Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 30, 1980, edition 1 / Page 15
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Thursday, October 30, 1 SCO Eboticn 'CO n p . n i- i f i ft M i : S s .N i I H Li Li b vaJ Ness y ik . Dy LUCY HOOD The campaign for the state House of Representatives lacks the excitement and the cutthroat sense of competition that one usually associates with a political campaign. Two seats are open for representatives from District 17, which includes Orange and Chatham counties. Joe Hackney, a Chapel Hill lawyer, and Patricia Hunt, who is serving her fourth term in the house, are the Democratic candidates.. James Stephen Blair is running for the Republican party, but the chairman for the local Republican party, Richard Smythe, said that Blair has launched no campaign and that he has not been able to get in touch with Blair. Since the Democratic candidates have little competition, they have not been forced to campaign vigorously. Hunt said that she was devoting her time to President Jimmy Carter's campaign. The Hunt strategy emphasizes her record during her four terms as representative in the House. Hunt is the chairman of the Judiciary III committee which is one of the most liberal parties in the house, she said. As she searched through her files to find a spread done by the Charlotte Observer on the brown-lung issue, she stated that the brown-lung bill was sent to her committee because that was where it had the best chance of passing. Hunt works on four other committees. She is the vice chairman on the Board of Governors, and she serves as a member on the Appropriations Committee on Education and Higher Education, the Banks and Banking Committee and the Health Committee. Hunt, a 1978 graduate of the University's Law School and a practicing lawyer in Chapel Hill, said her interests focus on education, social services and criminal law. Although Hackney does not have experience in the state legislature to credit his background, he is basing a large part of his campaign on his involvement in both professional and community organizations. As a 1970 graduate of the University's law school, Hackney served as an assistant in the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1970-71, and he was the assistant district attorney for Orange and Chatham counties from 1971-1974. His involvement in other law-related organizations includes president of the Orange County Bar Association, president of the Orange-Chatham Legal services; and a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. One of Hackney's main interests is environmental protection. He said the he would like to work on the state House committee that deals with natural resources. In addition. Hackney is a member on the Conservation Council of North Carolina, the Conservation Foundation of North Carolina, and the Nature Conservancy and Appalachian Trail Conference. The Chapel Hill lawyer said he wants to work to increase funds used to enforce environmental protection standards and to protect coastal areas from industrialization. Another goal Hackney said he planned to work for in the House h a state tax reform. One reform eventually would eliminate a sales tax on food, Hackney said He added that I,.". - c!l sales taxes it is regressive in that it takes a larger percentage of poor families' income than a wealthy family's income. The lost The Hunt strategy emphasizes her record during her four terms . . . in the House. i i i L.ii - - - - Joq ttsc&isy revenue could be replaced with a luxury tax and a reorganized income tax structure, the candidate said. Another reform would give the discretion of property taxes to town officials. Hackney said. The Fair Sentencing Act and the Domestic Violence Act are two laws that passed through Hunt's Judiciary III committee. Both Hackney and Hunt said that they would like to see these two laws reformed. Hunt added, however, that one must compromise on a law and that an agreement must be met between those who support a law and those who oppose. The Fair Sentencing Act sets a specific prison term for each offense rather than leaving a span of years for the judge to choose from. The act will not go into effect until March 1, 1981. The set terms are generally longer than the terms judges tend to give now, Hackney said. Although, the judge may alter the set term if he gives substantial reasons for doing so, Hackney said more people will be sent to jail. In this case, provisions must be made to accommodate the extra prisoners, he said. Hackney said the Genera! Assembly needed to look at the act carefully to see the effects it would have on criminal justice and prison systems. Hunt said she agreed with Hackney's criticism of the act, She added that throughout the United States, North Carolina has the largest number of people in prison per capita and the longest prison sentences. "We (the Judiciary Committee) took the bill, cleaned it up and allowed it to pass," she said. The Domestic Violence Act provides relief for a spouse or children who are being abused. The relief gives the police the power to arrest the abuser and evict him from his home and to give one of the parents temporary custody of the children. Before this bill, Hackney said, the abuser usually was arrested and released on bond. Hackney said he was not pleased with the new bill because it was not being enforced. He added that the property division statutes which divide? f r Pctrtcia Hunt - (Hackney) is basing ... his campaign on his involvement in both professional and community organizations. property according to who owns the title should be changed to divide property equally. Hunt criticized the act for two reasons. Like Hackney, she said that the law needed to be enforced. However, she said sheriffs were hesitant to enforce domestic violence laws, because police officers are hurt more frequently and more violently when they try to settle domestic conflicts, Hunt said. The representative said she also opposed the law because lawyers abuse it by using it to get rid of their client's husband or wife. Hunt elaborated on the subject saying . that most murders occur among relatives. Strengthening gun control standards , would provide an obstacle to such murders, she said. This would reduce the number of spontaneous murders, because a gun would not be available when the potential murder was irrationally angry. The Gubernatorial Succession Act, which during the present election year is allowing a governor to run for a second term for the first time in North Carolina, is viewed differently by. Hackney and Rep. Hunt. Hackney said he approved of the bill and Cov. Jim Hunt. "He (Hunt) is in command of the state government," he said. However, Patricia Hunt said she voted for the act because of pressure, but felt the act had destroyed the power of the legislature. Too much power is given to the governor who could potentially serve eight years while the House representatives serve terms of only two years, she said. The Equal Rights Amendment is an issue that both support wholeheartedly. "It's a simple justice statute that should be made equally equitable," Hackney said. He added that the amendment was a fair and quick process that would establish equality. At the Governor's Orange County Conference on Leadership Development for Women held on Oct. 11, Hunt told 90 participants that women must strive to be competent leaders in their field, because men assume that women can not handle the pressure. Neither Hunt nor Hackney has scheduled any major campaign events. Lucy Hoed is a staff writer for The Daily Tar Heel. Jo Barbour's Btcound World War II veteran; mother cf four Educated et Conn. Collets and Katherir.e Gibbs Err-pleyr-.cnt in government and industry Past President Et. Mary's Home Extension Pest President Navy Wivc3 Cub Past President IlilLbcrou-h Garden Club Past Prt-idcnt American Legion Auxiliary President, Women cf the Church, Hillsborough Preehyterian Church; Deacon; Choir Vice Chair. Joint Advisory Itarcsh!? Council Eac.-Trc3. Twenty end Four, American Legion Ceptain cf Deccnta for tha Eurwell School Historic Commission Acquisition Committee Cub, Ercvm;?, Girl Scout Leader, Council HilLborou-h Historical Society f-vr.-'".! Proration ( r OfTsc: Attended Conunia- tier.cr rr.:;tir.s for over two years. FOll COUNTY COMMISSIONER ( Ycu May Vctc Fcr Two) You can see why a newspaper columnist derailed Jo Earbcur o3 "ens cf tha best qualified candidates ever to run" far County Commissioner. Tha present composition of the Board reflects the old prejudices ouinst women and Republicans. If you claim to bo liberated from the z2 prejudices zzk "If net Jo, " who? If net now, when?" Tawi by Orr.g Co. Rr?vilhcn Party, A. Dok, Trn 'v. - , I i 1 OizzrAilnz a new roup? Put zn a nr. cur.: j a rcuhr feature of Tkz Dzity Tcr IkcL 9 n ft
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 30, 1980, edition 1
15
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