THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 6, 1994 TAG: 9412060340
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
With the swearing-in of county commissioners across North Carolina on Monday, Republicans took control of more county boards than at any time in at least 20 years.
That change could mean that issues including prayer in schools and restrictions on smoking will get new consideration.
The GOP will control 42 of the state's 100 county boards - 15 more than two years ago and the most since the N.C. Association of County Commissioners began keeping track 20 years ago.
The latest gains indicate that the Republican Party has reached beyond state and federal offices into traditionally Democratic local government.
``This is a major breakthrough in terms of the party becoming a force in the political arena,'' said GOP state chairman Jack Hawke. ``A lot of Democrats would vote for Republicans for president or governor, but not for county commissioner. Once you begin to win those local elections, then you have a true two-party state.''
From a political standpoint, the change bodes well for the GOP. Republicans won majorities in urban counties, such as Wake, Mecklenburg and Forsyth, as well as rural counties from Brunswick in the east to Madison in the west, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.
For years, Republicans controlled only a handful of the 100 boards of commissioners, primarily in the mountains. As recently as 1982, they constituted a majority on 11 boards, and Democrats dominated 89. But in every election since, the gap has narrowed.
Ed Regan, deputy director of the statewide Association of County Commissioners, speculated that increased Republican presence in county government would accelerate the trend toward contracting out services and privatization.
``There's more of a conservative mood,'' Regan said. ``Folks want more bang for their tax dollars. One potential way is to privatize and form more contractual relations.''
Wake commissioners are urging the school board to hire outside contractors to provide pest control and janitorial services.
In another area, the trend toward increased restrictions on smoking in public may be halted, Regan said.
``Smoking bans are seen by some folks as an imposition of government where government shouldn't intervene,'' Regan said. ``Generally, the more conservative trend suggests some of those bans may be reversed, primarily in eastern counties because of the continuing importance of tobacco as a cash crop.''
Darrell Frye, a Republican commissioner from Randolph County, predicted that promoting a moment of silence for prayer in school would be an issue for county boards.
``That is one of the things that some of the more conservative candidates mentioned, and they got elected,'' Frye said. ``I know that our board adopted a resolution to return prayer in schools.''
Democrats aren't out of luck everywhere.
Voters in Jackson County installed a four-member Republican majority for the first time in memory, while electing by a 57-vote margin a Democrat newcomer, T.C. Lewis, as chairman.
``The voters wanted me in office real bad,'' Lewis quipped. ``The votes showed it. But they wanted four Republicans to watch me.'' by CNB