Tag Archive for: #nchouse32

The Local Skinny! Who Will Be The Democratic House 32 Candidate In November

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North Carolina House 32 Representative Bryan Cohn announced Wednesday his candidacy in hopes of appearing on the ballot in November, and Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott re-confirmed her desire to run as well.

Both are seeking the ballot position, and others possibly, after the Democratic nominee, Curtis McRae, announced he would step away due to personal health matters.

“When Curtis made the difficult decision to step aside, I knew our community needed someone ready to step forward,” Cohn said. “While I had not planned to be a candidate this year, my commitment to the people of Granville and Vance counties has never changed,” he said in a press release.

Elliott told WIZS Thursday, for the second time, of her desire, and she said, “I submitted a letter. It’s the committee’s choice.”

Angela Thornton, the Democratic chairperson in Vance County, told WIZS Thursday the committee, composed of three Democratic Leaders from Granville County and two from Vance County, has not yet voted on the name they will send to the NC House Democratic Caucus.  Thornton said, “We are still waiting on paperwork to finalize our vote.  The committee is still meeting and following protocol to ensure all names are turned in for voting.”

On Wednesday, possibly around the same time Cohn issued his statement, the NC House Democratic Caucus issued its own statement in support of Cohn.  In part, that statement said the caucus “is proud to support Representative Bryan Cohn as the Democratic nominee for House District 32…”  The release spoke of his willingness to step forward and “ensures continuity of leadership and gives voters a candidate with the experience, relationships, and knowledge needed to be effective on day one.”

Once a name is chosen for the ballot, that name will appear in November’s election next to the Republican nominee, Frank Sossamon.

Whether the Democrat or the Republican wins, it will for a second election cycle have huge implications for the balance of power in Raleigh.

The name the local committee selects is the name that will appear on the ballot.  The local committee will tell the NC Dem House Caucus.

And, Thornton said, “An announcement from the house caucus will be made.”

Cohn told WIZS, “The official party nomination process has not happened yet.”

WIZS News has reached out to be informed of the ballot decision when it’s made and will provide and update when the information is received.

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The Local Skinny! Broadband Internet Initiative Brings More Access To Vance County Residents

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Vance County is set to get about $3.4 million of a $41 million funding pie as state and local leaders work with utility companies further shrink the gap to internet access.

N.C. District 32 Rep. Bryan Cohn said this latest project will bring broadband internet access to an additional 1,327 homes and businesses in the general area of Kerr Lake north of I-85 and south of 85 toward Kittrell.

If homeowners were to foot the bill, it could cost as much as $2,500, Cohn said on Tuesday. Having this kind of grant funding makes it more affordable for everyone, including the utility companies responsible for providing the service.

Brightspeed is the service provider for this particular project, which has a completion date of Dec. 31, 2026. That gives construction crews about a year and a half to get the work done.

It’s one of several projects and programs designed to bring broadband internet service to rural areas.

“We’re trying to close the gap at every opportunity with every available program and resource that we have,” Cohn said.

As the project nears completion, Brightspeed will inform customers within the new service zone through mailers, flyers and even door-to-door canvassing to let them know about what they’ll offer and what the price will be.

Whether it’s enhanced coverage or new service, Cohn said having access to broadband internet service is becoming increasingly essential for households and businesses.

“We need to provide that opportunity to get that infrastructure to every home,” he said. “

You almost can’t do business today without access to the internet – and good, reliable internet…it’s a necessity, not a luxury.”

And while 99.75% of homes within Vance County have broadband availability, the percentage of those who have accessed it is lower – more like 82 percent, he said.

These programs will help lower costs for qualifying residents who may be on fixed incomes, Cohn said.

It’s not just a matter of closing that gap in getting utilities to homes, but it’s about
“helping people get connected to it and not have to break the bank doing it.”

 

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TownTalk: Bryan Cohn NC House 32 Representative Talks Issues, Legislating For All

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As the newly elected District 32 representative in the N.C. House, Bryan Cohn said he sees plenty of opportunities to work in a bipartisan fashion to preserve and strengthen the economy, natural resources and more for his constituents in Vance and Granville counties.

