Vote-getter Orr seeks gubernatorial bid

By Alex Keown
Daily Times Staff Writer

03/21/07

During a visit with the Daily Times Thursday afternoon, Orr talked about his experiences on the bench and with the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law and how he believes they qualify him for governor.

Orr said his experience on the state's highest court will give him a unique perspective of difficult decisions facing the state. He said he was exposed to a broad range of issues and controversies that affect the state, including business issues, educational issues and criminal issues.

"On the court you are presented compelling information from both sides and then you have to make a decision and then explain it," Orr said.

Knowledge of state law and its boundaries will only benefit the executive office, he said.

Orr left the bench in 2004 to become executive director of the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law, an organization that has challenged the passage of the lottery and the use of state business incentives.

Orr said the controversies surrounding legal battles over redistricting earlier this decade created a "poisonous atmosphere" around the courts. Orr said it left a bad taste in his mouth and was one of the factors in his reasoning for retiring from the bench. Other factors include a lessening of civil issues making their way to the high court because of an increase in mediation and arbitration.

Some of Orr's main issues in the gubernatorial race are economics, education, tax reform, mental health reform, transportation issues and ethics reform. He said many of the state's issues can't be explained in a 30-second sound bite and will take many years to be sorted out.

"It's mind boggling the range and depth of issues that are facing the state," he said.

Orr has opposed the state's granting of economic incentives for business relocation. He said he didn't think anyone would talk about the ethical concerns surrounding this if he didn't get into the race.

Some of the educational issues he wants to see accomplished would be making the focus on what's best for the students and not the administration. He said the high dropout rate has to be addressed and comprehensive and accurate testing must be in place. Orr also said teachers have to be allowed to teach and shouldn't also fill the role of social worker and truant officer.

"It's a big, big issue and can't be solved by continuing Band-Aid approaches anymore," Orr said.

Orr speculated the primary election would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5-$2 million.

In addition to his primary opponents, Orr is facing a fractious Republican Party. He said he wasn't part of the split in the legislature that's taken place over the past few years. Orr added he believes most people in the party are ready to mend fences and win elections, particularly after losing several legislative seats in November.

Orr is a proven vote-getter. He's won four out of five statewide races for N.C. appellate and Supreme Court seats.

He said it's been easier raising funds for his gubernatorial campaign than it was when he was running for the high court. He said more people care about contributing funds for political races than they do judicial ones.