Foushee seat to be filled

Committee members from the Orange and Durham County Democratic parties will meet today to appoint a replacement for the District 50 House seat recently vacated by now-Sen. Valerie Foushee.

Four committee members, two from each county, will vote after hearing final speeches from the six candidates at the Orange County Public Library in Hillsborough at 7 p.m.

The candidates are Drew Nelson, a lawyer; Graig Meyer, a school administrator; Laurin Easthom, Chapel Hill town councilwoman; Danielle Adams, Durham County Soil and Water Conservation district supervisor; Travis Phelps, a paint company color consultant; Tommy McNeill, owner of a medical supply company and Orange County Commissioner Bernadette Pelissier.

Orange County has two-thirds of the votes and Durham County has one-third of the votes due to county population, said Ted Benson, the non-voting chairman of the committee.

The committee is looking for a strong voice to represent the district in the General Assembly, said Matt Hughes, Orange County Democratic Party chairman.

Candidates all answered a questionnaire.

“To sustain our economy, we need an educational system that adequately prepares people for both skilled and professional sector jobs,” Meyer wrote.

Easthom wrote that she has served people from all walks of life.

“I feel one of my greatest strengths is the ability to connect with so many different groups socially and professionally,” she said.

Candidates also said how they will promote economic development while protecting watersheds.

“It is important for the district to continue to strike a balance between rural economic development and conscientious natural resource conservation and preservation,” Adams wrote.

McNeill wrote that he is a 20-year military veteran.

“This experience has taught me the value of compromise, patience, hard work, service and commitment,” he wrote.

Pelissier said maintaining fairness is one of the important issues facing the district.

“Honesty, transparency and fairness to all individuals and localities is central to our state’s reputation as a decent place to live,” she wrote.

The questionnaire also asked candidates about their plans for securing bipartisan support and working with the Republican-controlled legislature.

“The key is not to (waver) on your principles, but to have compromise on both sides,” Phelps said.

Nelson, Adams and Meyer all said in interviews that their first steps as representative would be to meet constituents and begin a campaign for election.

Gov. Pat McCrory must confirm the appointment.

“The committee has a hard task ahead of it, and a slate of well-qualified candidates,” Nelson said.

state@dailytarheel.com