Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 29, 1996, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 Tuesday, October 29,1996 Race for state auditor features incumbent Campbell vs. Daly State needs technology ■ Ralph Campbell said the state auditor’s office would function more efficiently if it moved into the computer age. BY HOLLY HART STAFF WRITER Ralph Campbell wants to lead the office of state auditor into the technology age. The Democratic incumbent for state auditor said the biggest problem facing the state auditor’s office was the lack of avail able technological resources. “When I joined the office, there were very few resources available,” Campbell said. The office has already begun to remedy the situation, Campbell said. “With the help of the General Assembly, we have begun to bring the office into anew era,” he said. Campbell said the addition of technological resources was the first of three key issues facing the state auditor’s office. He said he planned to use computer-assisted audit programs to help carry out the office’s responsibilities more effectively and efficiently. “The second key issue would be to increase and enhance the continuing professional education of the staff,” Campbell said. “Number three would be to promote the office as a strategic business advisor to state agencies as we carry out our perfor mance audit task.” If re-elected, Campbell said he would build on and strengthen the foundation he laid during his first term. “I firmly believe that we have a good record of accomplishments during the last three years,” Campbell said. Campbell has served as state auditor for the last three years, before which he worked as an auditor for the N.C. Department of Revenue, the Health Benefits Office and the Department of Insurance. Campbell also served four terms as an elected member of the Raleigh City Council and three years as Raleigh’s Mayor Pro Tem. 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By combining Hyperleaming’s science intensive approach with The Princeton Review’s personal, result-oriented approach we’ve created the ultimate MCAT prescription. ♦ Superior science and verbal reviews ♦ 15 individual full-length practice exams ♦ Revolutionary test-taking strategies ♦ Flexible course scheduling Classes start soon, so be sure to call us in the morning. jru / tjfJS! ttsai vm iy Medical Division °/THE PRINCETON REVIEW 967-7209 • www.review.com Office filled with fraud ■ Jack Daly released his own independent audit of the state auditor’s office that revealed governmental waste. BY HOLLY HART STAFF WRITER In an informal “audit" conducted last August, Republican candidate for state auditor and UNC law student Jack Daly alleged that the current auditor, Ralph Campbell, had misused his state car and that employees of the office had made personal phone calls at taxpayers’ expense. Daly said his audit showed how efficiently he would audit state agencies if elected. “As an outsider, without the benefit of 200 employees, I have been able to identify waste, fraud and abuse,” Daly said in August. Daly has also filed several lawsuits as the executive director of the North Carolina Fund for Individual Rights. Earlier this month, Daly announced thatNCFlßwouldrepresent Jonathan Prevette, the 6-year old accused of sexual harassment after kissing a classmate. Daly said the lawsuit could introduce him to many voters who haven't heard of him and could have a positive impact on his race. “If it has any impact at all on the race, it will be one that will benefit me,” he said Oct. 9. On Oct. 16, Daly filed another suit on behalf of an anony mous plaintiff against the Town of Chapel Hill and the town’s ordinance that allows health benefits to domestic partners of town employees. Daly said the lawsuits were related to protecting individual rights. “I am trying to effect change consistent with my plat form,” Daly said. If elected, Daly said he would continue to protect the rights of individuals by investigating groups he deemed questionable and would prohibit state funds from being used by “undesir ables.” Daly was unavailable for comment Monday. ELECTIONS '96 Wicker faces Arnold for 2nd in state Wicker runs on record BY APRIL DEMERT STAFF WRITER Dennis Wicker points to stronger drunk-driving penalties as one ofhis greatest reforms during his first term as Lt. Governor. By lowering the legalblood alcohollevel to .08, the mortality rate due to drunk driving in North Carolina dropped last year despite a national increase in alcohol-related fatalities. Asa member of the state Board of Education, Wicker has initiated a program that puts computers in public schools and also wires them to the Internet. If re-elected, Wicker has said that he would continue to support this and other programs geared towards improving our public schools. “The Lieutenant Governor is committed to strengthening the community college system and to improving programs which offer working people competitive courses to improve their positions,” said Blake Butler, campaign manager for Wicker. “Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor is working to pro vide small businesses with affordable health care,” Butler said. Wicker’s plan joins small businesses with similar interests from around the state and allows them to work together. This will give them more bargaining