Cohn narrowly defeated incumbent Frank Sossamon in the November general election, but with the early January swearing-in in Raleigh and then a ceremonial swearing-in on Sunday, Jan. 19 at McGregor Hall, Cohn said he is ready to get to work.

About 100 supporters attended the second swearing-in on the afternoon of Jan. 19, during which the new state legislator shared his vision.

“It was a message of optimism and a message of hope,” he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk, “and really a message of gratitude to everyone who contributed their time and effort into this campaign.”

He called running for office “a humbling experience” and said he told those supporters on hand two Sunday afternoons ago that he will “represent them … and make sure we continue to listen to what they have to say and advocate appropriately in Raleigh.”

Among several priorities for the freshman legislator are expanded access to health care, taking care of seniors and keeping an eye on the regional water system.

“The ongoing expansion of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades is going to continue to be a top priority in this region,” Cohn explained.

Attending to those issues, among others, will also help foster growth in the district, which leads to economic growth for the region.

Expanding business and industry in the district will increase the need for an educated workforce, so he wants to make sure public education is up to the task.

Cohn said he is making the rounds throughout the district, adding that talking to leaders and others in the community is part of a “discovery phase” to help him get the lay of the land and be better equipped to be supportive of the various needs.

Although he said he was “unapologetically delighted” to be able to break up the Republican super majority in the N.C. House, Cohn said no one party should rule with absolute authority. He said he looks forward to working with Republicans Rep. Matthew Winslow and State Sen. Lisa Barnes, for whom he said he has great respect.

“Leaders should listen and take stock from what they are being told,” Cohn said. “We may not always agree,” but he said he suspects there are likely many things that they can agree on.

In his role as a commissioner for the City of Oxford, Cohn said he realized that municipalities and county officials are limited in what they can and cannot do, based on state laws.

“It makes it really difficult when you’re trying to plan for future growth,” he said or trying to put in place policies that talk about zoning or other issues faced by local governments.

Cohn said he feels some laws created last year around zoning issues need to be looked at to provide cities and counties more clarity, saying they created “a lot of gray area.” The language in those bills needs to be adjusted to better define what is allowed and not allowed.

He said he would like to see bills spend more time in committee to create a more polished product that spells out clearly for landowners, developers and local governments what the bill entails.

You don’t always need a sledgehammer to get results, Cohn said. Sometimes it takes a scalpel.

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The Local Skinny! Bryan Cohn Sworn In NC House 32

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Bryan Cohn was sworn in last week to begin his term as District 32 representative in the N.C. House, which includes Vance and Granville counties.

Cohn edged out incumbent Frank Sossamon by a final total of 228 votes in one of several close races in the Nov. 5 general election.

Following appeals and challenges, the N.C. State Board of Elections certified the results on Jan. 6.

Although he officially took office Jan. 8 during a swearing-in event that was part of the legislature’s opening day activities, Cohn told WIZS News Monday that a ceremonial swearing-in will take place at McGregor Hall in Henderson Sunday, Jan. 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

“It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of District 32 in the North Carolina House of Representatives,” Cohn said in a press statement. “This community has placed its trust in me, and I am committed to working tirelessly on behalf of all residents to ensure our district’s voice is heard and our needs are met.”

“The electoral process demonstrated the resilience of our democracy, and I am proud to represent a district that values fairness and integrity,” Cohn added. “Now it is time to focus on what matters most—working together to create a brighter future for all North Carolinians.”

As the new representative for District 32, Cohn’s legislative priorities include expanding access to affordable healthcare, investing in public education, supporting small businesses, and protecting the natural resources of the Kerr Lake region.

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TownTalk: NC House 32 Contest Update

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Vance and Granville counties are in the middle of a recount in the too-close-to-call contest for House District 32, which has Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn leading incumbent Republican Frank Sossamon by 233 votes.

