Voter Guide: North Carolina contested races

Here, we present a glimpse at the big local, state and federal races you’ll vote on at the polls.

Currituck County Board of Commissioners | District 3 seat | District 5 seat | Currituck County Sheriff | Currituck County Board of Education | Crawford Township seat | Poplar Branch Township seat | Dare County Board of Commissioners | Dare County sheriff | N.C. Senate, District 1 | N.C. House of Representatives, District 1 | N.C. House, District 2

Currituck County Board of Commissioners

At Large seat

Gene Gregory (D)*
Age: 69
Personal: Married, two adult children
Education: High school; pilot’s license
Employment: Retired from Ford Motor Co.
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Commissioners, 1992-2004; 2006 to present
Issues: Stop the Navy from building an outlying landing field in Camden and Currituck counties.

Paul Martin (R)
Age: 65
Personal: Married, one adult child
Education: Master’s degree in social studies from Marshall University
Employment: Retired school teacher
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Commissioners, 2002-06
Issues: Economy and jobs. Pinpoint the best industries for Currituck County and focus on them, offering incentives as needed.

District 3 seat

David Palmer (D)
Age: 55
Personal: Married, two adult children
Education: Certificate from Nashville Auto-Diesel College
Employment: Owner of Lindale Auto Service in Chesapeake
Political experience: Chairman of Currituck County Economic Development Advisory Board, chairman of the Tourism Advisory Board, Currituck Chamber of Commerce board of directors
Issues: Jobs. Follow long-term strategic plans for attracting industry. Promote industrial park at airport.

Harold “Butch” Petrey (R)
Age: 63
Personal: Married, two adult children
Education: High school; captain’s license for charter boats
Employment: Retired from sales and management with Motorola and Nextel Communications
Political experience: None
Issues: Jobs and economy. Focus on businesses already in Currituck County. Attract government contractors.

District 5 seat

Marion Gilbert (R)
Age: 46
Personal: Single
Education: High school; certificate in human resources management from Old Dominion University
Employment: Earl Industries in Portsmouth in human resources
Political experience: Past president and treasurer of Central Chesapeake Republican Women’s Club
Issues: Stop the Navy from building an outlying landing field in Camden and Currituck counties. Keep taxes low.

Janet Taylor (D)*
Age: 50
Personal: Married, adult children
Education: High school; certificate in hair styling from Virginia Beach Technical and Career Education Center
Employment: Owner of Taylor’s Total Look in Moyock
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Education, 1992-2006; Currituck County Board of Commissioners, 2006 to present
Issues: Maintain a sound county budget and stop the Navy from building an outlying landing field in Camden and Currituck counties.

Currituck County Sheriff

Susan Johnson (D)*
Age: 55
Personal: Married, four adult children
Education: High school; graduate of North Carolina Sheriff Leadership Institute
Employment: Currituck sheriff
Political experience: Sheriff, 2000 to present.
Issues: Drug and gang prevention education.

Donald Norrell (R)
Age: 53
Personal: Married, adult children
Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminology from Saint Leo University
Employment: Retired from Norfolk Police Department
Political experience: None
Issues: Get better control of property crimes and illegal drug use in schools.

Currituck County Board of Education

At large seat

William “Bill” Dobney
Age: 62
Personal: Single, two adult children
Education: Doctorate in education administration from Virginia Tech
Employment: Retired as superintendent of Currituck County Schools
Political experience: None
Issues: Improve student achievement including test scores. Place full-time nurses in each school.

Patricia Stretar*
Age: 59
Personal: Married, two children
Education: Nursing degree
Employment: Retired nurse
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Education, 2006 to present
Issues: Hire and retain the most talented teachers. Supports superintendent, accreditation and AVID program.

Crawford Township seat

Sharon Martz*
Age: 60
Personal: Married, two adult children
Education: Master’s degree in education from West Virginia University; master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from East Carolina University
Employment: Financial administrator for Albtuck Family Medical Practice
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Education 2002 to present
Issues: Supports superintendent, accreditation and AVID program that helps average students prepare for college.

Jackie Simmons
Age: 54
Personal: Married, three children
Education: Bachelor’s degree in industrial arts from Norfolk State University
Employment: Retired from Chesapeake schools
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Education, 1998-2002
Issues: Improve test scores. Questions programs such as AVID and flex bell.

Poplar Branch Township seat

Julie Douglass
Age: 68
Personal: Married, one adult child
Education: Master’s degree in reading instruction from the University of Delaware
Employment: Retired as administrator from Currituck County Schools
Political experience: None
Issues: Improve test scores and teacher morale.

