Sen. Robinson to seek re-election; School board's Queen hospitalized

By Carey Phillips

The primary could be held within five weeks of the Justice Department giving its approval, elections officials have previously said.

Meanwhile, local and state politicians remain in limbo, not knowing when to shift their campaigns into high gear.

One of the politicians most affected by the redistricting, state Sen. Dan Robinson of Cullowhee announced this week that he will be a candidate for re-election.

Robinson, a two-term Democrat, first announced his re-election bid in January. That was before a lawsuit filed by state Republicans caused the primary to be delayed.

Johnston County Superior Court Judge Knox Jenkins declared redistricting plans approved by the General Assembly unconstitutional because too many counties were divided. The N.C. Supreme Court agreed.

The legislature redrew the districts, but Jenkins did not approve the new plans and drew his own instead. He made significant changes in the Senate plan using a Republican alternative as his base.

Robinson said last month he was unlikely to run since he considered the new district favorable to Republicans. The plan puts Robinson and Sen. Bob Carpenter, a Macon County Republican, in the same district.

"It's a shame that one judge in Johnston County took it upon himself to take a Senate seat away from the west and to draw Bob and me into the same district," Robinson said. "This election will be tough, but Western North Carolina's future is worth fighting for."

This year's election season should have ended by now for those seeking seats on the Jackson County Board of Education. Since these candidates are non-partisan, the school board election is held at the same time as the primary. Traditionally, members are sworn in at the board's first regular meeting in July.

More uncertainty has been created as a candidate in the only contested school board race has been hospitalized. Board Chairman Martha Queen, who has been battling cancer, is a patient at Mission-St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville. Wednesday morning marked the third straight board meeting she has missed due to illness.

Vice Chairman James Roper has been presiding at the meetings and has been signing documents requiring the chairman's signature, he said.

"I wish her a speedy recovery and a quick return to the board," said Roper. "She's on a lot of prayer lists right now."

Back to Archive: 07/11/02.