Cohn led by 185 votes on Nov. 5, but that number grew to 233 following the Nov. 15 canvass to include provisional and absentee ballots.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles said Tuesday her team would begin the recount process at 8:30 this morning (Wednesday); information from the N.C. Board of Elections indicated that the Granville County recount would commence at 12 noon today, with an estimated time of 1-2 days for completion.

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Cohn said he was pleased with the overall process and said he has been pleased with the way both counties’ boards of elections have handled things.

“Given all the changes this year, staffing issues, all the normal hurdles…I could be more pleased with the effort they’ve put into this election cycle,” he said.

“You find out who you are as a person,” Cohn notes, “going through a highly competitive and highly scrutinized campaign like Frank and I went through.”

Cohn commended his campaign staff for knowing exactly what needed to be done, a heavy focus on the city of Oxford – where Cohn is a city commissioner – as well as Creedmoor, Butner and all of Vance County that sits within the boundaries of District 32.

Through outreach, engagement and “good old-fashioned door knocking,” Cohn said he was able to get his message to constituents.

The Republican majority in the House hangs in the balance, pending the outcome of this contest, but Cohn said he is focused on “governing from the middle.”

“The (Democratic) Party has to tack back toward the center because that’s where the bulk of the American people and North Carolinians are at – they’re more centrist than partisan on one side or the other,” he said.

“We have to co-govern with our GOP colleagues and find common ground,” he said, adding that if he goes to Raleigh to represent District 32, he’ll focus on “governing from a place of mutual understanding and try to work together, as opposed to throwing roadblocks.”

In his role as a city commissioner, Cohn said he has a new-found understanding of “how much we can’t do at the local level.” Municipalities have less and less control over things like zoning and planning, he said. Those changes have to come at the state level, he said. “In order to advance the things that we need in Vance County and in Granville County with infrastructure upgrades, we need to have more representation at the state level in order to get some of those initiatives passed if we want to continue to grow in both counties.”

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N.C. House Of Representatives District 32 Election Result 2024

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UPDATE: Thursday, Nov 7

The N.C. House District 32 race is one of several tight contests that played out across the state during Tuesday’s election. And although Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn ended the night with 182 more votes than incumbent Frank Sossamon, it remains unclear whether there will be call for a recount.

Local elections officials still have to review provisional ballots, which must be verified before they are counted and added to the official results.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Haley Rawles said the provisional ballot meeting will take place in Vance County Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

According to information released earlier Thursday by the N.C. State Board of Elections, Vance County had a total of 163 provisional ballots cast – 141 on Nov. 5 and 22 during the early voting period.

In Granville County, a total of 417 provisional ballots were cast – 380 on Nov. 5 and 37 during the early voting period.

The Local Skinny! Frank Sossamon Speaks At Local GOP Rally

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Frank Sossamon is no stranger to public speaking, having spent his career as a pastor. And during remarks at a recent Vance County GOP rally, Candidate Sossamon encouraged fellow Republicans to get out and vote in the November general election.

Sossamon, a political newcomer, is running for N.C. House District 32 on the Republican ticket.

He spoke to the partisan crowd of about 300 for about five minutes and said he has been traveling throughout the district, which includes Vance and much of Granville County.

“Overall, the reception has been extremely good,” Sossamon said.

A candidates’ forum will be held Thursday, June 30 at Sadie’s Coffee Corner in Henderson from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sossamon will be there, as well as Republican candidate for Vance Sheriff Patrick Bailey and others. Local GOP Chairman Jimmy Barrier will be the moderator and the rising crime rate is set to be the topic.

“We want to receive information and give information about crime,”Sossamon said. Other forums are being planned at locations across the county, he added.

And there’s a fundraiser for Sossamon planned for Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Henderson Country Club.

Sossamon spoke for about five minutes and, among other things, called the May primary turnout in Vance County “dismal.” He reminded those in attendance about talk of a “Red Wave” in November, referring to the election of Republican candidates in races up and down the ballot.

“It won’t be a Red Wave unless you jump in the water,” he said.

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