Incumbents challenged in Watauga

When Democrats surged in Watauga County elections two years ago, the momentum helped the party recapture two General Assembly seats that had long been held by Republicans.

State Sen. Steve Goss and State Rep. Cullie Tarleton have worked closely as a team the past two years. Each faces a Republican opponent in the Nov. 4 election.

Jerry Butler, a Boone dentist, is running against Goss for the 45th District Senate seat to represent Alexander, Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties. Dan Soucek, who works at Samaritan's Purse, is running against Tarleton for the 93rd District House seat to represent Ashe and Watauga counties.

With Democrats in control of the General Assembly, Goss and Tarleton have been able to direct spending to the districts, including $34 million for a new education building at Appalachian State University.

"I've had people say, ‘You and Rep. Tarleton have brought things to this county that we've been trying to get for 30 years,'" Goss said.

Both Re­publicans said they disapproved of the way the education building is being financed with certificates of participation, a form of lease-financing.

Soucek said that it's an improper way to run government because it "allows them to borrow money without taxpayers' approval."

"I'm glad we got the new building but not in those inefficient terms," Butler said.

Here's a closer look at each race:

Goss vs. Butler

Goss said he never mixed politics and religion during his years serving as a Southern Baptist pastor and a missionary to Japan. But he's approached the N.C. Senate as a full-time job, he said. Both he and Tarleton have been highly visible and accessible during the past two years. Goss said he has personally returned 5,000 phone calls and 20,000 e-mails.

Butler has been a dentist for 36 years, is a pilot and certified scuba diver, and holds a general-contractor license and a real-estate license. Adopted at the age of 4, he grew up farming tobacco, and credits a good teacher with helping set him on the path to college and further achievement.

Goss sees job loss as the No. 1 issue in the district's four counties, and he blamed Republicans in Washington. He also pledged to continue fighting bureaucracy in Raleigh.

"Get the economy moving, jobs bring health care, people can afford to be sick," he said.

Butler said that the Democrats in Raleigh have spent unwisely.

"I respect both of you as good people," he said to Goss and Tarleton. "As far as fiscally speaking we are light-years apart."

Tarleton vs. Soucek

Soucek is a West Point graduate who spent eight years in the Army and now works for Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization in Boone that is run by Franklin Graham. "I have a real heart for serving people," Soucek said.

Tarleton, who was named this year to the N.C. National Guard Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, spent 40 years in broadcasting. He retired as general manager of two Charlotte television stations and a radio station.

"Having run businesses, I know it's business and not government that keeps the wheels turning," he said.

He listed the economy, jobs, gas prices, access to health care and education as his top issues.

When he thought that his area's trash collection was lousy, Soucek started a small residential trash service to do it himself. He said he favors market-based solutions to problems.

"What I see in the economy is prioritizing our spending," he said. "We need to rein in taxes and lower spending. Those are the things that allow people to thrive."

The two candidates disagreed on $2.5 million that Tarleton helped secure recently to extend the runway at the Ashe County airport. Without other technical improvements, the airport still won't see more plane traffic, he said.

"That's a lot of money to be spent that isn't going to bear the fruit we expect," Soucek said.

Tarleton said that the longer runway would allow one of the county's top employers to use its planes at the airport in Ashe County rather than having to travel to the Wilkes airport.

"If I were you, I would not go to Ashe County and say to those people it's a waste of money," Tarleton said.

■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal.com.

93rd District, N.C. House (Ashe, Watauga)

Cullie Tarleton, Democrat

• Age: 69.

• Lives in: Blowing Rock.

• Job: Retired broadcaster and former senior vice-president and general manager of WBTV, WBT radio and WCCB-TV, all in Charlotte. Former member of N.C. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves.

• Political / civic experience: Incumbent, elected in 2006. Serves on board for the Hunger Coalition, the Watauga Medical Center Foundation and the Watauga Arts Council.

• Top priority if elected: Economy.

• Web site: www.cullietarleton.com.

Dan Soucek, Republican

• Age: 39.

• Lives in: Boone.

• Job: Regional desk officer for East Africa and South Asia for Samaritan's Purse international relief agency. Former Army helicopter pilot.

• Political / civic experience: Youth soccer coach; Wyldlife middle-school ministry committee; former track, cross-country and soccer coach; Sunday-school teacher.

• Top priority if elected: Economy.

• Web site: www.fansofdan.com.

45th District, N.C. Senate (Alexander, Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes)

Steve Goss, Democrat

• Age: 58.

• Lives in: Boone.

• Job: Ordained Southern Baptist minister.

• Political / civic experience: Incumbent, elected to 45th District Senate seat in 2006. Former pastor and coach, board member of Adult Developmental Assistance Program.

• Top priority if elected: Job losses.

• Web site: www.senatorstevegoss.com.

Jerry Butler, Republican

• Age: 62.

• Lives in: Boone.

• Job: Dentist.

• Political / civic experience: Former Lt. Gov. in Kiwanis Club; Boy Scout leader; former member of downtown-development board and county health board.

• Top priority if elected: Creating good fiscal environment.

• Web site: www.electbutler.com.