Common ground found on water

ALL CATAWBA VALLEY HOPEFULS OPPOSE INTERBASIN TRANSFER

Friday, October 6, 2006

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

HICKORY -- Water, it seems, it not a party-line issue.

The questions may have varied from immigration and gang violence to bioterrorism and farming, but one thing was clear when 14 candidates gathered at Catawba County Community College on Tuesday night - nobody is in favor of the interbasin transfer.

The transfer would allow the cities of Concord and Kannapolis to draw up to 36 million gallons a day from the Catawba and Yadkin rivers.
It has been hotly opposed by people in the Catawba Valley.

One candidate called the proposed transfer "stealing," while another said that protecting the region's water supply is paramount, even if halting the plan requires a lengthy and expensive court battle.

"No one should impede the progress of one area (to promote) another," said Democrat Ray Warren, who is challenging Republican incumbent Mark Hollo for an 88th District seat in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Austin Allran, a Republican seeking an 11th term in the N.C. Senate, said the water transfer wouldn't only affect the Catawba Valley but could damage the entire state's economy. "It must be stopped," he said.

All of the candidates said they oppose the transfer. While candidates running for the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, N.C. House of Representatives, N.C. Senate and Catawba County sheriff focused on regional issues during the forum, Richard Carsner and Patrick McHenry concentrated on illegal immigration and the energy crisis.

Carsner, a Democrat challenging incumbent McHenry for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said protecting the U.S. border is critical, and he called for a federal identification program that would identify undocumented workers and hold employers accountable if they hired them.

While Carsner said the country depends on immigrants to fill temporary jobs, Republican McHenry said lawmakers need to find a way for "people to come to this country in a patriotic way."

McHenry said he promoted creating an online database of immigrants and supports a $1.2 billion plan to build a fence to block entry into the United States from the Mexican border.

Both men agreed that the energy crisis needs more attention. Carsner suggested that more emphasis be placed on solar and hydroelectric power, and McHenry said he'd look at pulling more oil from domestic sources to increase the energy supply.

Even with the disagreements, both men said Congress needs members that will fully represent the 10th District. "Common sense is missing now in Washington, D.C.," Carsner said.


Tune in

The candidates forum will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Charter Cable channel 3.


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