David,
In answer to your second question regarding NC's House party control,
the election results left the NC House divided 61-59 in favor of the GOP
but Rep. Michael Decker (from the Winston-Salem area) switched parties
from R to D leaving the House split 60-60.
The unusual switch (especially in the South) was due at least in part to
a House speaker election struggle betw/ Dem. Jim Black and multiple
Republican candidates for speaker and various perquisites allegedely
promised to Deckard following his switch. The House now has divided
speakership control betw/ Jim Black (Dem) and Richard Morgan
(Republican) in a power-sharing arrangement.
Christian
David Lublin wrote:
Hello List,
I was hoping that someone on the list could help me sort out confusion
regarding the NC House. First, my impression was that the plan used
for the 2002 state House election was ordered by a state court after
it invalidated the state legislative plan on the grounds that it split
too many counties and thus violated the NC Constitution. (The NC
Supreme Court recently upheld this decision.)
Second, what was the outcome of the 2002 election in terms of number
of seats and party control of the NC House? My impression was that
the GOP had narrowly won control of the NC House (51% of seats) after
the election. However, the NC home page shows split control now.
What happened? Did special elections change the party composition of
the House or did someone defect?
Thanks for any help you can lend,
David Lublin
dlublin@american.edu