power and will make health care a more affordable option for their employees, Butler said. “The Lieutenant Governor offers an initiative for the fu ture,” Butler said. “He wants secure futures for our children, and has a strong vision for our state going into the next century.” Secretary race pits Petty vs. Marshall Experience matters BY ANTOINETTE KERR STAFF WRITER Elaine Marshall, Democratic candidate for secretary of state, said her experience as state senator and business owner would help her serve the residents of North Carolina. In addition to being a senator, Marshall worked as a retail and business owner, Young Democrats of North Carolina national committee chairwoman and Young Democrats of America national secretary. “My training and experience provides me with a sound working knowledge about many functions of the office as well as first hand experience,” Marshall said. Marshall’s husband Sol, who works closely with her cam paign, said her political background made her a good candi date. “Elaine is a serious candidate for a serious job,” Sol said. “She is able to commit fully to this office, unlike her opponent. ” Marshall said her goals are to reduce the vast number of paper documents now produced by taking advantage of com puter technology, enforcement of security laws in North Caro lina and getting more service out of N.C. tax dollars. "Finally, I believe we will bring diversity to the dialog about issues in the campaign as well as bring strength and a desire to improve the conditions of all our citizens,’’ Marshall said. Marshall said that because of her grassroots origin, many people would not recognize her name as widely. "Auto racing is a little more exciting than filing documents of a corporation and investigating corporate fraud.” Candidates debate insurance ratings BYSARADEMANIGOLD STAFF WRITER The four candidates campaigning for state Commissioneroflnsurance are run ning on platforms that are concerned with more than insurance rates. “The Commission of Insurance regu lates insurance company practices, their agents, their policies, their rates and the language used in the policies,” Republi can candidate Mike Causey said. The commission holds a very power ful position that many citizens should take note ofbecause it affects theirpocket books, Causey said. North Carolina is one of 12 states that elects the position. Causey, a former insurance sales rep resentative, manager and agent, said in surance rates should not automatically skyrocket for young drivers. “Until a driver proves to be accident prone they should not be penalized,” Causey said. Amendments could empower citizens, officials BY CRISTINA SMITH STAFF WRITER Tuesday’s vote asks North Carolin ians more than just who they want as president for the next four years. Tar Heel voters will be asked to amend their constitution by voting on three issues. Of the three amendments, the gover nor veto is the most important, said John Sanders, professor emeritus of UNC- Chapel Hill’s Institute of Government. “It is the first opportunity voters ofNorth Carolina ever will have had to decide whether their governor will have the power to veto legislation passed by their legislators,” Sanders said. Currently, North Carolina is the only state where the governor does not have veto power. If the amendment passes, the N.C. General Assembly could over ride the veto with a three-fifths majority of those present and voting, Sanders said. Proponents said it would create another means of checks and balances. “Without a veto, the governor is virtu Tuesday 5 p.m. The Student Environmental Action Coalition will meet in Union 224. 5:30 p.m. —The Carolina Association of Arnold wants less taxes BY APRIL DEMERT STAFF WRITER Emphasizing a strong commitment to lowering taxes and a tougher stance on crime, Steve Arnold, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, hopes to take his experience in busi- ; ness and local government to the state level. Arnold is a small-business man who was raised in High r Point and has served in local politics for 11 years. He describes himself as a conservative businessman strongly dedicated to lowering taxes. “The fact that North Carolina has the highest tax rate in the : southeast is inexcusable,” said Richard Hudson, Arnold’s assistant campaign manager. “Mr. Arnold has proposed a $ 1 billion tax cut which would be phased in over the next several years.” Arnold has accused Wicker of being soft on crime and said he would work to strengthen the current state policies regarding drug dealers if elected. He supports the death penalty for criminals convicted of murdering a police officer and believes that drug dealers who sell to minors deserve prison time. Hudson saidAmoldthoughtthestate simply dumpedmoney into an education system that remained one of the lowest ranked in the nation. “Local control and a reduction of the educational bureau cracy in Raleigh are necessary for reform and that money can be returned to the classrooms,” Hudson said. “Mr. Arnold is a businessman, and he understands the situation ofNorth Carolina citizens." Not just racing legend BY ANTIONETTE KERR STAFF WRITER Richard Petty, Republican candidate for secretary of state, wants to step out of die shadows of a NASCAR legend. According to Bill Cobey, co-chairman of the Petty cam paign, Petty has many different talents