From last week’s opening of the
filing books to the general election
next November, politics will move
to front and center stage along the
Public Parade and elsewhere in
North Carolina.
So far, U. S. Sen. Robert W.
Morgan is about the only major
officeholder in the state who has
escaped announced opposition;
but that is a situation that could
change in these highly unstable
times.
Gov. Jim Hunt, Jr., first in this
century to be eligible to seek re
election will square off against
former Gov. Robert W. Scott and
possibly others for the Democratic
gubernatorial nomination.
State Sen. Beverly Lake, Jr.,
who switched parties in order to
seek the Republican nomination
for governor, does not as yet
appear to have any serious op
position among his new-found
friends. It certainly cannot be said
of him that he has no visible
means of support.
A heated race is already un
derway between Lt. Gov. Jim
Green and House Speaker Carl
Stewart, Jr., for the lieutenant
governor’s nomination on the
Democratic ticket. And, here
again there may be others.
And already the GOP line is
beginning to form for the
lieutenant governor’s race.
Athletic Director Bill Cobey of
UNC-Chapel Hill has resigned,
effective April 30, to make the
race, an enterprise in which he no
doubt will have company.
Meanwhile, rapes are
developing among Democrats for
secretary of state, insurance
commissioner, and state auditor;
and, the political climate being
what it is, there is no telling what
the outcome of any of these will be.
Clerk of Court, Lena M. Leary,
Register of Deeds, Anne Spruill,
and Sheriff Troy Toppin, having
been elected to four-year terms in
1978, are not up for reflection; but
all seats in the General Assembly
are open.
On the local level, Alton Elmore
has already filed for another term
on the Chowan County Board of
Commissionrs. Lester T.
Copeland, the other incumbent up
for election, has not made a final
decision at this writing.
Furthermore, seats are up for
election on the Edenton-Chowan
Board of Education. Mrs. Emily
G. Amburn, who has served for 10
years, made a surprise an
nouncement last week. She will
not seek re-election.
Reps. Vernon James of
Pasquotank and Charles Evans of
Dare are unofficial candidates for
re-election in the seven-county
First House District. The same is
true in the First Senatorial
District with Sens. Melvin R.
Daniels Jr., of Pasquotank and J.
J. “Monk” Harrington of Bertie
going for another term.
We will make the facilities of
this newspaper available to all of
them, including their opponents in
the general election.
Continued on Page 4
County Census
Plans Revealed
The federal census of Chowan
County is planned for March and
April, and crew leaders and
enumerators will be hired in
February for that job, N. J.
George, chairman of the Chowan
County Democratic Executive
Committee, told those attending a
“pep rally” last Thursday night at
Mrs. Boswell’s Restaurant.
Testing of applicants is
scheduled for the last of January
and the first of February. Some 30
persons will be hired to take the
first census by an appointed
Democratic committee in 20
years.
George stated that Chowan
County is an experimental district
and that census forms will be hand
delivered to each house in Chowan
County.
Crew leaders will be paid $4.50.
per hour and enumerators will be
paid $4.00 per hour.
Nine persons will handle East
Edenton and Rev. J. L. Fenner
will be chairman. Another nine
Terry Williams, asst. mgr. of WCDJ, interviews Gov. Hunt at
the fund-raising affair.
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Former New York Yankees pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter
warms up to Gov. Jim Hunt.
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Vol. XLVI-No. 3
Former Governor Stumps In Chowan
Former governor Bob Scott,
who has filed as a Democratic
candidate for governor, cam
paigned in Edenton, Tuesday, at a
luncheon attended by more than 70
persons. Besides commenting on
the Chowan River algae problem,
he also touched on several issues
important to his campaign.
W. T. Culpepper, 111, an Edenton
attorney and Scott supporter, said
in introducing the candidate,
“Since I’ve been in Chowan
County, the most frequent
criticism I’ve heard of politicians
is ‘they never come to see us’.
Well, we can lay that criticism to
No Short-Term Solution
To Chowan River Problem
Ecological problems that plague
the Chowan River in northeastern
North Carolina will take years to
correct, and a strong governor
who will demand a comprehensive
program to “bring the river back
into balance,” former Gov. Bob
Scott said in a prepared speech
Tuesday.
Scott, who officially filed as a
Democratic candidate for
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CAMPAIGNS IN EDENTON Former governor Bob Scott, a
Democratic candidate for governor, became the first major
figure to stump in Chowan County, Tuesday. Be is shown at left
above with W. T. Culpepper, 111, a local supporter, following a
luncheon at Mrs. Boswell’s Restaurant. Over 70 people turned out
to hear his address on the Chowan River problem and other
aspects of his candidacy. .';,<
Edenton, North Carolina, Thursday, January 17, 1980
rest for Bob Scott, because he is
certainly here today.”
Scott said he felt personal ap
pearances were the most effective
type of campaign at this point in
time, and that he did not favor a
“packaged” candidate marketed
through public relations firms.
He said his campaign staff was
mostly volunteers and that there
were “no $45,000 salary people
working on his staff.
Scott was sharply critical of
Gov. Jim Hunt’s campaign
financing, which amounts to over
$700,000.
“If he has done such a fine job,
governor on January 7, made the
remarks during a campaign
luncheon in Edenton Tuesday
afternoon.
He said the level of municipal,
industrial and agricultural
nutrients now washing into the
Chowan River must be more
strictly controlled.
Environmental studies indicate
Continued on Page 4
At Angler’s Cove:
Hunt Attends Fund-Raising Affair
Gov. Jim Hunt was in the
Albemarle area, Thursday, to
speak at the Elizabeth City
Chamber of Commerce banquet.
