THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060282
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
After running unopposed the last three elections, the man generally considered North Carolina's most powerful legislator will be challenged next fall by a newcomer seeking his first elected office.
Democratic State Sen. Marc Basnight will be opposed in the November election by Republican candidate Charles D. ``Chuck'' Elms. Both are from Manteo, and both are unopposed in party primaries May 7.
``It annoyed me that there wasn't anyone running against him,'' Elms said Monday. ``The voters need to have a choice.''
Basnight, 48, said he welcomes the challenge.
``It doesn't surprise me,'' the senator said. ``I'm certainly prepared to present myself the best way I can.''
Elms, 68, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for county commissioner two years ago, has served on the Airport Authority in Manteo.
A retired commercial pilot, he lived in New York and Connecticut until he moved to Manteo 10 years ago.
Elms said he worked on Barry Goldwater's congressional campaign in New York in 1963 and has been active in the Republican Party all his life.
After winning a seat in the Senate in 1984, Basnight was elected president pro tempore in 1993 by his colleagues.
While noting the popularity of his opponent, Elms said he's confident he will have the support to run a ``credible campaign,'' and will appeal to voters with a conservative Republican platform.
``Everybody's beatable,'' Elms said.
Basnight didn't argue the point.
``I don't believe that anyone is unbeatable,'' he said. ``I have no monopoly on this seat. . . but I hope I have a lot of Republican support.''
In another state race, Democratic State Rep. William T. Culpepper III, 86th district, will be facing two challengers in the May primary.
Rocky D. Midgette of Manteo and Bill Forbes of Washington will be vying against Culpepper in the Democratic primary.
Culpepper was appointed to fill the seat vacated by the late Rep. R.M ``Pete'' Thompson in May 1993. He won the same seat in the 1994 election.
``It'll be a new experience for me, because I have not had acontested election yet,'' Culpepper said Monday. ``I'm just planning to get out and see the people - I think that we'll do well.''
Forbes could not be reached for comment.
Midgette, 37, said in a prepared statement that he will represent the interests of the working class.
``We need representatives in government who know what it's like to run out of grocery money before the end of the month,'' wrote Midgette, who has served two years on the Manteo Town Commission. by CNB