Mar. 22, 2004
Mark Your Calendars Now
By J. Barlow Herget
RALEIGH - Looking over your calendar for the upcoming elections? Not so fast. North Carolina's elections are postponed this year, and the public, so far, hasn't really tuned in. Most folks have been following the national spotlight on the Democratic presidential primary, especially the fortunes of native son Sen. John Edwards of Raleigh. There was also the small matter of the ACC Basketball Tournament.
That’s over. State politics has returned to the fore, and there are several notable mileposts fast approaching. Like dominos, each of these events will affect the one after it. Here are some important dates to watch for.
April 15 marks the deadline for citizens to submit their state taxes. That’s when we will find out how many of them remembered to check the box on their tax forms to have the state put money into a new fund to publish voter guides and provide financial aid for statewide judicial candidates. That way, candidates for judge could limit their fundraising and campaign spending and refuse special interest money. It’s a voluntary system for judges, and it's voluntary for citizens. And the best part is it doesn't reduce your refund or increase any taxes you owe.
The problem has been, because it's new, a lot of people don't know what this strange new box is on their taxes. Or worse, they think it will cost them $3, and few people feel charitable when having to do their taxes. It's the one marked "NC Public Campaign Financing Fund". Please remember it and tell your family and neighbors. It's not clear on some tax-preparation software packages and some accountants forget to mention it. About half the folks who pay state taxes don't pay them until April, so there's still time. It would be a shame if there were not enough money to publish the voter guide, as few people know much about candidates for judge.
The April 15 deadline also marks when state budget writers learn how much revenue has been collected for the next fiscal year that starts July 1. Then, on May 10, legislators arrive here to begin deliberations over the budget in what is supposed to be a “short session.” Why is this important? So far, revenues have exceeded spending projections, according to Rep. Richard Morgan of Southern Pines who is the Republican Co-Speaker of the House, and that's good news that is sure to come up as a campaign issue.
But this year, they may want to hurry because only 61 days after they convene, they'll have to run in the July 20 primary election, the one that was moved from this May. When the primary finished before the legislature met, legislators running for re-election didn’t have to worry about campaigning while they were stuck in Raleigh. By moving the primary from May 4 to July 20, the State Board of Election shook things up.
Morgan and Democratic Co-Speaker Jim Black have discussed along with Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight how to keep deliberations and budget writing on track so they can adjourn on or before June 30. Few believed last year that a co-speakership would work. It did, and the legislature completed the budget on time.
In a "hurry-up" session, some legislation may be tossed overboard. The Senate has adopted, for example, legislation that would allow local governments to set new rules for reforming their local elections. But it faces an uncertain future in the House if a long debate develops with the clock ticking down.
Glooming over all this activity is the Ghost of Redistricting Past. Redistricting is a topic so tedious that most citizens can hardly stand to deal with it once a decade, but here we are in 2004 and the political battle over legislative districts that were drawn to reflect population changes in the 2000 Census is still being fought. Two plans have been shot down and a third remains stalled in the courts. It has yet to be approved by federal judges in Washington who must review the plans impact on federal voting rights. A decision could come any day.
The state Supreme Court finally heard arguments on the latest redistricting matter last Thursday. That issue must be decided before the plan can be approved or rejected by the courts. Only then will candidates know the boundaries of their respective districts and be able to file for election. But candidates have to have at least a minimal amount of time between filing to run their primary campaigns.
Such a schedule bodes badly for a July 20 primary date, which means this whole hodgepodge of dates, for primaries, legislative sessions, and important tax and budget issues, could be shifted again before it's over. Better make sure that if you do mark your calendar, you do it with a pencil with a big eraser.
Barlow Herget served two terms on the Raleigh city council and is host of "State Government Radio Newsmakers."
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