Editorial

Redistricting
We’re not too keen on the idea of judges drawing legislative district maps but we can’t quarrel with one outcome of the many months of legal wrangling over North Carolina’s new House and Senate districts. The Republican Party argued that drawing district lines to follow county lines would forge stronger bonds between the electorate and those who get elected. Once people perceived this link then more people would be inclined to run for the General Assembly, the GOP lawyers argued.

And that’s exactly what happened, as you’ll see when you go vote in the legislative party primaries on Sept. 10. And you should go vote, not only because it’s your civic duty but also because there actually are several interesting races this year.

The number of cakewalk incumbents — those without either a primary or general election opponent (among the major party candidates, at least) is way down this year. Forty-three incumbent legislators — six senators and 37 representatives — have no opposition for re-election under the new court-ordered district maps, far fewer than the 77 who were unopposed under the plan adopted by the General Assembly last summer. At least 15 of the 50 Senate seats are guaranteed to turn over as a result of retirements and the fact that eight incumbents are pitted against each other.

Several veteran legislators who usually waltz through the primaries, including some from both sides of the aisle, now have serious challengers. Senate Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine of Wilmington, a key leader in the GOP’s successful challenge to the Democratic redistricting plan, has attracted a primary opponent, as have GOP Sens. John Carrington of Raleigh, John Garwood of North Wilkesboro, Stan Bingham of Denton and Jim Forrester of Stanley. So have Republican Reps. Ed McMahan of Charlotte and Debbie Clary of Cherryville. Senate Democrats facing primary challenges include Tony Rand of Fayetteville, Charlie Albertson of Beulaville and Larry Shaw of Fayetteville.

Despite all the upheaval in the General Assembly caused by redistricting, the representation in many urban areas will remain relatively the same, particularly Charlotte. Incumbents are running unopposed in seven of the 15 House and Senate districts that include parts of Mecklenburg County. To a lesser degree, the same is true for Wake County and the Triad.

You should mark Sept. 10 on your calendar and go vote in the legislative party primaries. If you know you’ll be busy that day, remember that the state’s new “no excuses” absentee voting period will be open through Sept. 7. -- Steve Tuttle


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