Ray outspent Mills in GOP primary

This spring’s primary election campaign for the 95th District seat in the N.C. House of Representatives was as expensive as it was volatile.

Challenger Grey Mills was outspent 2 to 1 by incumbent Karen Ray – both residents of Mooresville—in May’s Republican primary, but won the GOP nod. Mills has no Democratic opposition in November, but will face a Libertarian candidate and a write-in challenger.

While Iredell candidates have traditionally been fiscally conservative when it comes to campaigning, Mills and Ray spent a combined $341,539.46 during their primary, according to second quarter campaign finance reports filed with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Mills spent $110,373.21; Ray’s tab was $231,166.25. Their primary was a spirited one, highlighted by the sparring over controversial direct-mail ads.

Mills, in a statement issued Friday, called the combined spending of the two candidates the most expensive House primary in North Carolina this year.

He said in the release that his campaign message of “lower taxes, less government, (and) individual freedoms and accountability” and his door-to-door campaign, which reached 2,300 voters, are what led to his win.

“Our hard work and our message are the reasons that we were able to overcome a 2 to 1 money disadvantage and beat a three term incumbent,” he said.

State Board of Elections officials said Tuesday that they could not verify whether or not the Ray/Mills primary was the most expensive House primary in 2008.

By contrast, the only other N.C. House primary involving Iredell County was District 92. Darrell McCormick defeated Dempsey Brewer with the two candidates spending less than $10,000 combined, according to reports filed with the State Board of Elections.

On Nov. 4, Mills will face Mooresville’s Jeffrey Ober in the general election. Ober, a member of the Libertarian party, filed with the Iredell County elections office on July 7.

Elections officials also said that Republican candidate Mar Fasano qualified to be a write-in candidate for the seat by submitting petitions with 100 qualified names.

Fasano’s name will not appear on the ballot but can be written in voters.

For more information on the Nov. 4 election, contact the Board of Elections at (704) 878-3140 or click on the department listings at http://www.co.iredell.nc.us. For more information on campaign financial reports, visit http://www.sboe.state.nc.us

Posted on 08/27/08 at 07:41 AM
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