GOP targets local N.C. House seat

The N.C. Republican Party is targeting Nash County and the seat held by N.C. Rep. Randy Stewart, a Rocky Mount Democrat, as conservatives chart an ambitious plan to claim a majority in N.C. General Assembly.

N.C. GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer and N.C. House Minority Leader Paul Stam worked to rally support Thursday in Rocky Mount, calling on local party stalwarts to offer time, money and perhaps their candidacy to beat the Democrats and Stewart, D-Nash, in the 2010 election.

Fetzer told the small crowd at Gardner’s Barbecue Restaurant he believes the Democratic Party is on its heels after passing an unpopular tax package in the General Assembly and said the timing of the national health care debate could lead to an influx of conservative voters for the congressional mid-term election.

“This health care bill is very, very bad for senior citizens,” Fetzer said. “If this bill passes, it will end health care as we know it, and it will be the end of the Democratic Party.”

Fetzer said the Republicans’ messages on the state budget and on health care – that reform will lead to rationing end-of-life care for elderly, a claim disputed by most experts – is resonating with the base and paves the way for the first GOP majority in the General Assembly in more than 110 years.

“This is a unique time in history,” Fetzer said. “We owe it to this state to work hard and make government work again.”

State Republicans have targeted a dozen Democratic-controlled seats in the N.C. House seats and about eight seats in the N.C. Senate they believe they can win in 2010. The District 25 seat held by Stewart has traditionally been a conservative-leaning swing district and is prime for the taking, Fetzer said.

“Mr. Stewart will be held accountable for his vote in favor of this terrible budget,” Fetzer said.

Stewart, in his first term in office, voted to approve the state budget signed earlier this month by Gov. Bev Perdue. The plan raises an additional $1 billion in revenues to close the funding gap, mostly through a sales tax hike and income tax increases for the wealthy.

Stewart could not be reached for comment.

Stam said the budget process was distorted to make the economic crisis seem worse than it was. No Republicans voted for the budget in either chamber.

Some in the crowd asked why Republicans weren’t targeting seats held by N.C. Sen. A.B. Swindell, D-Nash, or N.C. Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe. Fetzer said the district lines “drawn by Democrats” make it very difficult for Republicans to win those seats.

“That’s why it’s so important we take advantage of this opportunity,” Fetzer said. “Imagine if we elect a Republican majority and are able to redraw those lines so they’re fair and so we have true competition in state government.”