The North Carolina Property Rights Coalition sent a one-question survey to all candidates for the General Assembly, asking, “Do you support an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution prohibiting governmental bodies from using eminent domain for economic development purposes?” Of 257 candidates, 143 did not respond to the survey. Of the 114 candidates who did respond, four provided “unclear” answers (most of those, including Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, said they don’t fill out questionnaires or make pledges) and one — Democrat Carnell Taylor who is running in the 25th District — said he is undecided. All the rest of the candidates except one answered the question, “Yes.”
The lone “no?” That was unaffiliated candidate Manila “Bud” Shaver, who is running against Republican nominee Joe Boylan in the 52nd District. Boylan defeated former House Co-Speaker Richard Morgan in the Republican primary earlier this year.
