Legislature '08

The House Class of 2008

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:46:27 -0500

The watchword for the House class of 2008 is scandal.

At least four representatives-elect won seats formerly held by legislators who were either retired or defeated because of scandals involving speeding tickets, drunk driving, sexual harassment or campaign donations.

Depending on your definition, the House has 15 or 20 new members. Some of the five who were appointed prior to the election also took the seats of troubled legislators, including disgraced former Speaker Jim Black and Rep. Thomas Wright, the first member expelled since 1880.

Here's a quick look at the representatives-elect:

Hugh Blackwell (R): The Valdese lawyer defeated longtime Rep. Walt Church Sr. after the legislator got a speeding ticket dismissed by the district attorney.

Elmer Floyd (D): The longtime city of Fayetteville human relations director won the former seat of Rep. Mary McAllister, who got in trouble over campaign finance reports.

Nick Mackey (D): A controversial figure in Charlotte, Mackey resigned from the police department while under investigation, then ran for sheriff, but had his election thrown out.

Shirley Randleman (R): The retired longtime Wilkes County clerk of court won the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Tracy Walker.

Sarah Stevens (R): The Mount Airy lawyer defeated three-term Democrat Rep. Jim Harrell III after a campaign that ridiculed his support of a teapot museum.

James Boles (R): The Southern Pines resident won the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Joe Boylan, who admitted to an alcohol problem after a drunk driving arrest.

Pearl Burris Floyd (R): The Gaston County commissioner will be the first elected black Republican woman in the legislature.

Darrell McCormick (R): The Yadkinville owner of a real estate company fended off a Democratic challenger for the seat of Rep. George Holmes.

Johnathan Rhyne (R): The Lincolnton lawyer had no Democratic opposition in his race for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Joe Kiser.

Randy Stewart (D): The Rocky Mount resident won a much-contested race for the seat of Republican Rep. Bill Daughtridge, who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer.

Justin Burr (R): Albemarle defeated Rep. Ken Furr in the primary, who had been appointed to the seat after Rep. David Almond resigned over a personnel complaint.

W. David Guice (R): The Transylvania County commissioner was outspent by a Democratic opponent in the race for the seat of retiring Rep. Trudi Walend.

Grey Mills (R): The Iredell County business owner handily beat a Libertarian opponent for the seat after narrowly edging Republican Rep. Karen Ray in the primary.

Efton Sager (R): The Wayne County commissioner and retired Air Force member won the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Louis Pate.

Jane Whilden (D): The former director of Gov. Mike Easley's Western office, an Asheville resident, won with the help of the state Democratic Party.

In addition, previously appointed Reps. Kelly Alexander Jr. of Charlotte, Angela Bryant of Rocky Mount, Annie Mobley of Ahoskie, Tricia Cotham of Charlotte and Sandra Spaulding Hughes of Wilmington were also elected for the first time in November.

Related: The Senate Class of 2008

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated details of Mills' win.

The Senate Class of 2008

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:24:26 -0500

The Senate class of 2008 has some big shoes to fill.

For the most part, the freshman senators are taking the seats of lawmakers who went on to higher offices — or at least ran for higher office.

The five (or six, depending on your definition) may face higher expectations as a result.

Here's a quick look at the new senators-elect:

Don Vaughan (D): A politically active Greensboro attorney who served seven terms on the City Council will be taking the seat of U.S. Sen.-elect Kay Hagan.

David Rouzer (R): A former aide to U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms from McGee's Crossroads will take over the Johnston County seat of unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith.

Debbie Clary (R): The state representative from Cherryville, the sole Republican win from its November wishlist, will take the seat of Lt. Gov.-elect Walter Dalton.

Josh Stein (D): A well-connected Raleigh lawyer who worked for John Edwards' in D.C. and served as deputy attorney general will be taking the Raleigh seat of Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell.

Don Davis (D): An Air Force veteran, college professor and the popular (and youngest ever) mayor of Snow Hill will be taking the seat of retiring Sen. John Kerr III.

Bob Rucho (R): A former four-term state senator, appointed to unsuccessful lieutenant governor candidate Robert Pittenger's seat in June, is already running for a leadership role.

Correction: An earlier version misstated the length of Vaughan's tenure.

Related: The House Class of 2008

First black GOP female legislator elected

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:08:48 -0500

There have been a lot of firsts this election — first African-American president, first woman governor.

But one first has been overlooked.

Pearl Burris Floyd was elected the first black Republican woman to North Carolina's state legislature.

Floyd, a Gaston County commissioner, won the state House seat previously held by Rep. Debbie Clary, who was elected to the Senate, Rob Christensen reports.

Floyd is the anatomic pathology section chief at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. She campaigned as "a thoughtful conservative" and her website includes a picture of her with President Bush — a rarity in this political season.

She was also the flrst black Gaston County commissioner.

UFCW spent $116k in '08 races

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:41:08 -0500

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union gave $116,500 in 2008.