besides race-car driving and plenty of political experience. “He’s known as a race-car driver, and he wants people to understand he is not a one dimensional character,” Cobey said. “Richard did not accom plish his success on the track; he’s a good businessman. ” Petty owns and operates seven business, including Petty Enterprises, a racing organization which continues to run #43 STP Pontiac on the Winston Cup circuit. Campaign treasurer Darrell Frye served with Petty on the Randolph County Board of Commissioners for 12 of the 16 years Petty served. “Since I worked with Richard Petty for 12 years, I have come to see him as an elected official,” said Frye. “Richard was always attentive to the issues and made decisions that were in the long-term interest of Randolph County.” According to a statement, his campaign is focusing on a better quality of education in North Carolina and lower tax rates. During his tenure as a Randolph County commissioner, Randolph County was cited as having one of the lO.lowest effective tax rates of all 100 counties in North Carolina. Frye said Petty had always been a public servant trying to be taken seriously. “Richard Petty stands for the people,” Frye said. “He genuinely cares for others.” Causey is running on his triple A plat form: Accountability, Availability and Affordability. He said availability could be increased by getting rid of the Rate Bureau, which puts price ceilings and floors on insurance rates. This would allow more companies to compete and give the consumer more policy choices, Causey said. “Affordability is needed to lower insurance rate,” Causey said. Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, a Democrat, has held office for 12 years and is running for re-election. Long said his campaign is founded on his past suc cess and his ability to continue. “I have saved consumers over $2 bil lion from what insurance companies have wanted to charge and what I have al lowed. When I took office in 1985, North Carolina had the 34th highest insurance rates, but in 1994 has the 6th lowest,” Long said. Long pledged to continue his battles ally powerless to stop unneccesary state spending," said Todd Felts, campaign spokesperson for Gov. Jim Hunt. Although most representatives sup ported the gubernatorial veto power, Rep. Leslie Winner, D-Mecklenberg, said she was against it. “I think our governor has a lot of power already,” she said, adding that the veto diminishes legislative pow ers of the General Assembly. Thealtemativesentencing amendment allows judges more options in punishing convicted criminals. In addition to fines, imprisonment or death Judges could sen tence community service, probation, work programs and restitution. Without the amendment, criminals can, and often do, choose imprisonment over community service because they rarely serve the full term, Winner said. Thatleads to prison overcrowding and depreciation of taxpayer prison funds, she said. The amendment would allow judges to directly sentence minor viola tors to community service or work pro grams, which would free up prisons for Campus Calendar Black Journalists will hold a meeting at the Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural Center. 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. N.C. Hillel will meet at Cameron’s Kosher Cafe 6:30 p.m. The UNC Ad Chib will be Batty (Tor Heel with the insurance companies over auto rates. “My goal is to keep insurance rates as low as possible in North Carolina, to protect the consumer and the keep the rate at a adequate level,” Long said. Natural Law Party candidate Steven Wolfe saidhebelieved in reviewinghealth care insurance and finding ways for pre vention rather than just treating disease. He said he advocated reviewing exist ing information and identifying what has been shown to work. “We have a disease insurance system, treating problems af ter they have arisen,” Wolfe said. Libertarian candidate Shawn Haugh saidhe had three mainplanks: abolishing the ‘Click It or Ticket’ program, advocat ing no governmental influence in health care and to tighten insurance regulations on environmental pollution. “People should be able to get the insurance they desire. We need to get the government out to get the prices down.” more violent offenders. Winner said she also supported the victims’ rights amendment, which would guarantee crime victims are notified of all hearings related to the case, possible restitution and the right to be present and be heard at the sentencing hearing. ■ Jim Woodall, assistant district attor ney for Orange and Chatham counties, said, "Most judges will allow victims to be heard anyway.” For the Record The Oct 25 article 'Graduate represen tatives storm out of Student Congress’ should have stated “While Kennedy, Rep. Dara Whalen, Dist. 8, and Speaker of Stu dent Congress Jamie Kilbourne eventually returned to the meeting, the absence of other graduate representatives meant Stu dent Congress did not have the two-thirds majority necessary to allocate funds' The Daily Tar Heel regrets the error. , meeting in 203 Howell Hall. • J 7 p.m. The UNC Scuba Chib will meet <■ in 106 Gardner Hall. 7p.m.—The Catalyst will have a meeting in the Frank Porter Graham Lounge.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 29, 1996, edition 1
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