Schaeffer, Daughtry, Tine, say they will not seek re-election – Apodaca or Grady may add to the list
By Teresa Dale
Christian Action League
October 16, 2015
RALEIGH — Three conservative lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly have announced they will not seek re-election in 2016. Jacqueline Schaffer (R-Mecklenburg), Leo Daughtry (R-Johnston), and Paul Tine (U-Beaufort) have all officially bowed out of the 2016 race to serve as members of the state House.
Rep. Schaffer has helped push through laws that have tightened abortion regulations and lessened gun control in North Carolina.
Rep. Daughtry served 28 years holding both positions of House Majority and Minority Leader.
Rep. Tine, an Independent, has pushed fiscally conservative bills and was embraced by the House Republican Caucus.
In a news release, Schaffer said her decision had nothing to do with politics, but that she only wished to pursue the next chapter in her professional career.
In an interview with WITN News, Tine said he would not be running again in order to spend more time with his family, “It is important that I take the time while my children are still young to be a father and husband,” he said.
Daughtry released a statement saying, “I am profoundly grateful to the people of Johnston County for allowing me to serve them since 1989. I am also grateful to the members of the General Assembly on both sides of the aisle for their friendship over the years.”
None of the representatives blamed politics or opponents for their decision to drop out of the race.
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said he was most saddened to hear of the decisions by Schaeffer and Daughtry not to seek re-election. Referencing Paul “Skip” Stam’s announcement not to run again in 2016, which came on the night of the General Assembly’s adjournment, Dr. Creech said, “I recognize that no man or woman is indispensable, but for conservative evangelicals to lose folks like Stam, Schaeffer, and Daughtry is no small thing. They have each been instrumental in the advocacy and defense of our cause. I think we should be praying now that God would raise up good and godly men and women to replace them.”
Dr. Creech continued, “When I think of Stam and Schaeffer, I think of strong support for traditional marriage, life, and religious liberty. When I think of Daughtry, I think of someone who is a strong Judiciary chairman, one of the few people left in our state who really understands our current ABC system, his support for the death penalty, and his staunch opposition to the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. In my estimation, we still need these people.”
Hendersonville Lightning Media also announced this week that Sen. Tom Apodaca (R-Buncombe), as well as Rep. Chuck McGrady, who both represent Henderson County, are also considering not running again for re-election in 2016.
Sen. Apodaca told the media that he hadn’t made up his mind about the matter at this time.
He said that he had changed his mind about it three times in the last week.
Rep. McGrady said that if Apodaca were to retire that he would stay on for another term because he didn’t think both of them should retire at the same time. McGrady added, “On the other hand if he [Apodaca] announces that he is going to run again, I may take the opportunity to step aside, again feeling that we shouldn’t both retire at the same time, as long as he’s committed to another term.”
“Time always brings change,” said Dr. Creech, “but with each new season and the prospect of new people running for office, the need for Christian statesmanship remains constant.”
Teresa Dale is a student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.