Sunday, November 08, 2020

1980 NC Democrat Gubernatorial Primary: Caswell County

1980 NC Democrat Gubernatorial Primary: Caswell County

Jim Hunt's decision to run for a second term for NC Governor led to a challenge from former Democratic governor Robert W. Scott, but Hunt easily defeated the former governor in the Democratic primary. 

Caswell County Democrats were split.

It is too close to call, said W. Osmond Smith II, Hunt's Caswell campaign manager.

But George Daniel, Scott's Caswell chairman said: "Its been uphill, but there's a lot of undecided votes out there. Scott's done well switching his tactics . . . to what Bob Scott will do."

R. L. Satterfield, owner of Yanceyville Auto Sales, said: "Bob Scott's well known in this county and his daddy before him . . . but I'm leaning toward Hunt."

Helen Little, a Hunt appointee to the State Transportation Board, said she was concerned that "a lot of Hunt's people feel he's going to win and (will) stay home."

Lee Farmer, the county Democratic Party chairman said, "I detect a deterioration in Gov. Hunt's position." 

A Hunt gaffe during a recent campaign trip didn't help, Farmer and others said. Hunt had huddled with Smith and key workers in Smith's Northwestern Bank Building office while more than 125 Democrats cooled their heels nearby.

Farmer said: "It was an error. It looked bad."

Source: The News and Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina, 24 April 1980, Thursday, Page 21.

Photograph: Helen Little with unidentified man. Query whether it is the NC Secretary of Transportation. The event purportedly was either the funding for (or the completion of) straightening Highway 86 running southeast from Yanceyville. This was a major project for Helen Little.



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