The Republican primary contest between incumbent Rep. Karen Ray and challenger Grey Mills in North Carolina House District 95 is shaping up to be the most interesting legislative race involving Iredell County. Victory in the primary will be tantamount to election, since no Democrat filed for the seat.

N.C. House District 95 covers all of South Iredell and parts of Statesville. Ray, who is the only General Assembly member who lives in Iredell County, has represented the district since 2002.

Ray enjoyed widespread support among conservative Republicans at the time she was first elected to the legislature. Many have since expressed disappointment with her record.  A number of knowledgeable observers of the General Assembly allege Ray votes with a faction of House members that was allied with former Co-Speaker Richard Morgan and that supported former Speaker Jim Black on various  issues.

Two years ago, Ray bested former   N.C. Rep. Robert Brawley in an acrimonious primary battle. Brawley criticized Ray on a number of issues, particularly  her sponsorship of what he characterized as  special-interest legislation for the motor sports industry. Ray deluged voters with mailings that were sharply, and personally, critical of Brawley. After outspending Brawley $125,699 to $18,372, Ray won by a margin of 136 votes.

Grey Mills, a past Chairman of the Iredell County Republican Party and former intern to Sen. Jesse Helms, says he is running “because Iredell County has been ignored long enough.” He promises to run a positive campaign and avoid personal attacks, but adds that it is appropriate to point out areas where he disagrees with his opponent.

Because it is divided among four    N.C. House districts and three N.C. Senate districts, Mills says Iredell county is underrepresented in Raleigh. According to population, the county should have two state House members and one state Senator, yet it has only one House member. This is one reason we do not get our share of highway dollars from the state.

Mills faults Ray for voting for the gerrymandered redistricting plan that shortchanged the county. He says he also disagrees with Ray’s vote in favor of the current state budget, which increased spending by nearly 10 percent. Mills said he would have never voted for Jim Black as Speaker, as did Ray.

Ray is sure to once again run a vigorous and well-funded campaign. She has the advantages of incumbency and greater name recognition. She will likely  defend her record by noting that several other Republican House members joined her in voting for Jim Black and the state budget.

Mills appears to have a well-organized campaign and the ability to be financially competitive. We predict a close race.