State Sen. Stan White, D-Dare, on Monday kicked off his 2012 campaign at a Democratic meeting in Kill Devil Hills.

Technically, this isn’t a re-election effort — it’s part of White’s work to return to the Senate in his own right.

Early last year, a Democratic Party committee named White to replace retiring Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare. White is serving out the remainder of the longtime lawmaker’s two-year term.

“If I’m looking forward to anything it’s being able to get out and meet more people,” White said in a phone interview with the Washington Daily News.

White is president of Stan White Realty and Construction on the Outer Banks.

Asked to name senatorial accomplishments of which he’s proud, he said he’d built relationships across the aisle while working to resolve issues for his constituents.

Constituent service, not sponsorship of major bills, has been his focus while serving in the Republican-dominated Senate, White made clear.

“Certainly, I’ve got some ongoing projects which I think that those relationships will help in the future,” he said. “Certainly, being in the minority (party) and a freshman, I don’t see any landmark things. I wasn’t one of the guys that caused the budget to be changed and that sort of stuff. But I certainly feel good about the number of individuals I’ve been able to help.”

He mentioned his advocacy for victims of Hurricane Irene, which tore through the east Aug. 27, 2011.

White is the only known Democratic candidate in the 1st Senate District, at least so far.

To date, the only known Republican candidate is state Rep. Bill Cook, R-Beaufort. Cook is giving up his House re-election bid to go for the Senate slot.

District 1 covers Hyde, Dare, Gates, Camden, Beaufort, Currituck, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties.

White estimates he’ll need to raise $150,000 to $200,000 for his campaign.

As of Jan. 13, the Stan White Campaign Fund had $24,469.16 cash on hand, according to a report available on the State Board of Elections’ website.

White had received contributions from a number of individuals, and $1,000 from the campaign fund of state Rep. Tim Spear, D-Washington. Spear isn’t running for re-election.

White had lent his own campaign $10,000.

Cook had $12,536.78 cash on hand as of Jan. 26.

He had lent his campaign $2,000.