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RALEIGH — The Republican primary in House District 61 will almost certainly decide the winner of the fall election and, if you listen to the candidates, who will serve as the chief legislative spokesman for the High Point Furniture Market.

Two-term incumbent Laura Wiley , of High Point, faces George Ragsdale , a Jamestown man making his first run for public office. No Democrat has registered, and there is no other announced opposition. The primary is May 6.

When asked why they were running, both candidates identified the market, the semi annual trade show that brings tens of thousands of visitors at a time to the city, as the foremost issue in the district. And both argued they were better-positioned to win state funding for the trade show.

"This market has to have an experienced voice and a known face in the legislature," Wiley said. Wiley said that she had championed the market by educating her colleagues on its importance to the state's economy.

With state Sen. Kay Hagan , a co-chair of her chamber's appropriations committee, leaving the legislative delegation to pursue a U.S. Senate run, Wiley said it was important for High Point to have an experienced hand representing the market.

But Ragsdale argued Wiley has not been an effective advocate, saying that the city and market authority need more funding.

"We're very fortunate that Kay Hagan took High Point under her wing and made sure we got that funding," Ragsdale said. "Laura (Wiley) hasn't fought real hard for that funding."

He later added, "If she was doing her job, the market would not be under funded."

Wiley bristled at that notion.

"That is just fundamentally a false statement," she said. "I've been a very effective advocate for the market. We have more funding now than ever."

The state puts about $3 million a year into the market for promotion, transportation and other activities.

"She's been tireless," said High Point Mayor Becky Smothers of Wiley's market advocacy. "Laura has risen to the occasion every time we've asked her."

Outside of the furniture market, Wiley and Ragsdale expressed interest in different legislative issues.

Wiley said she would continue to pursue education-related work, including legislation to reduce the dropout rate, reduce the number of standardized tests given to public school children and raise the cap on charter schools.

She said any charter school founded to help with special-needs children or targeting those at risk of dropping out of school should not count against the charter cap.

Ragsdale said that he wanted to work on making biodiesel more widely available. He said he wanted to require that state vehicles use biodiesel, which would create a big enough market that the fuel would be available to ordinary consumers.

He also said that legislation on gang activity and drug-related crime would be at the top of his list.

When asked how they would trim government spending, Ragsdale said he would favor using zero-based budgeting, a comprehensive annual review of state spending that examines each item before it is funded.

Wiley said that the state should look at the number of vacant positions that are never filled but for which agencies receive funding. She added that more comprehensive budget reviews would help, particularly better tracking of money given to nonprofit organizations.

On the crisis facing the state's mental health system, Wiley said the legislature needs to halt plans to

shut down two aging mental hospitals until officials can

ensure there are enough beds for patients who need treatment.

"We need to have better oversight over private providers," Wiley said, citing a key finding of several news reports on the topic.

Ragsdale said that government should limit its role in the system.

"In the case of our mental health system, we ought to at least explore looking at having private contractors, under the watchful eye of the government, but have contractors come in and look at taking over the system," he said.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com