He says he’ll be “a barking dog” if he gets elected to the state representative seat District 6, which includes Ocracoke.

Tine rolled out his platform at a community meeting Thursday (Oct. 25) in the Ocracoke School gym, attended by middle and high school students, teachers and a handful of community members.  Tine’s Republican opponent, Mattie Lawson, will speak to students and the community at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 1, also in the school gym.  Both candidates are running for the seat to be vacated by Rep. Timothy Spear, who declined to run again.

“As a legislator, you can be a barking dog or network to work both sides of the aisles,” Tine said about the Legislature, which includes both Democrats and Republicans. “I will bark all day long and find friends to help northeast North Carolina.”

Tine, who owns Midgett Insurance Agency, as a coastal resident, said his three priorities are access to education, access to infrastructure and reforming state government.

Good education is critical to the next generation of business owners and leaders.

“Early education improves test scores,” he said. “The earlier we can get kids learning, the better educated they’ll be. We need to protect education and improve it.”

Ferry tolls are obviously important to this area, he said.

“I’m against increased ferry tolls,” he said. “The ferries are a part of our highway system and they need to keep it free.”  Keeping Highway 12 and the Bonner Bridge Open are crucial to this area’s economy, he said.

He also talked about his efforts to improve broadband internet access for the region.

As for improving the legislature, he noted that the area has seen a lot of new regulations, such as fishing and beach access. As a business owner, the unpredictability of changing regulations makes it hard for businesses to plan.

“We need to make regulations more predictable,” he said.

He also is aware of the disconnect between the current legislature and the coastal area of the state. “The Legislature is run by 15 counties (out of 100),” he said, adding that the legislature has wanted to cut funds to the Lost Colony Park, the Albemarle Museum, among others. 

“All of these are east of I-95,” he said. “I will fight so that our rural counties are not forgotten. A diverse economy across the state is good for a healthy North Carolina economy.”

As for offshore drilling, Tine said he is against the current program, which is under a federal lease and has no revenue sharing with North Carolina, which is not in the state’s best interest. 

However, he said, natural gas production or a nuclear power plant somewhere in the region (Hyde, Tyrell or Washington counties) could provide economic opportunity.  “But only if the community wants it,” he said.

Tine’s talk was organized by Hyde County Schools Superintendent Dr. Randolph Latimore, who said, not knowing the outcome of the election, he wants both candidates to visit the island to understand its unique school situation.

“Every year I have to go to Raleigh to explain the Ocracoke School,” he said. “I want them to know about Ocracoke so that when this comes up they can remember and say, ‘Oh, that’s working. Let’s leave it alone.’ “

Latimore also discussed the district’s budget challenges.

Editor's note: Ocracoke residents have another chance at early voting! Hurricane Sandy can't keep us from the polls! Come out to the Ocracoke Community Center on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., for One-Stop early voting.