The food workers union gave $104,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party, $8,000 to Treasurer-elect Janet Cowell, $4,000 to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, and $500 to state Sen.-elect Josh Stein.

CWA gave $18,750 in '08 races

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:03:09 -0500

The Communications Workers of America gave $18,750 in 2008.

The communications workers union gave $3,500 to Democratic Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue, $12,500 to the N.C. Democratic Party, and $2,000 to unsuccessful Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Hampton Dellinger, according to campaign finance reports.

It also gave $250 each to Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, Rep. Rick Glazier and Democratic House challenger Bev O'Brien.

SEIU spent $410k on state races

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:30:38 -0500

The SEIU PAC spent $410,569 on North Carolina races in 2008.

The political action committee of the Service Employees International Union, which is affiliated with the State Employees Association of North Carolina, spent $323,069 on independent expenditures, including mailers and phone banks, and gave $83,500 to candidates, according to campaign finance reports.

The biggest expense was $147,279 spent on mailers opposing Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory. The union did not spend on any other statewide races.

The group also spent $100,568 on unsuccessful candidate Chuck Stone, who came in fourth out of five Democratic primary candidates for Democratic Sen. John Kerr's seat in May.

And it spent $40,510 opposing Republican Rep. Curtis Blackwood and supporting a primary challenger and $34,711 on opposing incumbent Republican Rep. Leo Daughtry and supporting a Democratic challenger.

Among direct contributions, the union gave to 33 Democratic candidates and three Republicans and donated another $4,000 to the N.C. Democratic Party.

SEIU donated to a dozen Democratic incumbents who were unopposed in either the primary or general elections, including $4,000 apiece to Senate president Marc Basnight and House Speaker Joe Hackney.

More after the jump.

Basnight's potshot

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:32:49 -0500

Basnight's potshot

"Long shot? It weren't even a shot."

— Senate leader Marc Basnight on a prediction by political consultant John Davis that Republicans had a "long shot" chance at taking the Senate this year. Democrats lost only one seat. Quoted in the Greensboro News-Record on Nov. 10, 2008.

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Few upsets in legislative contests

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:14:58 -0500

Despite predictions of major rightward movement in the state Senate, legislative contests yielded few upsets.

Incumbent Democrats in districts considered Republican-leaning were reelected, although a few got a scare, Lynn Bonner reports.

Veteran Democrat David Hoyle of Gaston County defeated Republican Kathy Harrington by about three percentage points, according to unofficial returns.

Democrat Julia Boseman of New Hanover, who is the legislature's first openly gay member, won by about 3.3 percentage points. A custody battle with her former partner led to disclosures that Boseman defaulted on a $1.3 million loan on her former home.

Senate Republicans in February targeted nine seats. They lost eight of those yesterday.

Former House member Debbie Clary, a Republican from Cherryville, seems to be the sole pick up. Clary won the race for the seat Walter Dalton left open when he ran for lieutenant governor.

In the House, Republicans beat two incumbent Democrats, lost two seats, and are close in two races.

R.C. Soles hangs on to Senate seat

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:54:45 -0500

Sen. R.C. Soles, the state's longest serving legislator, hung on to his seat representing Columbus, Brunswick and Pender counties. Barely.

Soles survived a strong challenge from Republican Bettie Fennell, a former newspaper reporter, to win a 21st term in the legislature, Lynn Bonner reports.

Soles received 48.7 percent of the vote in unofficial returns, according to the State Board of Elections. Fennell had 45.8 percent, and Libertarian candidate Rachel Joiner Merrill received 5.5 percent.

Though Soles has ruled the Democratic stronghold of home county of Columbus, surrounding counties have become more Republican. Soles, a lawyer, has also made headlines for embarrassing run-ins with former clients at his home and his father's home. In one instance, Soles beat back a client with his shoe.

Mailer attacks Dollar on vet benefits

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:32:32 -0400

N.C. Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican, is being hit with a mailer paid for by the N.C. Democratic Party that claims he's no friend to military veterans.

The mailer shows a man with a prosthetic arm — its pincers clasping a small U.S. flag. "He Served With Honor," the ad says. "But Nelson Dollar Cut His Benefits," Dan Kane reports.

Dollar said today that the claim is "patently false."

"The Democrats have used images of our veterans and men and women in uniform in a way that is disrespectful of their service to our nation," Dollar said in a news release. "These mailers fail to cite any bills or votes to back up their claims and I can assure you in my four years in the House no bill has reached the Floor which would 'slash any veteran's benefits.'"

He cited several bills that he supported that helped veterans and the military, including a property tax break for disabled veterans that was included in this year's state budget.

Democratic Party spokeswoman Kerra Bolton said the party stands by the mailer.

She cited his vote against the previous year's budget, which included money for programs and services that benefit military families and help foster economic development in military communities, but she did not mention anything that amounted to a cut in veterans' benefits.

More after the jump.