Tuesday, October 13, 2026
By Russ Lay | Outer Banks Voice on January 31, 2012
White at Monday at the Ramada. (Bob Muller)
White was appointed by Gov. Beverly Purdue in 2010 after district Democrats chose him to succeed Sen. Marc Basnight, who retired.
“I want to continue to serve all of my constituents in our eight-county district. Because of our varied geography and diverse economies, we have a wide range of issues to confront,” White said.
Creating job was the first priority, he said.
“In order to stimulate job growth, we must lay the foundation for long-term economic growth by adequately supporting and maintaining our public schools, community colleges and universities.”
Education has risen to the top of Democratic party goals in the next election cycle. Gov. Beverly Purdue recently said her desire to increase spending on public education was a potential liability if she chose to run for re-election, She said her decision not to seek re-election will allow her to travel the state and lobby for increased investment in education.
White concluded by noting, “Make no doubt about it. These are serious times. As your senator, I have been able to serve a great number of people and have worked across the aisle for my constituents.”
Paul Tine, a local insurance executive and resident of Kitty Hawk, was also present or the gathering at the Ramada Plaza in Kill Devil Hills. Tine officially announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for House District 6 in Washington, NC.
In Tine’s remarks to Monday’s gathering, he also emphasized jobs and circulated a release that “state leaders and lawmakers must work together to create jobs and help North Carolina recover from the national recession.”
“Making our economy stronger and more diverse needs to be our number one priority” Tine repeated to the crowd. Before the meeting opened, Tine met with small groups and kept to his theme that “there isn’t just one answer” to the region’s economic woes.
In the past and in press releases, Tine has emphasized roads, technology, education, entrepreneurship and responsible government as equal parts in seeking economic recovery. Locally, he has worked to bring broadband internet technology to the region.
Listening to Democrats at the meeting in casual conversation, party members expressed optimism they will retake one or both state houses from the Republicans in the next election cycle and appeared upbeat despite the severe losses state Democrats received at the hands of the voters in 2010.
White and Tine do not appear to have internal party opposition to their candidacies. White will likely battle state Rep. Bill Cook, a Republican from Beaufort County, in November.
