THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410180528
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRISCO LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
Martin Lancaster is in a shirt and tie, but he is blue-jeans relaxed as he winds his way through the small but growing crowd at the Hatteras Adult Care Octoberfest.
The four-term Democrat works the crowd with confidence, looking like anything but the vulnerable incumbent in trouble that his Republican opponent, Walter Jones Jr., says he is.
Just 12 hours before, Lancaster was on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, on behalf of North Carolina's 3rd District. Congress has adjourned, but Lancaster wastes no time getting back to the district. The Lancaster for Congress campaign has its candidate back, full-time.
Not only does he look the part of the confident incumbent, he talks and walks the part as well.
``We were in Roseboro in the western part of the district earlier this morning, and the people were very friendly,'' he said. ``If it (anti-incumbency) is out there, I haven't felt it.''
Lancaster didn't feel it on this day either. As he strolled through the crowd, he talked about things that are important to them - health care, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, a community center they want on the island, a bicycle path, and on and on.
``If you have anything to do with the Fessenden Center, you're all right,'' said Iris Anderson of Buxton, referring to the hoped-for complex residents want to see on the island. ``If I'm still living when it comes, I want you to help me walk through the front door.''
``You won't need my help, but I'll be happy to,'' Lancaster replied, smiling.
Some folks, even a few supporters, describe Lancaster as being professorial, sometimes stiff when dealing with people one-on-one. But on this day, he is at home.
``It's unfortunate that television has become such a big part of campaigning,'' he said. ``Meeting people at an event like this is the most important thing. I try to get back to the district as often as I can. That's the only way you can find out what people are feeling.''
Lancaster got an earful of feeling as he worked through the gathering. One man asked him about the vote on the Clinton economic package that opponents have blasted as the largest tax hike in history. The vote has been fodder for Republican candidates throughout the country because it won House approval by a single vote.
``That's been one of the success stories,'' Lancaster said. ``More jobs have been created in the past 20 months than in the past five years. This has been a tremendous boost to the economy.''
But the ``success story'' Lancaster points to with pride is that the tobacco industry emerged from the 103rd Congress without the burden of additional taxes. North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District is the nation's largest tobacco-producer. Lancaster, the son of a tobacco farmer, was part of a united bipartisan effort by the North Carolina House and Senate delegations to fight off disaster on Tobacco Road. His efforts will win him at least one vote on Hatteras Island.
``My son is a tobacco farmer,'' said Alvania Sims, 65, of Buxton. ``He's going to get my vote because of the support he's given to the farmers. I think it's a good thing the kept it off.''
Lancaster also used the opportunity on Hatteras to talk about going head-on with the Clinton administration on health care. The Jones campaign has tried to link Lancaster with the president through television ads that allege Lancaster voted with the president 81 percent of the time. The Lancaster campaign, however, points out that Lancaster voted against the administration more than any other Democrat in the North Carolina delegation, specifically against a health care plan that would have relied heavily on a tobacco tax for funding.
``I've fought very hard against the president's health care package because I thought it was too bureaucratic, and because I thought it would cripple the economy of my district,'' he said.
Lancaster says he has worked as part of a bipartisan effort to support a health care plan that does not include employer mandates, a stand that helped win him the support of the National Federation of Independent Business.
Lancaster says the bill will provide health coverage for 92 percent of all Americans with no additional taxes, and savings of $50 to $60 billion by the end of the century.
Lancaster also points to other ``schemes'' by legislators on both sides of the aisle, aimed at damaging the district's biggest cash crop.
``Republican Whip Newt Gingrich (of Georgia) wanted a tobacco tax to pay for GATT (The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs). Democrat Mike Synar (of Oklahoma) would use a heavy tax to kill the industry. The FDA and the EPA would regulate us into oblivion. Administration proposals began with $2 per pack of cigarettes. We felt it was necessary to fight them in the trenches for dollars and nickels to get them down to less than a quarter, just in case we lost our primary goal of no tax at all.''
Lancaster has drawn fire from Jones for his support of the Clinton crime bill, despite receiving a campaign contribution from the National Rifle Association.
``We cannot continue spending money for prisons without spending money for the prevention of crime,'' Lancaster said. ``Republicans call prevention programs `pork,' but it's not pork if it keeps young people from committing crime. If Mr. Jones and the Republicans want to continue to spend tax dollars locking away prisoners, without spending money for preventing crime, that's irresponsible.''
Lancaster says he did not support the assault weapons ban and that he tried unsuccessfully to have that portion of the measure voted on separately.
Lancaster also highlights his efforts against base and military closures impacting North Carolina and Virginia. He has been endorsed by VFWPAC, the political arm of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Just before his speech on Hatteras, Lancaster headed over to shake the soot-blackened hands of a man who helped prepare the barbecue for the Octoberfest pig picking.
``My Dad was the greatest barbecue cook in the world,'' Lancaster said, munching on a mouthful of the main course. ``He'd like this,'' he said with a smile.
The man smiled back. ``You got my vote.''
Lancaster acknowledges that because he has been in Congress, he is behind his opponent in terms of time on the campaign trail. But there is no regret.
``I have a 98 percent voting record in Congress,'' Lancaster says. ``I find it interesting that my opponent says he missed votes in the General Assembly because he was running for Congress (in 1992 against Eva Clayton). I wasn't elected to run for Congress, I was elected to represent the people of the 3rd District.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DREW C. WILSON/Staff
Rep. Martin Lancaster, left, talks politics while campaigning for
his seat. He says that voters, far from disdaining him as an
incumbent, appreciate the work he has done for the district.
Graphic
MARTIN LANCASTER
Age: 51
Home: Goldsboro
Education: Pikeville High School, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill A.B., J.D.
Profession: Attorney
Military Experience: Member Judge Advocate General Corps, Navy,
1968-1970. Currently holds rank of Captain Selectee in the
Reserves.
Political Experience: Member, U.S. House of Representatives
(1987-), Member, North Carolina House of Representatives 1978-86. In
Congress, Lancaster is a member of the House Armed Services
Committee.
Family: Wife, Alice Metheny Lancaster;
Daughters: Ashley Elizabeth Lancaster and Mary Martin Lancaster
KEYWORDS: ELECTION NORTH CAROLINA CANDIDATES by CNB