Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 30, 1980, edition 1 / Page 16
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Ebcticn '00 Thursday, October 30, 10CO UGDUullO liijuiQn ior MBSt at-f Paga 1 0 8 By LEE DUNOAR In this year's race for the two 16th District (Moore, Chatham, Randolph and Orange Counties) senatorial seats, two Republican candidates will be attempting to unseat the two Democratic incumbents, both of whom are running for their fourth terms in office. State Democratic Party Chairman Russell Walker and Charles Vickery are facing challengers in Republicans Alice Ward and Charles Adams. Ward, who is running for the state Senate for the second time, said she was against the present method of funding of the Highway Department, repeal of the intangibles tax, state-funded' abortions and the Equal Rights Amendment. On the funding of the Highway Department, she said, "There is no need for a gas and road-use tax. The state general fund has had a $300 million surplus. All they had to do is transfer some money to the highway fund. Instead they gave raises to the state employees, whose salaries have tripled in the past years." Adams, a Quaker pastor, is also against a 44 cent gas tax increase because he said the highway improvements could be financed through the $350 million surplus. He said he did not think the highway department was always efficient. ' Ward and Adams stand diametrically opposed to Vickery and Walker, both of whom said they supported more money for the- Highway Department. "Gas sales have decreased by 8 percent and that means a lack of revenue' Walker said. "We need to look at spending in other programs so we can supply the money needed to maintain the highways." Vickery said he supported the gas and road use tax department funding and the repeal of the intangibles tax. "The tax just makes sense," he said. "If you want to use the roads, then you pay the tax. If you don't want to use the roads, then you don't . pay the tax." Discussion of the repeal of the intangibles tax has caused some strong words between Ward and Vickery. Vickery said he favored the repeal of the tax, which taxes capita) such as savings, stocks, S i A , Tm r-"i --f- r - --.T-.-ii. ...... .rJr. nitiir-i Hi ! i I Russet! VVc! 04 bonds and cash. "If we did not have that tax, more people would retire and put money into savings and loans, which could be used for loans and would generate the lost tax revenues." Ward, however, said the tax funds too many programs for it to be possible for the tax to be repealed. "The intangibles tax accounts for about 48 percent of local programs," she said. "There is no way that we can make up for the loss of this tax, Many programs would simply have to be discontinued." Walker sides with Ward and Adams on this issue. He said he supported the tax now because it would be fiscally irresponsible to do away with it. Adams said he supported the tax because the money is returned to city and county government. "We'd be in trouble if we did away with it," Adams said. "According to people in the Randolph County tax office, abolishment of the tax would result in a 50 percent loss in revenue." Walker is the vice chairman of the Children's Special Needs Commission and was the co chairman of the Social Services Commission, and he continues to emphasize these two areas. Three of the candidates talked about the energy crisis and Vickery, who sponsored the ERA in the senate, said he, unlike Ward, supported the ERA and state funded abortions. "If a woman desires that medical procedure (an abortion) and cannot afford it, then she should be able to receive it as it is guaranteed under the law." a. - i I . r l i I I Ward said she disagreed with state-funded abortions on a moral basis. "It makes sense if the woman's life is in danger, or if it is a result of rape or incest," she said. "If the state is going to spend money, it should spend it on education and supplies for women. I would rather see a program of prevention than abortion." Adams said he supported equal rights for women, but not the ERA. Although energy was a topic of concern for three of the four candidates, each approached the problem from a different direction. Walker emphasized the promotion of alternate energy sources. "We're trying topromote alternate energy sources, especially solar power, because of our climate. We want to set up a corporation to look into this for us. Also I would like to continue to cut consumption of gasoline, promote carpooling and discourage unnecessary trips." Vickery, on the other hand, emphasized conservation, and Ward said she supported exploration of alternate forms of energy by private industry. Vickery said, "We can look into and encourage solar energy, wind and fossil fuels, but the best thing we can do is to give tax credits for conserving. Also, we can try to educate the people, to show them the need to conserve." Ward said the government should let private industry explore energy sources. "Hopefully, more and more people will try to conserve gas," she said. "I think that the main thrust should come from builders, because of their position." A! !c3 Wcrd Unlike Ward, Adams does have differences of opinion with the Republican platform. Although he describes himself as more conservative than liberal, Adams said he opposed the increase in military spending that js being proposed by the Republicans. He also has some new ideas as to what the state needs to do with industry. Adams said he would ask the state to form industrial parks in certain areas. Instead of allowing industry to be set up randomly across the state, Adams would like to see it confined to certain areas in the counties and cited Research Triangle Park as an example. He said this idea could help preserve wildlife areas. Adams and Ward each mentioned the Comprehensive Training Act program CETA as an . area of concern. Adams said he did not oppose the CETA philosophy. "As long as the funds go where they are supposed to go, I can support it. I'm for anything that will help these people. But a lot of programs can be cut down, made more efficient." Ward, however, was more concerned with the financing of the CETA program. "The missing CETA funds total almost $1 million," she said. "Why has it been hushed. up by the state legislature? I think that is morally wrong." Walker, Vickery and Adams gave different reasons for their running for the Senate. Walker said, "Basically I want to try to be able to hold down government spending in the face of inflation and lost revenues." Vickery emphasized two main areas important to him. "I want to make sure I am active in the total system of government," he said. "I also want to ensure the position of the University is well-represented in terms of dollars and representations." Adams said he was running because he thought Walker and Vickery were insensitive to the needs of the people in their districts. One issue which he said spurred him to run for public office was the annexation of an area outside of High Point. Adams said Vickery and Walker initiated legislation to halt the move but after conferring with High Point city officials, they backed away from their initial position. People in the area to be annexed had no say, he said. Lee Dunbar is a staff writer for The Daily Tar Heel. r I IP! ' ! v" ) Country Kitchen Breakfast special $1.69 Freeh Vc eatables 1' r& The Beet Southern Fried Chicken OPEN 7 am 9 pm Phono 942-5837 405 W. Roeemary St. YOUNG AMERICANS FOR REAGAN For a strong America, vota for a now team. mpAfS AD,! W U ImSS it " U i' " 4 ii J t ! I .' ii mm " n r - ' ' 1 V7 k.w tsM w
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 30, 1980, edition 1
16
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