THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 28, 1996 TAG: 9610280054
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SERIES: DECISION 96
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 84 lines
Two-term Pasquotank County Commissioner Zee Lamb is facing a determined Republican after going unchallenged in his first two elections.
And challenger Dr. Jerry Goldschmidt is making a fight of the only contested battle for county commissioner.
``He's a big-government type of politician that believes government has all the answers,'' said Gold-schmidt, an Elizabeth City ophthalmologist. ``I respect his opinion. I vigorously disagree with it.''
Goldschmidt has run large ads contending Lamb spoke against tax increases before the primaries, then voted for them afterward.
``Unfortunately,'' Lamb said, ``my opponent is running a negative campaign of distortion against me. He has attempted to mislead voters as to my record.''
Goldschmidt proposes to solve local problems by shrinking government.
``There seems to be a mindset that tax rates must always go up,'' he said. ``I'd like to reverse that mindset. I believe in privatization of services. I believe strongly in civic, community and charitable organizations. The government should be strong but limited.''
Lamb says Goldschmidt can't do what he says he will.
``It's a bunch of campaign rhetoric to say you will lower taxes year after year,'' said Lamb. ``We have mandated programs, and we're getting less assistance from the federal and state governments, yet increased demands for public education. That makes it hard to lower taxes. Everyone would like to do it. I just don't think it's realistic.''
Lamb said the Pasquotank County Commission had not raised taxes in the three years before this year's increase.
``There is no fat in the Pasquotank County budget. It was the first time in 15 years, we'd gone three years without a tax increase, and I'm proud of that. This year's 5 cent tax increase is paying for $23 million in school construction.''
Goldschmidt said he will reduce school expenses - 40 percent of the county budget - by instituting school vouchers.
``That will take the burden from the public schools,'' said Goldschmidt. ``More importantly, it brings about competition. Competition brings out the best in anything, whether it's an ophthalmology practice or schools.''
He also would reduce the role of government.
``The Commission should concern itself with policy. There is too much micromanaging. We have a county manager and his staff. These are the people who should do the work.''
Lamb opposes school vouchers.
``I believe if you provide school vouchers it will reduce the quality of public education,'' he said.
Lamb's most pressing goal for the next four years is to build a new high school. He said if the $1.8 billion school bond passes, then Pasquotank County will get $13.2 million to build a second high school.
Lamb also wants to increase county employee salaries and modernize the Sheriff's Department. He said he will also pursue a regional water project to build a reverse osmosis system of water purification.
Goldschmidt, 53, is married to the former Marianne Byrne and has two grown children. He received his degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1969. Goldschmidt served nine years in the Navy and attained the rank of commander. He served as chief of surgery and chief of staff while working at Albemarle Hospital.
This is the first time he has run for political office, but he is fully confident he can beat Lamb.
``Mr. Lamb had two challengers in the primary, and he's not as popular as he'd like to be,'' said Goldschmidt. ``I've found by knocking on doors there is a negative feeling about Mr. Lamb, even among Democrats. I'll need a significant amount of crossover votes, and I think they are there.''
Lamb, 35, believes he has plenty of support from both sides.
``I have received quite a bit of support and contributions from Republicans,'' said Lamb. ``Local politics are not partisan. People know my heart is in the right place as far as Pasquotank County is concerned.''
Lamb is married with three young children. He graduated from Duke University and got his law degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Lamb has his own law practice in Elizabeth City.
He has served on the Commission since 1988 and has been the chairman for two years. He serves on the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and the National Association of Counties Board of Directors.
Hugh Clinkscales and Levin Culpepper, both Democrats, are running unopposed for two other seats on the seven-member Pasquotank County Commission. Culpepper will take the position held by Davis Sawyer, who declined to run for reelection.
KEYWORDS: PASQUOTANK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RACE by CNB