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Henderson County Politics

Edwards seeks study of DuPont Forest admission fees

State Sen. Chuck Edwards wants the state Agriculture Department to study ways to generate revenue at DuPont State Forest, including admission fees that would "favor North Carolina citizens," in order to create "a sustainable income stream to help preserve the protect the forest."   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Rep. Henson won't seek re-election

State Rep. Cody Henson, who faces a stalking charge in a complaint brought by his estranged wife, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election next year. Henson faced calls from Democrats to resign after a judge authorized a one-year restraining order that his wife had sought. He said he wanted to devote more time to his two young children and let someone else represent the 113th House District, which include Transylvania, Polk and southern Henderson counties. "I believe this district will find another individual who is ready and able to fight for our mountain values and be a voice we need to make sure we do not go back to the days of Western North Carolina being left behind," he said. "I will stand ready to assist my successor in any way possible." The race had already attracted potential interest by two Republicans from Polk County. Jake Johnson, chair of the Polk County Board of Commissioners, said he would look at the seat if Henson was not running. Gene Johnson, a 57-year-old attorney who practices in Henderson and Buncombe counties and lives in Polk, also was considering a run. Here is the statement from Henson, a second-term Republican incumbent: "I have said this many times but it truly has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you in the NC House for the past 2 terms. We have been able to accomplish many things since first being elected that will make our district and our great state even better places to live, work and do business. Since December 2015, I have promised to represent Transylvania, Polk and Southern Henderson Counties with the mountain values that were instilled in me early in life and that people from around the world come to our small corner of North Carolina to experience. "As you all know I have two beautiful children that are growing up quicker than any parent would like. When I started this journey Bo was only 5 months old and Presley wasn’t even thought of. Now Bo is 3 and Presley is going on 8 months and I couldn’t be more blessed with them. With that said, I wanted to let you all know that I will not be seeking re-election in 2020. With Bo starting school soon I believe it is in the best interest of my children to step away from the political scene for now and be there during these exciting times in their lives. "I believe this district will find another individual who is ready and able to fight for our mountain values and be a voice we need to make sure we do not go back to the days of WNC being left behind. I will stand ready to assist my successor in any way possible. "Until then, I look forward to continuing to serve you for the remainder of this term and continue our work on school safety, addressing immigration, continued pay increases for our teachers and a host of other issues this General Assembly is addressing. "Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for all the support you have shown me and my family over the years and the countless prayers on my behalf. It truly is an honor to be your voice in the NC House of Representatives."   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

'Today is a great day for the country,' Meadows says

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, one of President Trump's strongest supporters in Congress, declared that "the clock has finally struck midnight on the Russian collusion fantasy" after the Mueller report failed to produce evidence that the Trump campaign worked with Russians in the 2016 presidential campaign. "After 22 months, 2 years of congressional investigations, several millions in taxpayer dollars, and zero evidence uncovered—the clock has finally struck midnight on the Russian collusion fantasy," Meadows said in a statement. "Attorney General Barr’s statement today should end the debate. There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. It’s over." "But today’s verdict should send a message well beyond the fact that there was no collusion," he said. "What the public needs to understand: there never was any evidence of collusion to begin with. This wasn’t an investigation of a probable crime. It was an unwarranted investigation of a person—President Trump." Meadows, who was also interviewed on CNN on Sunday, also endorsed the release of the full report and the underlying document, suggesting that doing so would expose an effort by the FBI and Department of Justice to "retaliate against a legitimately elected President." "In the interest of transparency, we can expect Americans will be able to see more details on the report in the coming days," he said. "But make no mistake: transparency should not stop there. The public deserves to see the interviews, documents, and intelligence that 'justified' this investigation in the first place—the release of which several of my colleagues and I have been advocating for for over a year. Let’s not stop at the report. Let Americans see the underlying documents. Let them decide for themselves whether this investigation was warranted—or whether it was a two year long episode of political targeting, driven by FBI and DOJ executives who wanted to retaliate against a legitimately elected President. "I’m grateful this two year distraction is finally over," he said. "Today is a great day for the country, because as we’ve known all along, it was hardworking Americans who elected President Trump—not Russians.”   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Democrats gain majority
 on county elections board

After a court fight that left local boards in limbo for months, Henderson County finally has a new Board of Elections, this time with a 3-2 Democratic majority.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

Tax referendum may be a long shot

The city’s request for a quarter-cent sales tax referendum faces an uphill battle in a Legislature resistant to local tax measures.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Republicans circling if Henson resigns from House

Although GOP leaders in Raleigh have been silent on the cyberstalking charge against state Rep. Cody Henson, two local Republicans named Johnson say they’re eyeing the seat if Henson quits.Henson has been accused of cyberstalking and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether he committed a crime against his estranged wife, Kelsey Henson, Carolina Public Press reported. Last week, after the media reported the criminal summons, the N.C. Democratic Party, Democratic Women of North Carolina and a House Democratic leader called on Henson to resign.“Now that a judge has seen fit, after a hearing on the merits, to grant a permanent restraining order against Rep. Henson, there has been a finding of domestic violence on his part,” House Democratic Whip Rep. Deb Butler said. “There is no place for domestic violence in our society, particularly on the part of an elected official who purports to be a role model for our youth. In my opinion, he should resign.”At the Henderson County Republican Party Convention on Saturday, a Polk County commissioner said he’d look at running if Henson resigns while another Republican declined to rule out a primary challenge if Henson stays.“Let’s just say testing the water,” said Gene Johnson, a 57-year-old attorney who practices in Henderson and Buncombe counties and lives in Polk. “I’m more interested to see what happens with Rep. Henson. I’m not going to step on his toes. I’m just waiting to see what happens. … At this point I’m not ready to say” whether he would challenge Henson in a primary.Jake Johnson, the 24-year-old chairman of the Polk County Board of Commissioners, plans to announce a campaign for Secretary of State. That could change, he said, if Henson’s seat becomes vacant.“I’m getting a lot of calls on it,” said Johnson, who was elected in 2016. “If the seat came open it would be something I would consider.”Last month a judge granted Kelsey Henson a yearlong restraining order against Henson after she filed a complaint that he “will not quit ‘texting’ the plaintiff at all hours of the day.”Henson has declined to comment on the cyberstalking charge, saying it’s a family member he hopes to resolve privately. “Rep. Henson looks forward to addressing this allegation in due course through our judicial system and will not attempt to litigate the matter through the media,” Henson’s attorney, Michael Edney, said in a statement. “Cody will continue to focus his love and energy on his two beautiful children and will continue to represent the people of District 113.”
 * * * * * Carolina Public Press contributed reporting.   Read Story »

Hendersonville Politics

In what could be his last battle, McGrady tackles redistricting, liquor laws

RALEIGH — Glancing over a House calendar, Chuck McGrady pronounced the taking of the annual members’ photo — “it’s always like herding cats” —the most challenging part of the afternoon floor session.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

Democrats call for Henson to resign

State Rep. Cody Henson has received a copy of the criminal summons filed by the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, his attorney J. Michael Edney told Carolina Public Press late Thursday.   Read Story »

Henderson County Politics

A second Democrat announces candidacy for state Senate

Patsy Keever, a retired schoolteacher, former Buncombe County Commissioner and one-term state House member, announced on Thursday that she is running for the 48th N.C. Senate District, setting up a primary next March for the Democratic nomination.   Read Story »

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