• U.S. Supreme Court • Not by the Book: Vouches for Vouchers NCSU Cuts Library Kayaking Charlotte C A R O L I N A Foolish in Afghanistan Volume 11, Number 8 A Monthly Journal of News, August 2002 Analysis, and Opinion from JOURNAL the John Locke Foundation www.CarolinaJournal.com www.JohnLocke.org New Districts Encourage Newcomers, Dissuade Incumbents Key committee chairmen GOP must get lucky face strong competition to win both majorities after districts redrawn in legislature, Cobey says By PAUL CHESSER By PAUL CHESSER Associate Editor Associate Editor RALEIGH RALEIGH he nightmares of a brutal redistrict- he wind was at the Republican ing battle aside for now, North Caro- Party’s back throughout the legal T lina is finally proceeding with its T fight over redistricting in state and long-delayed 2002 campaign season. federal courts. Having achieved electoral The Sept. 10 primary and Nov. 4 elec- balance, North Carolina GOP Chairman tion established by the General Assembly Bill Cobey says the party now must catch a are expected to produce some of the most few more breaks in order to win majorities competitive races the state has had in years. in both the state House and Senate. The abbreviated filing period for House “I really believe we’re going to take both and Senate races, which ended July 26, lasted chambers, but it will be razor thin — one or just eight days. In that short time frame two seats in each chamber,” Cobey said. several lawmakers decided not to campaign “That’s predicated on our U.S. Senate can- because of unfavorably drawn districts. didate (Elizabeth Dole) running very well.” Others switched from races for one legisla- Despite being a nonpresidential elec- tive chamber to the other because of a greater tion year, Cobey said the fortunes of the likelihood of victory. Some longtime hope- Raleigh’s Legislative Building may see many new faces when regular session convenes in January. party holding the White House rise and fall fuls jumped into races suddenly offering with the nation’s financial condition. them a chance to win. House district with fellow Republican Rep. Mecklenburg counties. He has served since While N.C. Republicans say they have a John Rayfield. However, his Senate district 1982. Rep. Fern Shubert of Marshville is popular issue in recent state tax increases Turning in their gavels? leans favorably for the GOP, so he will run running for the seat against four other Re- with which to target incumbent Democrats, against Hoyle. publicans, and the winner of that primary voters traditionally hold the party of the Among those leaving or in danger of “We’ll see if the Gastonia people want will face Democrat Frank McGuirt. president responsible for a poor economy. losing their seats are chairmen of two of the to return Mr. Hoyle,” Harrington said, cit- The only Republican leader who might Cobey’s hoping for an upswing on the Senate’s most powerful committees. ing what he calls the Democrat’s spend- be in danger is Senate Minority Leader economic front. North Carolina has been After redistricting, Rep. Carolyn Russell thrift ways. “I’m going to beat him.” Patrick Ballantine, who has a primary chal- particularly hard hit by the recent reces- of Goldsboro found herself matched against Sen. Fountain Odom of Mecklenburg lenger in Dallas Brown, Jr. of Wilmington. sion. Rep. Billy Creech of Johnston County, so County, a cochair of Appropriations whose Should he survive, he will face Democrat “In ’94 (when Republicans won the state she decided to leave Creech uncontested in new district is 45 percent registered Repub- Laura Padgett, a Wilmington city council- House) the environment was great for us,” his race and challenge influential Sen. John lican and 33 percent Democrat, will attempt woman. The seat is considered competitive Cobey said. “Issues are important, but the Kerr, also of Goldsboro. Cochair of the Sen- to overcome the odds and run again. Why? but most say it favors a Republican. environment is important, too.” ate Finance Committee, Kerr represents a “Of course it will be a difficult election, Cobey on some key races: district skewed heavily Democratic by a 66 but he’s done an awful lot of things for the Writing on the wall • Rep. Carolyn Russell vs. Sen. John percent to 24 percent ratio over Republi- state,” said Althea Callaway, Odom’s cam- Kerr and former Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble cans in voter registration. paign manager. “It’s really a feeling the Several other Democrat lawmakers de- vs. Sen. Eric Reeves: “Those seats look good “The district on paper is not a good one people are going to recognize that.” cided against another campaign because because of who’s running.” for me,” Russell said. “But the way spend- Odom is challenged by Robert Pittenger, their new districts gave