Decision makes longer list of lawmakers not returning in 2016
By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
February 26, 2016
MOCKSVILLE, GREENSBORO – Last week the North Carolina General Assembly held a special session to redraw congressional maps for the state. The special session came about as a result of a federal court’s ruling that the 1st and 12th Congressional Districts were unconstitutional. The court said the Districts were drawn on racial lines. North Carolina lawmakers had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the federal court’s ruling, but Chief Justice John Roberts denied the request.
The new map postpones primaries for the U.S. House until June 7th. All other primaries remain on March 15th.
U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, a Democrat, who served in the North Carolina House from 1994-2014, has served the 12th Congressional District since assuming office in the U.S. Congress.
Adams currently lives in the newly drawn 13th District, but now says she will run for a seat in the redrawn 12th in Mecklenburg County.
Sen. Andrew Brock (R-Davie), a seven-term member of the North Carolina Senate serving the 34th District, which includes constituents in Davie, Iredell and Rowan Counties, announced this week he will be a candidate for the newly drawn 13th Congressional District. The new District takes in all of Davie County of which Brock is a resident, as well as portions of Iredell, Rowan and Guilford Counties.
Rep. George Holding, a Republican, announced last week he would run in the 2nd District and challenge U.S. Rep. Renee Elmers, also a Republican, rather than seek re-election in the 13th. The decision by Holding paved the way for others to run for the seat.
State Sen. Brock has had a stellar service in the state Senate serving as chairman of the Natural and Economic Resources Appropriations Committee, Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee, and Joint Technology Oversight Committee. He served as vice-chairman of redistricting. Other committees he has served on include Joint Governmental Operations, Finance, Senate Rules, Appropriations/Base Budget, Program Evaluation, Emergency Response and Preparedness, Joint Education Oversight, and Ways and Means.
According to the Associated Press, Brock says that “he would work to defend Christian values, balance the budget, fight terrorists and close down ‘our porous borders.’”
According to the Greensboro-Record, also expressing an interest in the new seat is state Rep. John Hardister (R-Guilford). Hardister says he is “strongly leaning toward” a run for the newly redrawn 13th District. “I see it as an opportunity to advance my public service,” he said.
Hardister is in his second term in the N.C. House. Hardister has served as Co-Chairman on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee and Vice-Chairman of Appropriations. Other committees on which he has served as a member include Banking, Education – K-12, Elections, House Select Committee on Achievement School Districts, Judiciary I, Redistricting and Transportation.
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said both men were good candidates for the newly drawn district. “I have known Brock the longest and Hardister only a short time,” said Dr. Creech, “Hardister and I agree on most matters, but we’ve had some disagreement on alcohol policy. I was on the scene about 4 years before Brock came to the Senate in 2003 and he has always been a stalwart friend of the values represented by the Christian Action League,” added Dr. Creech.
If Hardister decides to run for the seat in the new 13th District, he and Brock will make a total of 25 lawmakers that will not return to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly in 2016. The list of legislators not coming back currently totals 18 Republicans (19 if Hardister runs), 5 Democrats, and one Unaffiliated.