Two years ago, 1st District Congressman G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., coasted to re-election without a Republican opponent.

This year, Dean Stephens hopes to ensure Butterfield doesn't do any coasting.

Brett A. Clark/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Republican Dean Stephens, a Bertie County resident, is running against 1st District Congressman G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C.

The Republican computer consultant and Bertie County resident kicked off his campaign earlier this week to unseat the two-term Democratic congressman.

At a press conference on the steps of Museum of the Albemarle, Stephens acknowledged that his quest won't be easy.

"It would take a miracle, but yes," Stephens replied when asked if he stands a chance defeating a popular Democrat in a district where Democrats hold a nearly 2-1 lead in voter registration.

Stephens, 62, discussed illegal immigration, the war in Iraq, the president's economic stimulus plan and the Navy's proposed outlying landing field sites in Camden and Gates counties.

But his focus was on the educational system, which he said is failing. Stephens said the current system robs parents of input and holds teachers unaccountable for student success. He favors charter schools and supports home schooling.

"Our schools are failing," Stephens said "When the North Carolina school system only graduates 60 percent of entering freshmen on time, it is clear the children are being cheated."

Stephens, who is white, said true education reform won't happen until African-Americans in places like the 1st Congressional District demand it.

"In our black majority district, support for education reform will not happen until members of the

African-American community accept that change must include recognizing which party has caused the problem," he said. "The case that blacks must accept change to fix this problem has been articulated by Bill Cosby."

He was referring to the black entertainer's often scathing criticism of African-American youngsters who snub educational opportunities, and of black parents who don't require more of their children. On other issues, Stephens said he:

• Opposes an outlying landing field in Gates or Camden counties. He said the U.S. Navy should instead look for an OLF site in Virginia, where the Navy already has a base.

• Supports President Bush's economic stimulus plan to give billions in rebate checks to taxpayers. But Stephens says government needs a long-term fix that includes cutting taxes and reducing wasteful federal spending.

• Supports the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I don't feel there is a war in Iraq," he said. "There is a battle in Iraq, part of the war against Islamic extremism. I believe passionately we have to win this or there will be nuclear devastation in America."

• Supports making English the official language. "We used to expect our children to speak and write English efficiently," he said. "Today they are promoted from one grade to another when it is clear they can do neither."

Stephens, a native of Hexalena, a tiny farm community in Bertie County, holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga. He said his small business experience includes working as a consultant in high technology systems for more than 10 years, founding a company called ASL Computing in Colerain, and previously working as managing partner of a California-based company that specialized in internet and communications software in Silicon Valley.

During his campaign stop at MOA, Stephens was flanked by a handful of GOP supporters, including 2nd Congressional District GOP Chairman Joe Avery, local GOP chairmen Bobby Jones of Perquimans County and Bill Blevins of Pasquotank County, and local businessman Frankie Meads.

The stop was his third and final of the day. Stephens is the first Republican since Greg Dority in 2004 to challenge Butterfield. Dority lost that election by a large margin.

A Butterfield spokesman said the congressman is looking forward to the campaign.

"The congressman certainly welcomes the opportunity to debate the issues," Butterfield spokesman Ken Willis said Monday.

The filing period for all federal, state and local offices in North Carolina opens on Feb. 11.