Karen Etheridge
Age: 49
Personal: Married, three adult children
Education: High school; North Carolina Real Estate Institute
Employment: Real estate broker and substitute teacher
Political experience: None
Issues: Improve teacher morale. Concerned with budget shortfall next year.

Cathy Midgette-Hatcher*
Age: 52
Personal: Married, two adult children
Education: Associate’s degree in cosmetology from Pitt Community College
Employment: Owner of Shear Designs
Political experience: Currituck County Board of Education, 2002 to present
Issues: Concerned with budget shortfall from state funding cuts. Supports superintendent.

Michael Payment
Age: 46
Personal: Married, one adult child
Education: Associate’s degree from College of the Albemarle; certification in nuclear power from a U.S. Navy school
Employment: Owner of heating and air-conditioning company
Political experience: None
Issues: Retain the best teachers and expand vocational courses.

Dare County Board of Commissioners

Robin Mann (D)
Age: 49
Residence: Manns Harbor
Family: Husband, Paul, of 14 years; f our children
Education: Graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Suffolk, Va.; various business classes and seminars
Occupation: Co-owner and chief financial officer at Paul Mann Custom Boats in Manns Harbor; background in real estate
Political experience: No elected offices; some appointments and nonprofit work
Position statement: I know Dare County. As a permanent resident since 1984, I have spent my entire adult life living and working here. I have made a living here during prosperous times and periods of economic hardship. I have a thorough understanding of the economy and people of Dare County. The current economic climate poses serious long-term challenges to our county. As a successful business owner and proven civic and community leader, I am prepared and ready to serve as your commissioner. I am energetic with a strong work ethic and an ability to get things done. I will work to promote and diversify our economy and build a business environment that will result in more year-round jobs. I pledge to maintain our high quality of life while being a fair and responsible steward of your tax dollars. It would be an honor to serve you, and I respectfully ask for your vote.

Jack Shea (R)*
Age: Candidate declined to answer
Residence: Southern Shores
Family: Wife, Jacqueline, of four years; four children
Education: Bachelor of Science degree from Bethany College; attended Princeton and Columbia universities
Occupation: President of a medical consulting company; background in management
Political experience: Dare County Commissioner, 2007 to present
Position statement: Here in Dare County, we have challenges facing us for the future: our unemployment rate is among the highest in the state (I have authored a plan to bring full-time jobs into the county); possible unfunded mandates imposed on us by the state; our ongoing struggle to have the aging Bonner Bridge replaced; our national and state economies and the unforeseen consequences of these situations. There is another major unknown: the Park Service’s final rules for access to the Cape Hatteras seashore. With my extensive management experience, my record for innovation and insisting that we live within our means, I believe I am well-equipped to help lead Dare County successfully into the future. If again honored to be re-elected, I assure you that I will work hard for you, and no decision of mine will have any financial gain for me and my consulting company.

Dare County Sheriff

John “Doug” Doughtie (R)
Age: 53
Family: Wife, Shanon; three sons.
Education: Graduate of Ridgecroft High School in Ahoskie, N.C; attended Elon College and completed law enforcement training.
Occupation: Part-time officer for Duck Police Department; 30 years in various law enforcement roles.
Political experience: None
Position statement: As sheriff, a large part of our plan involves a commitment to the people of Dare County and working directly with them. We will increase the presence of deputies in neighborhoods by getting out of vehicles and speaking directly with the people. Once relationships are built, all are more likely to assist and take a vested interest in the community. We will pursue active Neighborhood Watch programs. When law enforcement takes their responsibility personally and gains the truth and respect of the citizens, progress is made. By becoming involved, we will earn back the trust and respect of the citizens we serve. We will take the extra step to ensure that we are working every day to better our community. We will develop programs for children to build character and mutual respect. We will work to dismantle the out-of-control drug abuse problem by education, enforcement and actions.

Rodney Midgett (D)*
Age: 60
Family: Wife, Betty
Education: Graduate of Manteo High School; attended North Carolina Wesleyan College and completed law enforcement training
Occupation: Law enforcement officer since 1975
Political experience: Dare County sheriff, 2002 to present
Position statement: As a lifelong resident of Dare County with more than 35 years as a law enforcement officer here in Dare County, I have seen many changes in our communities. Social issues like substance abuse and domestic violence are just some of the examples that 35 years ago were not thought of as being problems in our communities. But as a law enforcement leader for more than 28 years and your sheriff for the past eight years, I have played a major role in addressing these issues. There is still more to do, but with your help, we will continue to make strides in the right direction to make our county even better. I am committed to you, your families and the communities that I serve. I am a proven leader and have the experience that you need to continue as your sheriff of Dare County.

