Republicans play up Black scandal

Ethics is the issue in hot House races

CARY -- The scandals surrounding embattled Democratic House Speaker Jim Black became an issue Wednesday in two of the hottest state House races in the Triangle.

Republican state Reps. Nelson Dollar of Cary and Russell Capps of Raleigh described Democratic control of the legislature as ethically challenged, citing investigations into Black's dealings with the lottery and other issues.

"We can't have any more pay-to-play politics in this state," Dollar said at a breakfast meeting of the Cary Chamber of Commerce. "We can't go into the next session of the General Assembly with the specter of a possible indictment of the speaker of the House. People need to stand up and take a stand and tell the speaker to resign."

Dollar's Democratic challenger, Greer Beaty, said she supports efforts to clean up the legislature, including a ban on lobbyists making contributions to lawmakers.

"We need to elect people to office who will act with great integrity," Beaty said.

Democrats hold a 63-57 edge in the House. Republicans had hoped to take advantage of federal investigations into Black involving passage of the state lottery, fundraising tactics and other issues. Black has not been indicted, although Kevin L. Geddings, one of his appointees to the lottery commission, was recently convicted on federal charges growing out of his failure to disclose payments from a lottery company.

The state GOP has distributed "House for Sale" yard signs featuring a photograph of Black, but so far public opinion polls have suggested that it is not having a big impact on voters.

Instead, Republicans worry about a possible national Democratic tide growing out of dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq.

North Carolina Democrats argue that even Republican-leaning seats, such as those represented by Dollar and Capps, might be in play. Ty Harrell, a Raleigh Democrat who is challenging Capps, released a poll Wednesday showing him leading 40 percent to 32 percent, with 28 percent undecided. The survey of 400 likely voters was conducted Oct. 17-19 by the Mellman Group of Washington and had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Capps, a six-term House veteran, portrayed House Democrats as ethically challenged.

"The corruption that is surrounding our government today is a shame and a disgrace to North Carolina," he said.

Harrell said he is not accepting contributions from lobbyists and that if elected, he would not take daily travel and lodging expenses.

"I think this issue is well beyond Jim Black," Harrell said. "Character is something my parents taught me. It's what people do when you are not looking."

Capps and Dollar said they oppose giving local government the power to levy new taxes, preferring the current system of control by the legislature. But Harrell and Beaty said local officials should have the option of levying taxes to meet local needs.

Capps and Dollar also voiced opposition to governments providing financial incentives to companies that locate to or expand in North Carolina, saying it is unfair to existing businesses and not a wise use of tax money.

Beaty, a former state commerce official, said as long as other states provide such incentives, it would be hard for North Carolina to abolish them and remain competitive in recruiting jobs. Harrell said he favored giving new companies phased tax cuts.