George W. Little, also a GOP candidate, said he had no comment when asked about Blake’s endorsement of his opponent.
“He’s in the Senate with him,” Little said.
Blake, a Pinehurst Republican, represents a district that encompasses Moore and Lee counties and part of Harnett County.
Little, a Southern Pines businessman, was the first Republican to announce his candidacy for governor. He is chairman of the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees and is a former secretary of the state Department of Natural and Economic Resources. Little is a past chairman of the National Association of Community College Trustees.
BALLANTINE — Ballantine, whose district covers New Hanover County, is Republican leader in the Senate.
“It is very humbling to have the support of so many of my colleagues in the General Assembly,” Ballantine said. “Their help will be crucial to our success in the 2004 election, and as governor, I will count on their help in delivering a new vision for the citizens of North Carolina.”
The other state senators endorsing Ballantine are Austin Allran, Tom Apodaca, Phil Berger, Stan Bingham, Bob Carpenter, John Carrington, Jim Forrester, Virginia Foxx, John Garwood, Fletcher Hartsell, Ham Horton, Robert Pittenger, Bob Rucho, R.B. Sloan, Fred Smith, Richard Stevens and Jerry Tillman.
PERSONNEL — Moore County Manager Steve Wyatt has announced the employment of a personnel director.
Wyatt told the county commissioners at the Aug. 4 meeting that Joyce McGehee would assume these new duties on Aug. 13. McGehee will move here from Sanford, where she has been engaged in personnel work with private industry.
McGehee has 20 years of experience in personnel work, Wyatt said.
The position of personnel director has been vacant for more than two years, largely because of a hiring freeze imposed because of budgetary restraints.
EDWARDS — U.S. Sen. John Edwards met with former Pillowtex employees in Kannapolis Thursday.
In response to Pillowtex’s closing and the continuing loss of textile jobs, Edwards asked the Labor Department for at least $38 million in emergency assistance. He has also reintroduced legislation to defend North Carolina’s industries from unfair trade practices and to help displaced workers and their communities recover.
Earlier in the week, Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Gov. Mike Easley met with former Pillowtex employees.
GOP — North Carolina and Moore County Republicans lost no time in attacking Edwards after revelations that he was four months late paying his property taxes in Washington, D.C.
“Perhaps he thought that he was special and did not have to pay his taxes,” said Moore County Republican Chairwoman Elizabeth Kelly, in a news release from the county party.
County Vice Chairman Matt McWilliams joined Kelly in criticizing the North Carolina Democrat and former Moore County resident.
“He makes what...$10 million a year chasing ambulances,” McWilliams said in the same news release. “I can see why it would be hard to fork over the 11 grand. Perhaps the mail is slower in getting to Iowa.” McWilliams was making a dig at Edwards’ presidential campaigning efforts in Iowa.
Edwards’ late payment of $11,092.46 in taxes on a residence in the Georgetown region of Washington also prompted a release from the state GOP.
“This pattern of stunning irresponsibility with his public duties is count number one in the indictment of his ability and fitness for public office. This is absolutely disgraceful,” said Linda Daves, interim chairwoman of the North Carolina Republican Party.
WITHDRAWS — Gabriel R. Roy has withdrawn his name as a candidate for the Whispering Pines Village Council, according to the Moore County Board of Elections.
He was one of seven candidates seeking two seats on the five-member council. The remaining candidates are William C. Bateman, Henson Frost, Giles Hopkins, Gail Julian, Robert J. Vetter and Edward J. Sharkany. None are incumbents. The seats carry four-year terms.
