Editorial: For N.C. Senate

On Nov. 4, North Carolina voters will head to the polls for the general election. The Daily Reflector will recommend candidates in races prior to that vote, and today focuses on the race for N.C. Senate District 5.

The retirement of longtime N.C. Sen. John Kerr leaves a significant hole in Pitt County's delegation to the General Assembly. Though Kerr began representing the county in 2004 following redistricting, he was one of the most influential lawmakers in Raleigh and his absence will be felt.

Seeking to replace him are Don Davis, who emerged from a crowded field to win the Democratic Party nomination, and Republican Louis Pate, who was without opposition in his primary.

With N.C. Sen. Clark Jenkins, an Edgecombe County resident, running unopposed for the District 3 seat, Pitt County is assured of being without a homegrown member of the Senate for another two years. That is unfortunate, because while Pitt County shares many qualities with surrounding counties, it also makes some unique demands of its legislative representation.

Eastern North Carolina does present a number of vexing issues for legislative remedy, most notably the need for economic development and stable job growth. District 5, which includes parts of Pitt and Wayne counties as well as Greene, suffers from high levels of unemployment, low wages and low levels of education among its populace.

Davis, 37, has served as mayor of Snow Hill since 2001, and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy who served on the East Carolina University Board of Visitors.

Pate, 72, is a four-time member of the state House and a former mayor of Mount Olive. He has served on the Global TransPark Board of Directors and, like Davis, is a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Experience is a popular and valuable measuring stick for those seeking public office, and it is relevant in this race. Pate boasts eight years in the General Assembly, serving constituents in Wayne County's District 11. Though he has executive experience as a mayor, Davis lacks a comparable record as a lawmaker and would be new to the legislative experience.

However, the more pressing concern should be the issues each pursued while in those positions.

Pate speaks with an incumbent's depth of knowledge, but has campaigned for this seat using reliable, and predictable, conservative talking points — like arguing that his opponent supports pork barrel spending in the form of the Sparta Teapot Museum that won considerable state and federal funds.

Davis, however, offers a more progressive vision about the issues facing District 5 and the need to invest in education, rural economic development and infrastructure construction. He has tremendous energy and a great potential for representing the district.

While it is true Davis lacks Raleigh experience, his fresh perspective should be valuable to the district and to this community. Voters should favor him over Pate.