Blue’s return to legislature could shake up speaker race
Monday, October 30th, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
He held the post in 1991, narrowly lost to Black
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
RALEIGH
The unexpected return of the "simple country lawyer from rural Wake County" - as Dan Blue likes to call himself - could complicate what is expected to be a contentious race for House speaker in 2007.
Blue, North Carolina’s first black speaker and U.S. Senate candidate in 2002, is heading back to the General Assembly after a four-year absence. Wake Democrats chose him last week to replace the late Bernard Allen, who died suddenly Oct. 13.
Allen faced no GOP opposition in next month’s election, so Blue will keep the seat through 2008.
Blue’s arrival brings a needed boost of institutional knowledge to a chamber that has seen numerous members quit or lose in recent years.
His political history also raises the question of whether he will run again for speaker - even if current Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, wins re-election to the House and mounts a bid for an unprecedented fifth term as chamber leader.
Legal troubles for Black and those around him already have encouraged other challengers to rise up, and Blue already nearly took the speakership away from Black in 1999, losing by one vote.
"I think he’ll be an outstanding member, and I think he’s a logical contender for the speakership," said former Rep. Joe Mavretic, who preceded Blue as speaker.
Unexpected events have brought Blue back to the chamber that he led from 1991 through 1994, when the Republicans took a majority of seats.
Three weeks ago, Allen was expected to recover from a minor stroke and start his third term as Blue’s successor. He died when a blood clot entered his lung. (more…)
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