By KEITH UPCHURCH

kupchurch@heraldsun.com; 419-6612

DURHAM -- U.S. Senate hopeful Kenneth Lewis brought his message of hope for a more prosperous North Carolina to Durham Thursday and picked up an endorsement from former Durham mayor Wib Gulley.

Gulley, general counsel for Triangle Transit, told an audience at Golden Belt on East Main Street that Lewis, a Democrat, would provide leadership far more helpful to average North Carolinians than the state's incumbent Republican, Sen. Richard Burr.

Lewis announced his candidacy in October and so far faces only Secretary of State Elaine Marshall in the May Democratic primary. The general election is in November.

Lewis, a Durham attorney, said in an interview after his speech that if elected, he will focus on "providing broader opportunities" that include educational reform and creating a more robust economy.

"My central perspective is that we've got to build what I call a new prosperity in this country -- building new industries around meeting the current needs we have in alternative energy, clean tech, the need for modern medical devices, and biotechnology."

"That will be the bedrock of our new economy," he said. "That involves investing in basic science and research. It involves providing incentives for investments in businesses that will rise from that basic science and research. And it involves making sure we have a workforce that is prepared for those 21-century jobs."

Lewis said his goals include:

n Providing targeted tax credits "that would spur investment in businesses arising from new technology."

n Creating job tax credits to spur businesses to create jobs.

n Reforming education.

He wants the government to "provide more education for parents so they have the skills needed to help their children have the kind of experiences in brain development from birth to age 3, which we know is important." He said government-funded pilot programs could help achieve that.

Lewis, who graduated from Duke University in 1982 and Harvard Law School in 1986, said he's optimistic about the state's future, and cited Durham as an example of what the future can be.

"Right here in Durham, we have world class universities that are recipients of federal research dollars in the biotech area, in basic research, in the medical area. We have world class medical facilities here."

He said Durham's revitalized downtown is an inspiration.

"Durham has great diversity in its people and cultural activities, so I think we can look to Durham and see the promise of our state."