THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 22, 1994 TAG: 9410220257
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: MOUNT OLIVE LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
What was intended to be a debate between two congressional candidates Friday turned into a forum for Rep. Martin Lancaster when his Republican challenger failed to show.
The American Association of Retired Persons sponsored the event, which was to feature Lancaster, a Goldsboro Democrat, and challenger Walter B. Jones Jr. of Greensboro.
Instead, Republican State Rep. Carolyn Russell brought a letter of regret from Jones, and Lancaster answered questions from a panel of journalists and community leaders and from the audience.
Karen Rotterman, Jones' chief campaign adviser, said she informed the AARP weeks ago that Jones had a scheduling conflict and could not attend. Fliers announcing the event were misleading, she said.
Many of the questions Lancaster fielded dealt with President Clinton's health plan and proposed tobacco taxes, the Goldsboro News-Argus reported.
On health care, Lancaster said he believes a bipartisan plan that does not include new taxes or add to the bureaucracy is the type of reform most likely to pass.
``In my opinion,'' Lancaster said, ``the Clinton administration's health proposal is dead and it will not be resurrected.''
Lancaster also was asked about a proposal by Democratic Rep. Charlie Rose to purchase quotas from tobacco farmers, bringing an end to federal price supports.
``I have many unanswered questions about Congressman Rose's proposal,'' he replied, adding that he did not approve of higher tobacco taxes to pay for the buyout. by CNB