Big Day For CU-Backed CongressionalCandidate

WILLIAMSTON, N.C. - (08/25/04) -- In one of the more unusualdevelopments this election season, Democrat G. K. Butterfield waselected to serve an unexpired term in the House on the same day hequalified as the Democratic nominee for November's generalelection. The credit union-backed Butterfield, a long-time memberof State Employees CU, was elected in a special election July 21 toserve out the term of freshman Rep. Frank Balance, who retired forhealth reasons, and won the primary for the full two-year term onthe same ballot. Because of the predominance of Democratic votersin this rural northeastern part of the state, Butterfield is widelyexpected to win the November election, according to Dan Schline,chief lobbyist for the North Carolina CU League. The credit unionlobby has yet to weigh in on the state's critical Senate race, tosucceed John Edwards, the Democratic candidate for vice president,where longtime credit union supporter, Republican Rep. RichardBurr, is facing off against Democrat Erskine Bowles. Bowles, whoserved as chief of staff in the Clinton White Hose, lost the 2002race to Republican Elizabeth Dole.