker and Raleigh Republican.