During his visit, he made a stop
over in Perquimans County to
attend a fund-raising pig picking
at Angler’s Cove sponsored by
Perquimans County Democratic
Committee to Elect Jim Hunt.
Well over 300 local supporters as
well as a host of state and federal
elected officials packed the
restaurant to see and chat with the
governor.
In a brief interview, Gov. Hunt
commented on the past three
years and his plans for Eastern
N.C. in the future.
The governor included economic
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Rep. Vernon James chats with Rep. Walter B. Jones at
Angler’s Cove.
why does he need to spend about
sl-million on a campaign to make
himself look good. I don’t think my
campaign will ever get that
amount, nor do I think we need
this amount,” Scott said.
At present, he said he has about
$70,000 in campaign funds and that
his fund raising efforts will begin
in February. He included that
some unsolicited contributions
have already been made.
One of the goals of his cam
paign, Scott commented, is to
“destroy the myth that Jim Hunt
can’t be beaten.”
“There are two teams on the
field, and now we have a ballgame
going.”
Scott stated that his basic
philosophy was not more govern
ment, but better government, and
that it was his intention to live up
to the state motto of “to be rather
than to seem.”
He pointed out that during the
Hunt administration some 15,000
people had been added to the state
payroll and that the staff of the
governor’s office had been in
creased by 130 per cent.
Scott criticize! the cutting of
state funds to the handicapped and
elderly at the service level, while
finding funds to buy a helicopter to
woo industry.
“I’m going to continue my old
saying that I will shake the apple
trees to knock out a few of the big
apples,” he remarked, “but this
time I’m not only going to shake it,
I’m going to do some pruning,
too.”
He called for eliminating some
positions at the top of state
government that he called “un
productive” and that “do nothing
Continued on Page 4
Licenses Valid
Thru Jan. 31
The 1979 N. C. commercial
fishing boat licenses will be valid
through January 31, 1980, ac
cording to Connell Purvis,
Director, N. C. Division of Marine
Fisheries.
Although 1980 licenses were on
sale in December, 1979, a one
month extension is normally
allowed each year.
Last year, 23,592 N. C. com
mercial fishing boat licenses were
sold to commercial and
recreational fishermen who fish
coastal waters.
growth, improved education and
better crime control as some of his
greatest accomplishments.
Hunt re-emphasized his
determination to continue his fight
against Vepco’s high utility rates,
stated his support for a pull-out by
Vepco.
Stating that he will not release
his specific plans for the next term
until after his formal an
nouncement of candidacy,
January 23, Gov. Hunt said future
emphasis will be placed on
balanced economic growth for
Eastern N.C., proper treatment of
senior citizens, stronger crime
control programs, and continued
educational improvements for our
young people.
Single Copies 20 Cents
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SKETCH OF ATTACKER Edenton Police have released this
sketch of a black male who attacked Mrs. R. W. Hurdle of 315
West Queen Street on December 18. The 87 year old woman, who
lives alone, was admitted to Chowan Hospital for treatment of
several head injuries and a broken arm. She was attacked with a
vase.
Sketch Os Suspect Released
A composite sketch of an
unidentified black male who beat
an elderly Edenton woman on
December 18 has been released by
the Edenton Police Department.
Mrs. R. W. Hurdle, 87, of 315
West Queen Street, was admitted
to Chowan Hospital for head in
juries and a broken arm after the
attack at her home on that date.
Mrs. Hurdle reported she had
beat attacked about 2 P.M. by a
young black male who forced her
into the house after she had gone
to the front porch to check on her
mail.
Mrs. Hurdle was discovered
sitting on the floor by a couch in
her livingroom by neighbor, Mrs.
Paul Partin, who dropped in to
check on her at about 5:10 P.M.
called the Rescue
Squad, and it was aner Mrs.
Hurdle arrived at the hospital that
it was learned she had been at
tacked, not fallen down.
In conclusion, he added,
“Eastern North Carolina is the
area of the future.”
Other elected officials offered
their comments on the forth
coming election.
Senator Melvin Daniels of
Elizabeth City said everyone is
aware of his support for Gov.
Hunt.
“North Carolina has had many
good governors,” Sen. Daniels
commented, “now Eastern N. C.
has a great governor. If it came
down to Melvin Daniels or Jim
Hunt being elected, I’d step down.
I’m expendable, he’s not.”
Rep. Charles Evans of Nags
Head, who announced his can
didacy on Friday, said he supports
Gov. Hunt. “He has done more for
Eastern N. C. than any other
governor and I believe we can look
for more.”
In a news conference, Hunt
emphasized the importance of
tourism to the state’s economy. He
pledged his efforts to seeing that
vacationers are treated fairly if
and when gas rationing becomes a
reality.
Concerning a possible S6OO
- school bond referendum,
the governor said he had sup
ported school bonds in the past and
would fight for this one. He added,
though, that he would like to see
what the needs are.
Ingram To Speak
North Carolina Insurance
Commissioner John Ingram will
be the guest speaker at the
January meeting of the
Albemarle Regional Planning
Commission Thursday (tonight)
at 6:30 P.M. The meeting will be
Continued on Page 4
Murray Ashley of the Rescue
Squad notified authorities of the
incident.
Continued on Page 4
Grant Receives
Endorsement
A grant totalling $30,000 to Town
of Edenton has been recom
mended by Governor James B.
Hunt, Jr. for the development of
Softball Field Complex.
This recommended grant is
from the North Carolina allocation
of federal Heritage Conservation
and Recreation Service funds for
1980. Federal approval of the
grant is expected within two
months. The grant will be mat
ched by local funds.
Project consists of the
development of two softball fields
with lighting, fencing, bleachers,
dugouts. benches and bases.