N.C. Senate, District 1

The winning candidate will represent Beaufort, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Pasquotank, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

Marc Basnight (D)*
Age: 63
Family: Wife, Sandy (deceased); two adult children
Education: Graduate of Manteo High School
Occupation: Part owner of Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe in Nags Head
Political experience: North Carolina state senator, 1984 to present; president pro tempore, 1993 to present
Position statement: Thank you for the privilege of serving you in the North Carolina Senate. Northeastern North Carolina is home to special people who care deeply about our community and our future. I hope I’ve earned your trust and confidence, and that you will let me know if I can help you in any way. I believe that by working together, we have been able to make our area a better place to live. With your support, we have attracted new jobs, cut taxes for small businesses, funded transportation improvements to help us grow and strengthened higher education at our community colleges and state universities – just to name a few successes. If you feel I have done a job that is worthy of your vote, I would be grateful if you would allow me to keep working with you, and for you, as your state senator.

Hood Richardson (R)
Age: 70
Family: Wife, Shirley, of seven years; three adult sons
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in geological engineering from North Carolina State College at Raleigh
Occupation: Owner of engineering consulting company; 25 years of experience in the mining industry
Political experience: Beaufort County commissioner, 1996 to present
Position statement: I am a candidate for Senate District 1 because I believe we need a change in Raleigh. We need to end big government spending and oppressive regulations. I have a 14-year record as a county commissioner fighting to keep taxes low, reduce government and apply common sense to regulations. I believe we must return this state and nation to the principles upon which it was founded – that of limited government, fiscal responsibility and a government that protects our liberties. We need to turn our economy around and support small business in creating jobs. Government does not create jobs, it kills jobs.

N.C. House of Representatives, District 1

The winning candidate will represent Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank and Tyrrell counties.

John Woodard, (R)
Age: 65
Personal: Married, one adult child
Education: High school
Employment: Insurance claims adjuster
Political experience: None
Issues: Get control of the state budget that is projected to have a deficit next year of $3 billion to $4 billion. Job creation in the private sector.

W.C. “Bill” Owens (D)*
Age: 63
Personal: Single, one adult child
Education: High school
Employment: Owner, W.W. Owens and Sons; president of Albemarle Mini Warehouses; president of Taylor Mueller Realty
Political experience: North Carolina House of Representatives, 1994 to present
Issues Creating jobs. Protect local governments from mandates such as having to take on maintenance of secondary roads.

N.C. House, District 2

The winning candidate will represent Chowan, Dare, Hyde and Washington counties.

Tim Spear (D)*
Age: 58
Family: Wife, Judy; two adult children
Education: Attended Pitt Community College; received law enforcement certification from the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill
Occupation: Retired clerk of Superior Court in Washington County; nine years as law enforcement officer
Political experience: State House representative serving District 2, 2006 to present
Position statement: Recruitment of jobs, business and industry, keeping taxes low, funding for education, services for the elderly, keeping our communities safe, and providing services to people from their government are goals I will work to achieve. As a government, we must cut wasteful spending, consolidate services, eliminate programs that are no longer needed or useful, streamline state government, and be good stewards of taxpayer money. Every service and program in state government must be held accountable and reviewed for efficiency and effectiveness to determine whether funding should be continued, reduced or eliminated. We must prioritize state spending to ensure that core programs and services are provided to our citizens and that people are receiving a fair return from their government in exchange for the taxes and fees they pay. We must provide funding for infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads and bridges for our communities to grow. These issues will continue to be my priorities as your representative in Raleigh.

Bob Steinburg (R)
Age: 62
Family: Wife, Marie; two adult children
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in business from Upper Iowa University; associate’s degree in applied science from Corning Community College
Occupation: Retired marketing and sales manager
Political experience: No elected office; former chairman of the Chowan County Republican Party
Position statement: I filed to run for this seat in February. I am not a professional politician. I’m running because I feel the economic needs of most northeastern North Carolinians have been shortchanged for a decade or more. One-party rule has held a death grip on the people’s General Assembly for far too long. As a result, “We the People,” (along with future generations of our children and grandchildren), are burdened with debt that is the fifth highest in the nation. Reckless spending and irresponsibly high taxation have brought us to the brink. Enough is enough! I have visited with hundreds of folks throughout this district and have witnessed far too often the look of despair. The good people of District 2 are only looking for fairness and opportunity and an end to good-old-boy and pay-to-play politics. It’s time for truth, integrity and fairness in Raleigh. They will get that from me.

* indicates an incumbent.