BY MARK WINEKA
SALISBURY POST

Leo Daughtry, a leading Republican in the N.C. House, will officially announce his candidacy for governor Monday in his hometown of Smithfield.

Daughtry tabs himself and his campaign as conservative. Press spokesman Harris Vaughan reports that Daughtry had raised $1 million in contributions and pledges by the end of February.

‘‘My experience as a successful businessman, veteran, farmer, lawyer and legislative leader has prepared me to serve as North Carolina’s next governor,’’ Daughtry said in a press release.

Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot is another announced candidate.

Daughtry is now serving in his sixth term in the N.C. House.

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U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, D-Charlotte, joined a congressional delegation of Democrats and Republicans who participated last weekend in a civil rights pilgrimage to Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Ala.

The trek visited historic sites of the civil rights movement and was led by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich. Rep. Earl Hilliard of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District served as host.

The Faith and Politics Institute, a non-profit interfaith group, sponsored the tour.

The delegation’s stops included the Civil Rights Institute, 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham; Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Memorial and the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery; and the Voting Rights Museum and selected churches in Selma.

Watt also joined others in a reenactment of the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where marchers, including Lewis, were beaten by Alabama state troopers March 7, 1965.

‘‘The opportunity to visit these historic sites in the South does not come often,’’ Watt said in a press release. ‘‘I am especially excited to participate in this trip with my friend and colleague John Lewis, who was a hero in the civil rights movement. The trip comes at a time when continued conversations on race are vital to progress in race relations. We in Congress must lead those conversations.’’

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A pair of South Rowan High students, Floyd Elbert ‘‘Tripp’’ Isenhour III and Robert D. Basinger, recently completed a week of service as pages for the N.C. Senate.

Elbert is son of Debby and F.E. Isenhour Jr. of Landis. He was sponsored by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Concord.

Basinger is the son of Sharon and Randy Basinger of China Grove. Sen. William Purcell sponsored Basinger.

Pages deliver bills and amendments for senators during the daily Senate session, run errands and help staff members manage offices at the Legislative Building.

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State Sen. Jim Phillips, D-Lexington, found himself wearing a red and white ‘‘Cat in the Hat’’ hat recently during Literacy Day in the General Assembly.

Phillips wore the hat as he read ‘‘The Giving Tree’’ by Shel Silverstein to a local elementary school student from Raleigh.

Literacy Day was part of Read Across America Day, celebrating the 95th birthday of Dr. Seuss, the children’s author whose works included such stories as ‘‘The Cat in the Hat,’’ ‘‘Green Eggs and Ham’’ and ‘‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas.’’

‘‘Dr. Seuss had a real love of learning and children,’’ Phillips said. ‘‘People of all ages loved his books. He made reading fun for so many of us, and when learning is fun, you carry those lessons with you. I especially liked wearing the hat.’’

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Phillips and state Sen. Betsy Cochrane recently voted for the Safe Families Act, legislation aimed at stepping up law enforcement efforts, making it easier to track batterers and giving court and law enforcement personnel more tools to protect victims of abuse.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously and will now be considered by the House.

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Aides to Rep. Mel Watt will have the following satellite office hours in Rowan County this coming week:

- 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, China Grove Town Hall.

- 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Tuesday, Landis Town Hall.

- 1:30-3 p.m. Tuesday, Cleveland Town Hall.

- 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Granite Quarry Town Hall.

- 10:45 a.m.-noon Thursday, Rockwell Town Hall.

- 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Faith Town Hall.

- 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Kannapolis City Hall.

Watt also has a permanent office in Salisbury at 123 S. Main St., Suite 102, that is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. The telephone number for the Salisbury office is 797-9950. Jacqueline Jefferson-Lilly and Morgan Jackson are the district aides in Rowan.