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My column today:

The last High Point resident to serve in the state Senate could be the answer to a political trivia question.

Bruce Davis was at a loss when I spoke with him Monday. He's more focused on the next: himself, he hopes.

Davis, a county commissioner and former chairman, says he'll run against Sen. Katie Dorsett in District 28. Both are Democrats.

The race will put a challenger from High Point against an incumbent from Greensboro -- a match that never seems to favor High Point. That can change this year, said Davis. It's time "for High Point to step up and take a leadership position in the Senate."

It's been a while. The answer to the trivia question is Richard Chalk, a Republican elected in 1988 and defeated by Democrat Mary Seymour from Greensboro in 1990.

(Chalk later moved to South Carolina and now serves in that state's House of Representatives.)

But the matter isn't trivial to many in High Point, which for years was stuck at the tail end of legislative districts dominated by Greensboro. Then something happened in 2003: The General Assembly shifted the lines and handed High Point an opportunity. The city claims nearly half of Senate District 28 voters, compared to about 40 percent who live in south and east Greensboro. Most of the rest are in Jamestown and the Pleasant Garden area.

Davis said he's had his eye on the seat for a couple of years but decided to wait until Dorsett, who's 75, retired. He thought that would be this year. But when Greensboro political insiders began promoting state Rep. Alma Adams of Greensboro as Dorsett's eventual successor, he resolved to go ahead -- despite Dorsett's announcement last week that she's seeking another term.

Davis professed the "utmost respect" for Dorsett, a retired A&T professor and former Greensboro city councilwoman, county commissioner and member of Gov. Jim Hunt's cabinet. He offered no criticism of her record. Instead, he said he represents a "different generation" and "fresh, new leadership."

Davis is 50. Is he playing the age issue? "Absolutely not," he said, adding: "I don't know if it's good to stay in office too long. You become a part of the system."

Dorsett was amused when I related those comments to her later Monday. She's beginning her sixth year in the Senate -- the same as Davis' county commissioners' tenure.

"Is it time for him to turn over? I don't think he's going to give up his seat."

"We don't have term limits," she said, adding that she doesn't plan to serve forever.

Age doesn't matter "if you work hard and do what people think is an effective job."

Geography might. Davis cites the furniture market as a High Point cause that ought to receive more state support. Dorsett answers that she worked from the beginning of her Senate service to channel state funding to the market, and she's been attentive to other High Point concerns.

If he's elected, Davis also will have to look out for Greensboro interests, she pointed out.

Davis says he's done that as a commissioner, especially during his year as chairman.
"All in all, it was about Guilford County," he said.

As a voter living in the High Point portion of this district, I feel Davis' call for hometown representation. A city of nearly 100,000 people ought to have a voice of its own.

At the same time, Senate District 28 is more than High Point or Greensboro. As Davis said of his commissioners' work, it's about Guilford County. And North Carolina.

The good thing about this race is that voters get a choice between two experienced leaders. Davis deserves credit for making that happen; some politicians are afraid or too deferential to take on incumbents in their own party.

Before the May primary, we'll see how well Davis draws contrasts based on political views, age or fresh ideas. So far, the most intriguing angle is address: High Point or Greensboro?

After 18 years, the Richard Chalk trivia question is getting old.

Contact Doug Clark at dgclark@news-record.com and 373-7039