State Government

Conspicuous by Their Absence
Many of the State's Leading Politicians Won't Be on Fall Ballot

By Steve Tuttle

Voters in both parties will be confronted with unusually long ballots during the May 2 primaries for state and federal offices, a list of hopefuls that's as significant for who is running as who is not. Conspicuous by their absence from the ballot will be:

Gov. Jim Hunt, now in the final year of an unprecedented fourth term, is constitutionally barred from seeking another term. However, Hunt, who has dominated state politics for two decades, including four years as lieutenant governor, could sit out a term and attempt a comeback, as he did eight years ago.

Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham, the “Sodfather'' famous for his imitation of a braying mule, is retiring after 36 years in office.

State Treasurer Harlan Boyles, who has kept the state's checkbook since 1976, also is retiring.

Labor Commissioner Harry Payne, the New Hanover County reformer who stirred the anger of the business community by pushing a controversial ergonomics standard to the agency's OSHA rules, is not seeking a third term.

Former House Speaker Liston Ramsey, the dean of the House who was first elected in 1960 and who is the last lawmaker to serve in the Capitol before the Legislative Building was built, also is retiring.

In addition, some other well-known names won't be in their accustomed places on the ballot. Two-term Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker, a Democrat, is running for governor, as is two-term Attorney General Mike Easley. They are two of the 13 candidates for governor — seven Democrats, four Republicans and two Libertarians. Moreover, professional wrestler Ric “Nature Boy'' Flair of Charlotte is said to be seriously considering running in the fall general election as an independent candidate, provided he collects the signatures of at least 2 percent of North Carolina's 4.8 million registered voters, or more than 95,000 names, before June 30.

With Graham, Boyles and Payne not seeking re-election, Hunt not being eligible for re-election and Easley and Wicker trying to move up, six Council of State seats are up for grabs. That is giving North Carolina Republicans real hope of capturing one or more of the powerful positions for the first time since Jim Gardner was elected lieutenant governor in 1988.

However, the Democratic Party is fielding several credible candidates for Council of State offices, giving party stalwarts hope that they will retain the seats. Among them are popular state Sen. Roy Cooper (D-Nash), who is running for Attorney General, and former Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Richard Moore, who's running to succeed Boyles.

Voters will have to wade through lengthy lists of candidates for most of the Council of State races, so many that second primaries seem a sure bet in many of them. A second primary will be required in races where no candidate garners more than 40 percent of the vote.

There are 10 candidates hoping to fill Graham's shoes — four Democrats and six Republicans. There are six running for lieutenant governor, six for state auditor and seven for labor commissioner.

Even fledgling Libertarian Party will hold its first-ever primary to decide between two gubernatorial hopefuls.

Most public attention undoubtedly will be focused on the high-profile statewide races, but political insiders will be closely watching the 170 races for seats in the General Assembly, particularly the state House. The Senate, where Democrats hold a comfortable 35-15 margin, is unlikely to fall to Republicans, but the House is another matter. There, the Democrats' 66-54 edge is narrower than it looks.

At stake in the political control of the legislature is the power to direct the drawing of new legislative and congressional districts after the 2000 census.

GOVERNOR

Democrats: Bob Ayers, Swansboro; Mike Easley, Southport; Kenneth R. Gottfried, Sugar Grove; Brian Ipock, Ernul; Roger Maines, Lewisville; Ken Rogers, Raleigh; Dennis Wicker, Sanford.
Republicans: Leo Daughtry, Smithfield; Art Manning, Vanceboro; Charles B. “Chuck” Neely, Raleigh; Richard Vinroot, Charlotte.
Libertarians: Barbara Howe, Oxford; Johnathan D. Littlejohn, Cherokee.

LT. GOVERNOR
Democrats: Ronnie Ansley, Raleigh; Joel Harbinson, Hickory; Beverly Perdue, New Bern; Ed Wilson, Eden;
Republicans: Betsy Cochrane, Advance; Andy Nilsson, Winston-Salem

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Democrats: Graham Boyd, Raleigh; Bobby McLamb, Raleigh; Meg Scott Phipps, Haw River; Norris Tolson, Pinetops
Republicans: Tom Davidson, Durham; Billy Guthrie, Newport; Elbie Power, Roseboro; David Rouzer, Durham; Frank T. Tadlock, China Grove; Steve Troxler, Greensboro

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR
Democrats: Doug Berger, Youngsville; Dana S. Cope, Raleigh; George Parrott, Atlantic Beach
Republicans: Cherie Berry, Newton; John G. Miller, China Grove; Carl D. Southard, Zebulon; Mac Weatherman, Winston-Salem

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE
Democrats: *Jim Long, Raleigh
Republicans: Mike Causey, Greensboro

SECRETARY OF STATE
Democrats: *Elaine F. Marshall, Lillington
Republicans: Harris D. Blake, Pinehurst

STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Democrats: Roy Cooper, Rocky Mount
Republicans: Dan Boyce, Raleigh

STATE AUDITOR
Democrats: Ken Campbell, High Point; *Ralph Campbell, Raleigh; Pamela Ann Connell, Clemmons
Republicans: Jack Daly, Charlotte; Johnnie C. Mayfield, Wendell; Les Merritt, Zebulon

STATE TREASURER
Democrats: Richard S. James, Maple Hill; Richard Moore, Kittrell
Republicans: Henry McKoy, Raleigh

SUPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Democrats: *Mike Ward, Raleigh
Republicans: Michael Barrick, Granite Falls

CHIEF JUSTICE, N.C. SUPREME COURT
Democrats: *Henry Frye, Greensboro
Republicans: I. Beverly Lake Jr., Raleigh

ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, N.C. SUPREME COURT (Seat held by Franklin Freeman)
Democrats: *Franklin Freeman, Raleigh
Republicans: Marvin Schiller, Raleigh; Bob Edmunds, Greensboro

JUDGE, N.C. COURT OF APPEALS (Seat held by Clarence E. Horton Jr.)
Democrats: *Clarence Horton, Kannapolis
Republicans: Doug McCullough, Raleigh

JUDGE, N.C. COURT OF APPEALS (Seat held by Joseph R. John Jr.)
Democrats: Jim Fuller, Raleigh
Republicans: John M. Tyson, Fayetteville

JUDGE, N.C. COURT OF APPEALS (Seat held by John B. Lewis)
Democrats: Robin Hudson, Raleigh; Tab Hunter, Durham
Republicans: Paul Stam, Apex

JUDGE, N.C. COURT OF APPEALS (Seat held by John C. Martin Jr.)
Democrats: *John C. Martin Jr., Raleigh
Republicans: Wendy M. Enochs, Greensboro

JUDGE, N.C. COURT OF APPEALS (Seat held by James A. Wynn Jr.)
Democrats: *James A. Wynn Jr., Cary
Republicans: Wendell Schollander, Winston-Salem