THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260675
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
'Tis an election season to be jolly, by golly, and when Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. comes to Elizabeth City next week to help Democratic candidates, he will be greeted by a red-haired female named Rosalyn who has been known to kick up her heels.
``I think Rosalyn at one time hung around a harness horse race track,'' said Tildon Whitehurst Sr., a Perquimans County Democrat.
Whitehurst or his son probably will drive Rosalyn, a 12-year-old sorrel mare, when she makes a grand entrance with the governor on Nov. 3 at the 4-H Livestock Arena behind the Museum of the Albemarle.
``She can trot or pace and she should look fine pulling a Pennsylvania Amish buggy,'' said Whitehurst, a horse fancier as well as a contractor.
``Actually, the buggy is a reproduction of an old Amish buggy; it's only five or six years old but it's beautifully made and so is the leather harness,'' Whitehurst said.
Hunt is coming to Elizabeth City next Thursday to make hay for William C. ``Bill'' Owens Jr., a Democratic Pasquotank County commissioner who is running for the 1st District seat in the N.C. House of Representatives.
Owens, a stalwart in the Democrat Party, is opposed by Republican John Schrote of Corolla. Schrote held executive jobs with the U.S. Agriculture Department and at the White House in the Reagan and Bush administrations.
Hunt takes pride in running his Wilson County farm when he isn't governing or practicing law and he's expected to feel at home in the barnyard-fragrance of the 4-H Livestock Arena.
Several years ago the governor was the target of ``Oles!'' and other bullfighter jokes after he was attacked and knocked down by one of his steers.
``Casual attire is encouraged,'' said a message this week from Catherine Meggs, chairwoman of the Pasquotank County Democratic Party, as a reminder that thousands of animals have visited the 4-H Arena.
Meggs also said that ``a few $10 tickets for the governor's visit are still available.''
The party will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Meggs said.
Master of ceremonies for the Hunt visit will be incumbent 1st District Rep. Vernon G. James, who did not seek re-election this year. James, a Weeksville farmer, has been in the legislature, on and off, since 1945 but will step down when his term ends in December.
After reapportionment in 1992, the 1st N.C. House District includes four Northeastern counties. by CNB