What is the problem with the General Assembly during the last two sessions:

Carpenter: From my experience in the corporate world I would say it is a lack of leadership. There’s a Democratic governor, a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate. Except for the leadership, it should be easy to create an agenda, make it work and be done. We spent the better part of two months before we even had our committee assignments. It’s just a lack of leadership.

Rapp: The most recent session was not the governor or the legislature’s finest hour. In the end, they did the right thing. It was easy during the 1990s to cut the inventory tax and the intangibles tax when the economy was roaring along. The bottom line in a lot of this is the economy. That is what will grow the tax base.

How do you feel about session limits, term limits, and length of terms?

Carpenter: I voted for session limits. The budget is supposed to be done June 30, and there is no reason to have a session that continues beyond that date. When I first came into office, I didn’t think there was any need for session limits, but I’ve changed my feelings on that. I also think longer terms (of four years) would be a kind of campaign finance reform. Term limits are also very appropriate. I think two terms, about eight years in office, would be good for North Carolina. As it is now, people get positions of leadership by longevity as opposed to knowledge. Term limits could change the political process.

Rapp: I am in favor of term limits and session limits. If we don’t have session limits, we will have a legislature of retirees. As for length of terms, that is something I would want to study. I am concerned about losing touch with the people.

Are you an environmentalist?

Carpenter: I think the term carries some negative connotations. I would not go that far, but I did work hard on the clean smokestacks bill, which shows I believe in keeping our air clean. I think that bill shows we can solve problems without hurting anyone in the process, that you can be respectful of all involved.... Now we need to keep going to the federal government. I’ve talked to (Rep. Charles) Taylor and (U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth) Dole. I told Dole I would not endorse her until she endorsed the clean smokestacks bill.

Rapp: I am an environmentalist. I was at the Senate when Sen. Metcalf got the call about the smokestacks bill being put back on the table. I recently had a conversation with a Yancey County farmer who wanted me to sign a guarantee that I wouldn’t support buffers. He worried that he would not be able to get water to his cattle, but I put on my mayor’s hat and appealed to another mountain value — being a good neighbor. I told him about the high ecoli bacteria count in the Ivy River, and wanted to know how we could lower it. We moved the conversation to asking how we — as neighbors — can get together and solve a problem. We moved the conversation to shared values, and that’s what I want to bring to the legislature.

How do you feel about the lottery?

Carpenter: I’m against the lottery referendum because it’s basically a lie. I will not mislead the people. If they ask for an up and down lottery referendum, I would vote against it.

Rapp: I’m opposed to the lottery, but having said that I support letting people vote in a referendum. It may be time to either lay this issue to rest or let people have a referendum.

What specific economic development ideas do you have?

Carpenter: I’m a little concerned about the number of agencies and the people paid in each county to promote economic development. I’d like to look at how much money is put out in economic development versus how much economic development we’ve had. We focus on incentives, and I worked for a major corporation and incentives was eighth or ninth on the list of why we moved. Companies are looking for good schools, housing, and a good quality of life. Those are the issues.

This most recent initiatives package gives those in Raleigh the power to decide who will get money. Tell me, do you think we’ll get any?

Rapp: We in WNC have looked too long for someone to come in and save us. I think the Handmade in America initiative is the right approach, that of growing our own entrepreneurs.... High-speed Internet access we’ve got to have, but it is being oversold. It is just one tool in the box. We also need to learn from successes like Blue Ridge Paper, where the workers have taken over their own lives....

Marge (Carpenter) voted against the William Lee bill to provide incentives for economic development. It was a flawed bill and some of the tax breaks were for corporations that I have a problem with, but we need every tool we can get.

Why should people vote for you?

Carpenter: I’m hard working, honest, and I’ll keep constituents informed. My skills lend themselves to helping solve the problems facing the state. Also, I have the courage to work for what’s right. I see a lot of people do what’s popular, but my mission is to go down to Raleigh and do what’s right.

Rapp: I think it is important to get more of our people down there. After 25 years of working on various boards, I want to go down to Raleigh and represent our people down there. What separates Marge and I is our knowledge of the region, the 25 years I’ve been here versus the 3, 3 1/2 she’s been here. I have the experience base working with the communities both individually and collectively.