Replacing the Man from Manteo

Democratic delegates from the 1st Senate District meet at 6:30 tonight to choose a successor for outgoing Senate Pro Tem Marc Basnight. The former leader was re-elected to his seat, but said earlier this month he would step down Jan. 25th for health reasons.

Six local Democrats are said to be vying for the seat. The best-known candidate is Arthur Williams, the former four-term House 6 representative who lost his seat in an upset in November. He’s up against Pasquotank Commissioner Matt Wood (son of George M. Wood, longtime lawmaker and 1976 gubernatorial candidate). The other four contenders are from Dare: County commission chairman Warren Judge, former commission chair and NCDOT member Stan White, commissioner Virginia Tillett, and former OBX Chamber of Commerce president Paul Tine.

Williams is from Beaufort County, by far the most populous of the eight counties in the district. Beaufort Dems say after two decades of representation from Dare Co., it’s time for a change. Williams has been campaigning hard along those same lines.