Political notebook: Governor's race not only one drawing candidates

Two candidates have announced their bid for N.C. Senate District 25 as incumbent Sen. Bill Purcell, a Democrat, says he won’t run for re-election.

Last year’s redistricting brought southeastern Rowan County into the new District 25. Its boundaries also will include Scotland, Richmond, Anson and Stanly counties.

Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin, a Democrat, announced his candidacy Friday.

McLaurin is currently serving his eighth term as Mayor of Rockingham, and he is president of Swink-Quality Oil Company based in Rockingham and Laurinburg.

Stanly County Commissioner Gene McIntyre, a Republican, also has said he will run for the seat.

McIntyre is a retired educator with 33 years of service as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Now in his fourth term as a Stanly County commissioner, McIntyre has served as chairman or vice-chairman for a majority of his time on the board.

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Elisabeth Motsinger, a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board member, plans to run for Congress this year in North Carolina’s 5th District.

She has filed the initial paperwork to run for the seat currently held by Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican. Foxx was first elected in 2004 and said through a spokeswoman Monday that she plans to seek re-election.

The 5th District did not reach Rowan until last year’s redistricting extended it into the northwestern tip of the county. It now includes all or part of 11 counties.

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Vernon Robinson, a Republican candidate for the 8th Congressional District, invited competitor John Whitley to attend a screening of Red Tails on Friday.

Red Tails is a film inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American World War II fighter pilots.

Robinson is the son of one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, according to a press release sent by his campaign. The press release said Whitley is the son of a World War II pilot, whose squadron was accompanied by the Tuskegee Airmen on missions.

The two congressional candidates will be joined at the film by Whitley’s father. Robinson, whose father lives in California, suggested seeing the movie together as a friendly gesture, the press release said.

The men agreed to visit the Carolina Mall 8 Cinema in Concord on Friday for the 4:05 p.m. matinee showing.

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As the new session of Congress begins, U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (N.C.-D) invites all North Carolinians visiting or living in Washington, D.C. to attend “Carolina Coffee.”

This meet-and-greet time will be held in Hagan’s D.C. office every Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. when the Senate is in session.

Coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts will be served.

“I try to be in North Carolina as much as my official Senate duties will allow, but these coffees give me a chance to meet one-on-one with North Carolinians even when the Senate is in session,” said Hagan.

“I invite everyone who wants to meet with me or my staff, see my office, or discuss issues that concern them or causes they care about to come to one of my ‘Carolina Coffees’ while in D.C.”

— Karissa Minn