The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996                TAG: 9601010103
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: SUNBURY                            LENGTH: Short :   23 lines

BUSINESSMAN TO SEEK AGRICULTURE JOB

Earl Rountree, a Gates County agribusinessman and stalwart Republican, thinks North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham, an equally stalwart Democrat, has been in office long enough.

So Rountree announced Friday he plans to run for Graham's job in the coming elections.

``Mr. Graham has been in office for 30 years and if he hasn't done what he started out to do by now, he never will,'' said Rountree. ``It's time to put Republicans on the North Carolina Council of State.''

Rountree, 53, said he plans to be first in line when the State Board of Elections in Raleigh opens for filing on Tuesday. by CNB