Rep. Karen Ray and challenger Robert Brawley are locked in a heated battle in the 95th N.C. House district Republican primary. The district covers the southern half of Iredell County. Since no Democrat filed for the seat, victory in the primary is tantamount to election.

Both candidates are well-known public figures. Ray has held her seat in the legislature since 2002; Brawley served in the N.C. House from 1980-1998.

Brawley charges that Ray is an ally of Rep. Richard Morgan and Speaker Jim Black. Morgan is the “moderate” Republican whose alliance with Black handed effective control of the General Assembly to the Democrats (see article page 3).

Ray did not vote for the Black/Morgan ticket in 2003. But anti-Morgan Republicans say that she has since aligned herself with their nemesis. Campaign finance reports reveal that on October 21, 2004, Ray received a $4,000 contribution (the maximum allowable) from The Richard Morgan Campaign Committee.

Ray counters that, in the past, Brawley supported Black and former Democrat Speaker Dan Blue. Brawley never voted for Black, but in the early 1990s he did support Blue for speaker. Brawley points out that, at the time, the Republicans were a small minority in the House, and Blue’s election was a foregone conclusion.

Brawley has noted that Ray co-sponsored a bill that would allow certain illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition at North Carolina universities.

Ray subsequently had her name removed from the bill, and stated that she would not vote for it. She claims that when she signed the bill, she was misinformed as to its contents.

The current General Assembly districts were drawn to favor the Democrats. Iredell County is split among four state House and three state Senate districts.

The bill creating the districts was not made public until it was introduced in the N.C. House on November 24, 2003. Four votes were cast on the bill that day, including procedural votes to shut off debate and bar amendments. Almost all the Democrats voted for the bill. The Republicans split, with the majority voting “no.” Ray voted for the districting plan on all four ballots.

The following day a final vote was cast. Ray switched her position and voted against the districting plan.

Brawley has criticized Ray for supporting a bill to spend $5,000,000 of state money on a NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, and for favoring various tax incentives for the motorsports industry.

Ray has vigorously defended her support for such measures, noting that the racing industry creates jobs and contributes to the local economy.

Ray has questioned Brawley’s past opposition to certain campaign “reform” bills. Brawley says he opposed the use of tax dollars to fund political campaigns.

Both candidates have a following. Brawley has the support of many grassroots conservatives, including some who supported Ray when the two faced off four years ago. Ray has significant support in the local political and business establishment. Due to her incumbency, Ray should enjoy a lopsided advantage in fund raising.