N.C. Rep.-elect Cullie Tarleton has been busy getting his goals in shape as he prepares to take office next month, but mostly he wants a chance to tackle some of the issues he’s been talking about for several years.

Tarleton, who handily defeated long-time Republican incumbent Gene Wilson for the District 93 House of Representatives seat, said he was in Raleigh last week interviewing for a legislative assistant and hopes to find someone who has worked with the N.C. General Assembly.

“I’d like someone with experience in that legislative assistant role so my learning curve and their learning curve is not quite as steep,” he said.

He perceives his office staff as a partnership and said he wants someone who is not afraid to offer opinions and advice. He hasn’t been notified about the scheduling of any Democratic caucuses for selection of House and Senate leaders, but will have an orientation session in the capitol on Dec. 13 and 14.

While Tarleton has yet to hold extensive talks with Democratic Party leaders about the upcoming sessions, he’s had informal conversations with a number of legislators. “More important to me is the number of people in the district I’ve talked with and e-mailed with,” he said.

The state budget outlook is still uncertain, though revenues have been a little stronger in the past year after a few lean years. With 2007 being a long session, with the major budget work for the next two years ahead, Tarleton said the health of the economy won’t affect his allocation priorities.

“I’ve heard there might be some shortfalls, but it’s difficult to say,” Tarleton said. “I’m certainly not going to let it deter me. I’ll support funding for the same things I’ve said all along: education, teachers, and ASU (Appalachian State University). I’ve been working in Ashe County to get a forest service headquarters and more equipment.”

The performance of Democratic candidates in Watauga and Ashe counties has drawn the attention of state party leaders, and some local party organizers have been asked to talk with other county party leaders about their successful strategies.

Tarleton was part of a Democratic sweep that saw the party take almost all local offices in the two counties, as well as the upset victory of Steve Goss in the District 45 N.C. Senate race. Primarily, Tarleton credits grassroots effort and solid organization for stimulating voter turnout, but also said he expected to win this time after losing to Wilson in 2004.

“We had done our research and our homework,” Tarleton said. “It wasn’t a surprise. I would have been surprised if I had lost. The state party obviously believed I could win and helped me out with funding, and we continued to address the issues.

“Running and losing in 2004 turned out to be helpful. I didn’t let up for more than a week, and I was right back out there. The state money paid for a direct mail campaign. That was important, and I did not have that last time.”

Because of his campaigning schedule, Tarleton has grown accustomed to a hectic pace. A Blowing Rock resident, he is retired from the broadcasting industry. “This (2007) is the long session, and it ran from January to August last time,” he said. “Every Monday, I’ll drive down to Raleigh and every Thursday I’ll drive home. We both, my wife Sylvia and I, are retired and don’t have to worry about a job. This is my job.”

Tarleton said he has interest in a few committees which he said would help him better serve the district, but recognizes that as a freshman in the House, he’ll be down on the pecking order. “I don’t have an agenda, except to make things happen for this district,” he said, adding that his Democratic counterparts expressed interest in hearing his ideas. “I told them, ‘You’re going to be hearing from me,’” and they said, ‘Fine, you won’t have any problem with us.’

“Since I will be a freshman, I have some things to learn, but a number of (House) members there will be helpful. I don’t believe in re-inventing the wheel, and I will go to school with other people’s experiences. I’m not going just to occupy space.”

Tarleton has met with a number of officials from Watauga and Ashe counties, including the county managers, sheriffs, and members of the county commissions and school boards.

“I’m trying to determine their goals for the district,” Tarleton said. “I want to know their agendas. My job is to help them get what they need and work hard to accomplish things for this district.”

Tarleton’s other duties include providing constituent service and working with other legislators for the overall benefit of the state. He will be sworn into the House of Representatives in Raleigh on Jan. 24.