NC General Assembly getting organized; work begins on 1/30/19 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    The Wednesday, January 9, 2019 one-day session featured the swearing in of all legislators who had not already taken their oaths in local ceremonies. This week saw the eager faces of the freshmen legislators. Senior legislators are settling in, many with different offices. Traditionally, the newest legislators are assigned to the least preferable offices. As legislators gain seniority, often they are assigned to more desirable office space. Go to www.ncleg.net for current contact information for all legislators.

    NEWCOMERS TO NC SENATE

    About one fourth (13 of the 50) NC Senators are new. These new Senators include:

    Sen. Bob Steinburg, R­-Chowan, is moving over from the House to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Bill Cook. He defeated Clark Twiddy. Senate District #1 includes Camden, Chowan, Currituck Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

    Sen. Harper Peterson, D-­New Hanover, is a former Wilmington mayor who narrowly ousted Republican Sen. Michael Lee. He's been an active voice in the fight over GenX water contamination.

    Sen. Jim Burgin, R-­Harnett, is the owner of C&D Insurance and a partner in a car dealership who previously served as chairman of the Harnett County Commissioners. He replaces Sen. Ronald Rabin, who retired.

    Sen. Wiley Nickel, D­-Wake, is a Cary criminal defense attorney who previously worked for President Barack Obama and Vice President Al Gore. He represents western Wake County in a redrawn district that had no incumbent. Sen. Sam Searcy, D­-Wake, is a vodka distillery owner who was briefly a candidate for Congress before switching races. He defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Tamara Barringer in one of the state's most expensive races. Sen. Kirk deViere, D-­Cumberland, is a former Fayetteville City Councilman who owns a marketing, public relations and advertising business. He defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Wesley Meredith.

    Sen. Michael Garrett, D-­Guilford, is a marketing firm owner who defeated former Sen. Trudy Wade in his second attempt to unseat the powerful incumbent. Sen. Eddie Gallimore, R­-Davidson, owns a real estate and construction business and previously served as vice chair of the Davidson Co. Republican Party. He has run in primaries for the state Senate in 3 previous election cycles before defeating Rep. Sam Watford, R­-Davidson, in last year's primary. Sen. Carl Ford, R­-Rowan, is a former three ­term House member who ran for Senate after new district maps double ­bunked him with Rep. Larry Pittman, R-­Cabarrus.

    Sen. Todd Johnson, R-­Union, is a former Union County commissioner who owns an insurance company. He's replacing Sen. Tommy Tucker, who retired. Sen. Ted Alexander, R-­Cleveland, is a former mayor of Shelby and former chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party. He's a regional director for the nonprofit historic preservation group Preservation NC.

    Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed, D­-Mecklenburg, is an attorney who defeated Sen. Joel Ford in last year's Democratic primary. He's a former Mecklenburg Co. Democratic party chairman and a former candidate for Charlotte mayor, and at age 33 he's the youngest member of the Senate.

    Sen. Natasha Marcus, D­-Mecklenburg, is the assistant director of development at the Ada Jenkins Center, a nonprofit that deals with poverty issues in northern Mecklenburg communities.

    NEWCOMERS TO NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    New in the NC House of Representatives are the following 26 of the 120 House members:

    Rep. Ed Goodwin, R­-Chowan, is a former state ferry director and former Chowan County commissioner. He ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2012 and replaces Bob Steinburg, who was elected to the Senate. House District #1 now includes Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington counties.

    Rep. Bobby Hanig, R­-Currituck, is a former chair of the Currituck County commissioners and owns a property management business. He defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Beverly Boswell in last year's primary. House District #6 now includes Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Pamlico counties.

    Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-­Beaufort, is a longtime Republican Party leader and accountant from Chocowinity. The redrawn District #79 includes Beaufort and Craven counties, and did not have an incumbent.

    Rep. Chris Humphrey, R-­Lenoir, is a former Lenoir County commissioner who owns an insurance business. He defeated incumbent Craven County Democratic Rep. George Graham in a redrawn district that leans more conservative. District #12 includes Pitt and Lenoir counties.

    Rep. Kandie Smith, D­-Pitt, is a former Greenville mayor and councilwoman who works as a trainer and facilitator. She challenged Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield, D­Wilson, in 2016 and ran last year in a newly drawn district with no incumbent. Rep. Raymond Smith, D­-Wayne, is a former Wayne County school board member and previously worked for the N.C. Department of Transportation and a local transit service. He replaces Rep. Larry Bell, D­-Sampson, who retired.

    Rep. Carson Smith, R-­Pender, spent 16 years as sheriff of Pender County, including a stint as president of the N.C. Sheriffs' Association. He replaces Republican Rep. Bob Muller, who did not seek re­election.

    Rep. Julie von Haefen, D-­Wake, has been the president of the Wake County PTA Council, a Guardian ad Litem and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Nelson Dollar, the top House budget writer last year.

    Rep. Lisa Stone Barnes, R-­Nash, is a former Nash County commissioner who has worked as a real­estate paralegal. She defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Bobbie Richardson in a redrawn district that leaned more conservative than Richardson's original district.

