CITIZEN-TIMES.com
New U.S. citizen to file for House today

By Jordan Schrader
February 13, 2008 11:08 am
A newly minted U.S. citizen with tough words for illegal immigrants wants to represent Buncombe County in the state House.

Paul Purdue, a Fairview Republican who restores antique furniture, said he would file paperwork this afternoon to run against Democratic Rep. Bruce Goforth.

Purdue, 49, said he's been a U.S. citizen for three years after coming to Western North Carolina from Ireland on a tourism visa in 1998 to join his wife.

He's affiliated with the Asheville conservative group Carolina Stompers, the anti-tax Freedom Works and N.C. Listen, an immigration-reform advocacy group.

Concerns that drove Purdue to a House run include high property taxes and corruption in state government. He opposes the land transfer tax and supports more college scholarships.

He's particularly concerned about illegal immigration.

“There's lots of people that do it the right way and obey the law, and they’re the people that Americans want to have," he said.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 1/80213029