little hope of win- • Republican challenger Robert ing has increased…I have watched the level who owns a real estate investment com- ning. Pittenger vs. Democrat Sen. Fountain Odom: of the importance of the people of this state pany. In addition to the new makeup of the In the Senate, where Democrats hold a “I’m counting on that one.” take a back seat to politics. This is a very district, Pittenger’s inspirations for running 35-15 majority, new district maps drawn by • House members John Blust vs. Flossie serious campaign and it’s important.” are Odom’s role as a chief appropriator and Superior Court Judge Knox Jenkins Jr. are Boyd-McIntyre: “I wouldn’t want to run Russell said her first House district the state’s spending problems. expected to help bring party parity to the against John Blust. He’s got the energy of when she ran in 1990 had a similar voter “We’re going to put those (spending) chamber. As many as eight seats now held two people. He’ll knock on every door in registration makeup. bills on our website so people can see them,” by Democrats could be considered toss- that district.” The other cochair of the Finance Com- he said. “[Odom]’s a big spender.” ups, and four seats now filled by Democrats • Wilmington Councilwoman Laura mittee, Sen. David Hoyle of Gastonia, also Sen. Aaron Plyler, another cochair of are considered solidly Republican because Padgett vs. Senate Minority Leader Patrick faces a challenge from a Republican House the powerful Appropriations Committee, Ballantine: “Ballantine has the biggest (Re- member. One-term Rep. Michael Har- declined to run again in the 35th District, publican) challenge in the Senate, but he’s rington, also of Gastonia, was placed in a which includes Union and southern Continued as “New districts,” Page 3 proven that he can get it done.” CJ Best Way to Solve Fiscal Crisis The John Locke Foundation NONPROFIT ORG. Contents 200 W. Morgan St., # 200 U.S. POSTAGE Cut Spending 64% Raleigh, NC 27601 PAID Raise Taxes 4% RALEIGH NC PERMIT NO. 1766 Do Both 32% Calendar 2 State Government 3 Education 6 Higher Education 10 Local Government 14 Books & the Arts 18 Opinion 20 % of NC Business Execs in March 2002 JLF Poll Parting Shot 24 C A R O L I N A Contents ON THE COVER cal money collected through fines and for- writes that despite hype about record rid- JOURNAL feitures, just like other public schools. ership on mass transit, the 2000 Census • The nightmares of a brutal redistricting Page 8 shows a record low. Page 15 battle aside for now, North Carolina is fi- nally proceeding with its long-delayed 2002 • Sherri Joyner reports that closing the • An interview with Phillip Frye, mayor of campaign season, which has some of the achievement gap between white students Spruce Pine in Mitchell County. Page 16 Richard Wagner most competitive races in years. Page 1 and black students is a nationwide prob- Editor lem. But one school in Northampton THE LEARNING CURVE NORTH CAROLINA County, N.C. closed the gap in just one Paul Chesser, Michael Lowrey school year. Page 9 • George Leef reviews Fool’s Errands by Associate Editors • Several national television networks Gary T. Dempsey with Roger W. Fontaine, question how states, particularly North HIGHER EDUCATION and Hansmarc Hurd reviews the film “The Carolina, have misused money won in the Sum of All Fears.” Page 18 Sherri Joyner, Erik Root, 1998 tobacco settlement. Page 4 • The Center for Immigration Studies re- Jon Sanders leased a damning evaluation of the Foreign • Reviews of the books Serving the Word: Assistant Editors • John Locke Foundation adjunct scholar Student Program. Conducted by a profes- Literalism in America from the Pulpit to the George Stephens speaks at a foundation sor at Harvard University, the evaluation Bench by Vincent Crapanzano, and The Six- Thomas Paul De Witt luncheon on his new book, Locke, Jefferson, finds the program rife with corruption and teen-Trillion Dollar Mistake by Bruce S. Opinion Editor and the Justices: Foundations and Failures of failing abysmally at achieving its advertised Jansson. Page 19 the U.S. Government. Page 4 benefits. Page 12 OPINION Andrew Cline, Roy Cordato, EDUCATION • Jon Sanders says SAT changes are a suc- Charles Davenport, Ian Drake, cessful end run around the inevitability that • Carolina Journal Editor Richard Wagner Tom Fetzer, Nat Fullwood, • Voucher supporters in North Carolina racial preferences will be declared illegal recounts his first year working for the John John Gizzi, David Hartgen, think some sort of the voucher program, across the United States. Page 13 Locke Foundation — a legislative year un- Lindalyn Kakadelis, George Leef, now that vouchers have been approved by like any other in recent history. Page 20 Kathryn Parker, Marc Rotterman, Jack Sommer, George Stephens, the U.S.