    Rep. Jerry Carter, R­-Rockingham, is the pastor of Reidsville Baptist Church. He replaces Republican Rep. Bert Jones, who did not seek another term.

    Rep. Ray Russell, D­-Watauga, is a computer science professor at Appalachian State University and runs the popular weather website raysweather.com. He defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jonathan Jordan.

    Rep. Steve Jarvis, R-­Davidson, is a former Davidson County commissioner and the president of a construction company. He replaces Rep. Sam Watford, who gave up his House seat to run unsuccessfully for Senate.

    Rep. Wayne Sasser, R­-Cabarrus, is a pharmacy owner who defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Justin Burr in last year's primary.

    Rep. Sydney Batch, D-­Wake, defeated Republican John Adcock, who was appointed to his seat after Republican Linda Hunt Williams resigned to move to Louisiana. Batch, an attorney, took a break from campaigning in August after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

    Rep. Christy Clark, D­-Mecklenburg, defeated Republican incumbent John Ray Bradford in a Republican ­leaning district that was unusually competitive this election cycle. Clark, a paralegal and former state director of Moms Demand Action, was an advocate for gun law changes on the campaign trail.

    Rep. Ashton Clemmons, D-­Guilford, an education consultant and former assistant superintendent of Thomasville City Schools, will represent the newlydrawn House District 57, which didn't have an incumbent in the 2018 election. Clemmons will serve as one of the House Democratic Caucus Freshman Leaders. Rep. Allison Dahle, D-­Wake, defeated incumbent Rep. Duane Hall. Dahle, a political newcomer, is a Raleigh native. She previously worked with ARC of NC, an organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    Rep. Terence Everitt, D-­Wake, an attorney, defeated Republican incumbent Chris Malone in November. Everitt had previously run against Malone in 2016 but lost.

    Rep. James Gailliard, D-­Nash, a pastor at the Word Tabernacle Church in Rocky Mount, won in the open House District 25 seat. The seat was open after former Rep. Jeff Collins, R­-Nash, retired. Gailliard ran against Collins in 2016 but lost. Rep. Wesley Harris, D-­Mecklenburg, an economic consultant, defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Stone in House District 105. Harris was a first ­time candidate.

    Rep. Zack Hawkins, D-­Durham, replaces retiring Rep. Mickey Michaux, who was the longest serving member of the General Assembly.

    Rep. Rachel Hunt, D­-Mecklenburg, daughter of former Gov. James Hunt, defeated Republican incumbent Bill Brawley in one of the tightest races of the year. Their race was the most expensive race in the General Assembly this year, with Hunt raising $1.2 million. She won by 68 votes and was seated despite a last minute complaint about absentee ballots in that district.

    Rep. Brandon Lofton, D-­Mecklenburg, an attorney, defeated first-­term Republican Rep. Andy Dulin. Lofton, a first­time candidate, was active in his community, including Charlotte's Disparity Study Advisory Committee.

    Rep. Carolyn Logan, D­-Mecklenburg, a contractor with Atkins North America, won in the open House District 101 seat. The seat was open after longtime Rep. Beverly Earle announced her retirement.

    Rep. Nasif Majeed, D­-Mecklenburg, a Charlotte businessman, defeated incumbent Rep. Rodney Moore in the Democratic primary. Majeed served on the Charlotte City Council for eight years.

    Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D­-Haywood, has served in both the House and Senate. He begins his sixth term as a Legislator.

    PROMOTIONS

    Senator Norman Sanderson R-District #2 (Carteret, Craven, & Pamlico) has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee, Chairman of Senate Appropriations on Justice & Public Safety, and Senate Republican Joint Caucus Leader. He begins his fourth term as a Legislator.

    Senator Erica D. Smith, D-District 3, beginning her third term in the NC Senate, now represents Beaufort, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Vance and Warren counties. She is a member of the following 2019-2020 standing committees: Appropriations on Education/Higher Education, Appropriations/Base Budget, Commerce & Insurance, and Transportation.

    Representative Howard J. Hunter, III D-District 5 now represents Gates, Hertford and Pasquotank Counties in District #5. He is a member of the Committee on Access to Healthcare in Rural NC together with membership in four additional non-standing committees. Standing committee assignments have not been posted. Rep. Hunter begins his third term as a Legislator.

    LEGISLATIVE WORK BEGINS 1/30/2019

    The NC General Assembly will reconvene to begin the 2019-2020 regular session on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at 12:00 noon. Assignments to the standing committee and the reshuffling of legislative offices should be completed by then.

    We look forward to communicating with you regarding important county issues. Please contact us immediately if you know any of the new legislators, as we will be working to introduce ourselves and your county to these freshman legislators.

    Contact: Joe McClees & Henri McClees
      McClees Consulting, Inc.

      Post Office Box 430
      Oriental, NC 28571

      Office (252) 249-1097
      Fax (252) 249-3275
      www.mccleesconsulting.com
      Joe McClees's mobile (252) 671-1585
      Henri's mobile (252) 671-1559
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