Dorsett and Davis
Allen, Mark and I had an interesting interview yesterday with Katie Dorsett and Bruce Davis, candidates for N.C. Senate District 28. Both are Democrats, and there's no Republican opposition, so the May 6 primary will decide the winner.
Dorsett is the three-term incumbent. She's a former Greensboro City Council member, Guilford County commissioner and Cabinet member for former Gov. Jim Hunt. She lives in Greensboro.
Davis is a second-term county commissioner from High Point, a 20-year retired Marine and a business owner.
One of their most interesting exchanges occurred actually after the interview was over. Davis, professing personal respect for Dorsett, was explaining why he was challenging her.
"I was hoping I'd be the one you passed the torch to," Davis said, noting that others had the same hopes. "You told me you couldn't do that."
"I don't remember that conversation," Dorsett said.
"I'm an ambitious man," Davis said, citing his Marine Corps experience. "I don't let anything stand in my way."
"I believe that," Dorsett said.
During the interview, Davis faulted Dorsett for lack of performance.
"I don't know whether Mrs. Dorsett ... has put forth legislation to address the needs of the 28th District," he said.
Dorsett was ready for that, saying she'd introduced 47 bills as primary sponsor (some are here), including the first to provide state funding for the High Point furniture market.
Market funding has been one of Davis' major concerns.
I asked him how he missed Dorsett's role in supporting the market.
He wasn't counting appropriations as bills on behalf of the district, he said.
But his own example of providing leadership for his district as a commissioner also had to do with appropriations -- $6 million for a new Social Services building in High Point.
Davis was much stronger, in my view, when he took the bold position of endorsing expansion of the state's charter schools program and use of vouchers to help parents send their children to private schools if they want. Families of limited means deserve choices, too, he said. "I'm thinking of pulling my child out" of the public school system, he added.
The voucher concept is hardly novel, Davis continued. It's used at the preschool level: Smart Start is a voucher program, he said.
Dorsett adamantly opposes vouchers and lifting the cap on charter schools above its present level of 100 statewide.
Davis got into more trouble on the question of Thomas Wright, the former state representative expelled from the House last month. He said that action was hasty, coming before Wright's criminal trial.
Davis had just finished saying elected representatives should be held to high standards of ethical conduct, so it struck me as contradictory to then imply that a legislator shouldn't be expelled unless he was first found guilty of a crime.
Dorsett spoke very firmly on this issue: If she had been a House member, she would have voted to expel Wright, who to date had produced no evidence to refute the charges against him. The legislature has a responsibility to keep its house in order, she said, or else every member is tainted by the misdeeds of any.
This is an interesting race between an elder stateswoman (Dorsett is 75) and a self-described ambitious, younger (51) elected official who believes the district needs new representation.
There's also the Greensboro vs. High Point angle, which I wrote about in January.
Keep watching. It's going to be competitive.
Correction: Davis technically is in his third term. He was appointed to his first in 2002, filling the remainder of Donnie Dunovant's term after Dunovant died. He was elected to his first full term later that same year, and re-elected in 2006.
Comments (13)
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doug,
If you get to ask follow up questions, could you please ask them if they are for passing a bill to make Greensboro comply with Protest Petitions which is North Carolina General Statute 160a-385 and 386. Thanks if you could do that.
Posted on April 4, 2008 9:52 PM
Keith, sorry we missed that question. I'll be sure to include it next time.
Posted on April 4, 2008 10:17 PM
Doug, although it appears you are catching Mr. Davis in a philosophic inconsistency, which, let's face it, we all have, I think, (but I could be wrong) that Mr. Davis meant to say; that white members of the legislature should be held to high ethical standards.
Posted on April 5, 2008 12:21 AM
Thanks , that would be great to try to get as many people as possible on record on this issue. If you do get to interview Joe WIlson and Don Vaughan for Kay Hagan seat would also be a great one to ask the question of Protest Petition.
Posted on April 5, 2008 9:48 AM
Savage, I don't think he was saying that.
Keith, we won't be interviewing Joe and Don for several months. They don't have primaries.
Posted on April 5, 2008 12:56 PM
It's good to know that Bruce Davis is an "ambitious man". It get's him my vote. I only wish Election Day was tomorrow so I could rush right down to the poll and help him realize it.
Posted on April 6, 2008 9:46 AM
Well, wouldn't you just love to hear Hillary say,
"I just want to have an enormous amount of power"?
Or McCain: "I can't wait until I'm in charge of the world's mightiest military force."
Or Obama: "Someone as smart as I am ought to be president."
Posted on April 6, 2008 1:42 PM
I hope Katie isn't losing sleep at night worrying about her "competition".
Posted on April 6, 2008 5:41 PM
Doug, you're making the point that maybe these other people have the sense not to mention such a thing out loud and in public.
When you've essentially been handed your political postion on a platter, you're kept in office out of apathy, and you've never had any serious challenges in the past, you might tend to forget that the voter on the street doesn't give a rat's potootie that you are an "ambitious man".
I'm sure congressman Wright was quite ambitious too. Maybe too much, who's to say?
Posted on April 7, 2008 2:11 PM
There's a difference between ambitious and greedy. Or being a crook, like Wright.
Don't Americans admire ambitious men?
It's not Davis' fault he hasn't encountered much political opposition to date. He's taking on a tough challenge now, and even if he doesn't win this time he might be in position to grab the torch in 2010.
Posted on April 7, 2008 2:27 PM
Nothing wrong with being ambitious. One just shouldn't have to say it. It should be implicit in words and most importantly-deeds. It's called style and grace.
Posted on April 7, 2008 2:48 PM
I'm glad to see a new face in District 28. I wonder if any of the previous responders even live in this district. I live in District 28 and I have never seen Mrs. Dorsett at any of our community events. That is probably because she caters to the more elite of the district. I want someone who can identify with me to reprsent District 28. I heard Mr. Davis speak at the Obama rally at the Hayes Taylor YMCA and as he spoke of his intentions to run for District 28 he told us that he actually lived in my district. His children go to school in my district and that has meaning. That is exactly why we need someone ambitious to represent District 28. I prefer a "go-getter" as opposed to yes person.
Posted on April 9, 2008 9:31 PM
I'm glad to see a new face in District 28. I wonder if any of the previous responders even live in this district. I live in District 28 and I have never seen Mrs. Dorsett at any of our community events. That is probably because she caters to the more elite of the district. I want someone who can identify with me to represent District 28. I heard Mr. Davis speak at the Obama rally at the Hayes Taylor YMCA and as he spoke of his intentions to run for District 28 he told us that he actually lived in my district. His children go to school in my district and that has meaning. That is exactly why we need someone ambitious to represent District 28. We need someone who will address the needs of the community. I prefer a "go-getter" that can bring change as opposed to yes person who has style.
Posted on April 9, 2008 9:34 PM