State Government

Co-Speakers Try Leading Fractured State House

Steve Tuttle

Republican Richard Morgan and Democrat Jim Black are off to a relatively smooth start at sharing control of the state House under a unique arrangement dictated by some of the most peculiar politics ever seen in North Carolina. They were elected co-speakers of the chamber, which has 60 Republicans and 60 Democrats, last month and are wielding the gavel on alternating days.

Even as the House belatedly got down to business under the co-speakers, echoes continued reverberating around Raleigh from the rich political theater that led to the historic power-sharing arrangement. During nine tense roll-call votes over four days Black, an optometrist from Matthews who was speaker for the past four years, managed to hold his 60 Democrats together but failed to pry loose one Republican to gain a majority. Republican caucus nominee George Holmes, a retired businessman from Hamptonville in Yadkin County, repeatedly got 55 votes and Morgan had five votes. In Morgan’s corner were Republican Reps. Harold Brubaker of Asheboro, Julia Howard of Mocksville, Danny McComas of Wilmington and Wilma Sherrill of Asheville.

Various power-sharing combinations were rumored to break the impasse, with perhaps the most interesting talk about a Republican-led coalition between Holmes and Rep. Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe), who perhaps could deliver several liberal Democrats.

After one more fruitless contest vote between Black and Holmes on Feb. 5, the cat came out of the bag when Democrat floor leader Bill Culpepper of Edenton rose on the floor to offer a resolution providing for the election of Black and Morgan as co-speakers.

There was chaos for a few minutes, and then Republican point man Sam Ellis of Garner tried the only tactic available to derail the Black-Morgan train. He moved to adjourn, and the ensuing 74-46 vote to remain in session showed that the game was over. From that parliamentary procedure it was apparent that Black had held together his 60 Democrats, that Morgan could deliver his five votes and that nine other Republicans were ready to defect.

When the roll was called, Rep. Rex Baker of King was the first Republican outside the Morgan camp to desert and then Debbie Clary of Cherryville followed suit. From there on the dam burst. In the end only 31 of the 60 Republicans stood against the Black-Morgan team.

Morgan, a 50-year-old insurance agent and cattle farmer from Eagle Springs in Moore County, is remembered as the iron-fisted Rules Committee chairman when Republicans controlled the House from 1995 to 1999 under Harold Brubaker.

During those years he and then-Majority Leader Leo Daughtry of Smithfield became political enemies. After last fall’s elections, Daughtry became the House Republican caucus nominee for speaker over Rep. Connie Wilson of Charlotte and Morgan. In the weeks leading up to the start of the session, Morgan waged a fierce public campaign against Daughtry, eventually forcing him to step down in favor of Holmes.

Black was ready to deal with Morgan apparently out of a growing concern that his own chance at a third term as speaker was slipping away. From the first vote, when all 60 Democrats stood with him, the speakership was seen as Black’s to lose. After repeatedly failing to get one more vote to put him over the top, it seemed that his chance was over. Morgan, with his solid five votes, was the most likely partner.

The drama cost the House six days in which no work was accomplished. No bills were filed, no committees were assigned or met. However the shotgun marriage of Jim Black and Richard Morgan turns out, everyone was glad the House finally was getting down to business. Even Gov. Mike Easley was relieved. “This is an interesting arrangement,” he said, “but it is one that gives us unprecedented opportunity to have bipartisan participation as we begin what is certain to be a challenging legislative session.”

If Morgan is the clear winner to emerge from the tumultuous House debate, Daughtry is the clear loser. A few observers said they would not be surprised to see him resign his seat, perhaps along with one or two of his closest allies, although others said that was doubtful.

Meanwhile, some power-sharing also occurred in the Senate, albeit on a small scale. President Pro Tem Marc Basnight appointed four Republicans to leadership positions. Never before in the many years that Democrats have controlled the chamber have Republicans chaired a committee.

The move took many by surprise, including one of the Republicans Basnight tapped. Sen. John Garwood (R-Wilkes) told reporters after learning that Basnight had appointed him co-chairman of the Senate Education Committee: “You could a knocked me over with a feather.”

Basnight’s public explanation for the surprise move was that he was responding to Minority Leader Patrick Ballantine’s call for bipartisanship. But insiders think raw politics also played a factor: The GOP picked up seven Senate seats last fall and narrowed Basnight’s working majority to 28-22.

The Triad showed its clout when Sen. Linda Garrou (D-Forsyth) and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-Guilford), were named co-chairs of the Appropriations Committee. They, along with a third co-chair, Sen. Walter Dalton (D-Rutherford), take over leadership of the powerful budget-writing panel from three prominent Democrats who were defeated or did not run for re-election — Howard Lee, Aaron Plyler and Fountain Odom.

Sen. Charlie Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg) was elected deputy president pro tem, succeeding Frank Ballance, who left the Senate for a successful run for the Congress. Sen. Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) will continue as majority leader and Sen. Patrick Ballantine (R-New Hanover) will continue as minority leader.        

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