Republicans are highlighting Democratic seats in the state House they think could go their way in the fall, based on polling results published by two conservative-leaning polling outfits.
Democrats hold 68 seats and Republicans hold 52 seats in the state House. The House Republican caucus thinks the polling data show it has a chance at taking enough seats to win a majority.
The polls were conducted over the last few months for the conservative Civitas Institute and by the Carolina Strategy Group, a Raleigh firm whose principals lean Republican. The polls in question were generally surveys of registered voters in a district, which doesn't necessarily measure opinion of the people who will actually vote in a local legislative race.
But the analysis is instructive as to which races Republicans are targeting for the House. Notably, the list includes the seat now held by Democratic Majority Leader Hugh Holliman, a Lexington Democrat. Holliman faces his 2008 challenger, Rayne Brown.
Here are some of the other races:
Rep. Alice Underhill, a New Bern Democrat, faces Norman Sanderson in November. The campaign is a rematch from two years ago.
Rep. Arthur Williams, a Washington Democrat, vs. Republican Bill Cook.
Rep. Van Braxton, a Kinston Democrat, is in a rematch against Republican Stephen LaRoque.
Democratic Rep. Randy Stewart of Rocky Mount vs. Republican Jeff Collins.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Love of Sanford vs. Republican Mike Stone.
Democrat Jane Whilden of Asheville vs. Tim Moffitt.
Democratic Rep. Lorene Coates of Salisbury vs. Republican Harry Warren.
Democratic Rep. Cullie Tarleton of Blowing Rock vs. Republican Jonathan Jordan.
As a bonus, the roundup includes an open seat in Mecklenburg County and a seat held by a Republican, Rep. Nelson Dollar of Cary, that has been targeted by Democrats.
Education coalition on hold
Education: Everybody's Business, a coalition of education and business groups, is taking an indefinite break.
The group has suspended its monthly meetings until a member suggests a new common goal to work toward, said Chairwoman Jo Ann Norris, who is the Public School Forum associate executive director.
Everybody's Business, formed in 1991, was big in promoting school bond issues. Its main interest was in K-12 education, but it also supported the $3.1 billion bond issue for state universities and community colleges in 2000.
The Forum, the N.C. Chamber, the Chamber Federation, the state School Boards Association and the professional organization for school administrators are members.
There's less agreement these days on school budget matters. Everybody's Business stayed on the sidelines during discussions of broadening the tax base and other debates on how to pay for schools.
"If you're talking about new revenue streams - finding more sources or new sources of taxes, any way that you can find more funds for K-12 schools - sometimes our business partners do not feel they're about to support something with that specificity," Norris said.
Regular meetings are off unless a member wants to call one, Norris said, but the coalition is still alive.
Pool hall defends smoking
A Greensboro pool hall is fighting the state's smoking ban in court.
Gate City Billiards appealed a $200 penalty issued by the Guilford County Department of Public Health, saying that the 7-month-old ban on smoking in restaurants and bars is unconstitutional.
Specifically, lawyers for the pool hall argued in a court filing that the law's exemption for private, nonprofit clubs is a violation of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
"Allowing smoking in nonprofit private clubs, including country clubs, but forbidding smoking in for profit private clubs is not rationally related to the legitimate government interest of protecting public health," wrote Seth Cohen and J. David James in an appeal of the penalty.
A hearing on the case is scheduled for Friday.
By staff writers Benjamin Niolet and Lynn Bonner
