Political Digest
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 18, 2004 2:14 AM
Schools candidate endorsed
by state employees union
The political committee of the State Employees Association of North Carolina has voted to endorse J.B. Buxton for state schools superintendent.
SEANC represents the interest of over 57,000 current and retired state employees, including members in the public schools and the Department of Public Instruction.
Prior to entering the Democratic primary, Buxton was senior education adviser for Gov. Mike Easley.
Gilmore names campaign
chairmen for Wayne area
Tom Gilmore, a Democrat running for agriculture commissioner, has announced his Wayne County campaign chairmen.
His Wayne County chairman is Jerry West, a fifth-generation family farmer growing a variety of crops including tobacco, corn, wheat, and cotton. He also maintains two turkey operations.
The Duplin County chairman is Larry Shaw, a third-generation farmer with 650 acres of wheat, corn and soybeans in Wallace.
The Johnston County chairman is William Wellons, the former executive director of Johnston County's Farm Service Agency.
In Lenoir County, it's County Commissioner George Graham.
Black business owners
announce endorsements
The Wayne Black Businessmen has endorsed the following candidates in the July 20, 2004 primaries:
*Lt. Governor -- Thomas Stith (R).
*U.S. Congress, District 1 -- G.K. Butterfield for the unexpired term of Frank Ballance. It also endorses G.K. Butterfield in the Democrat primary and Jerry Williford in the Republican primary.
*Commissioner of Insurance -- Cindy Huntsberry (R).
*Wayne County Register of Deeds -- John Chance (D).
*N.C. State House, District 10 -- Willie Ray Starling (R).
The president of the organization is Loo Oates Jr. of Goldsboro. The organization's Web site is www.twoffice.com/shopblackdollars/index.html.