Tag Archive for: #ncsenatedistrictthree

Tommy Hester

Town Talk 10/6/20: Tommy Hester, NC Senate District 3 Republican Candidate

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Thomas “Tommy” Hester, Jr., the Republican candidate for the District 3 NC Senate seat, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Hester, of Vance County, will face Democratic candidate and Bertie County resident Ernestine Bazemore for the seat that represents Beaufort, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Vance and Warren County. Current District 3 Senator Erica Smith-Ingram is running for US Senate and will not seek re-election to the state senate.

Graduating from Campbell University in 1971, Hester returned to Henderson where he worked at Carolina Cooling & Heating and was later promoted to president of the company.

Hester also graduated from Officer Candidate School (O.C.S.), becoming platoon leader with the 878 Engineering Company for three years.

He currently owns Prim Residential Rentals where he develops residential and commercial property in Vance County.

Community achievements, past and present, include:

  • Chair of the Vance County Board of Commissioners
  • Chair of the N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority Board
  • Golden LEAF Board Member
  • Chair of the Economic Development Commission
  • Chair of the Henderson Heart Fund Drive
  • Committee Chair of the Henderson Cancer Drive
  • Supporter of the Vance County Relay for Life
  • Chair of the United Way Campaign
  • Member of the United Way’s Board of Directors
  • Advocate for the construction of the Perry Memorial Library and Embassy Cultural Center Foundation
  • President of the Henderson Rotary Club – named Rotarian of the Year in 2002
  • District Chair of the Henderson-Vance Boy Scouts of America Fundraiser
  • President of the Henderson RBC Centura Bank Board of Advisors and Trustees
  • Board Director of the Vance County Public School Foundation
  • Awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2016
  • Named the 2017 Citizen of the Year by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

Hester provided the following responses, in part, to questions asked during the Town Talk segment:

Why is now the right time for you to seek the NC Senate seat?

 “I’ve spent 15 years as a County Commissioner. I’ve tried to help with jobs and economic development in Vance County, and I see an opportunity, with no incumbent, to run for this office to do more for Vance County and the other five counties.”

How will your voice represent the needs and wants of the six counties in District 3?

 “I have worked tirelessly on the Golden LEAF Board and the Rural Infrastructure Authority in Raleigh to bring jobs and education into our area. I’d like to expand that into these other counties.

For example, Vance is the only county out of the six to come up with a program to offer broadband for $39.95 to all homes. Mako Medical Laboratories in Vance County now has over 500 employees. We’ve brought in Select Products who will manufacture toilet paper, napkins and paper towels.

I want to see more growth and bring in more tax revenue, not by raising the rate, but by raising the basis. If you expand the basis, you end up getting more revenue and you can keep the tax rate lower.”

What do you want to accomplish in the Senate?

 “I want to work with the Senate in Raleigh to bring as much of the taxpayer’s money from these counties back to these counties and help assist in getting jobs. Two things that go together more than anything else are jobs and education; you can’t put one before the other. When you create jobs, you create tax money and expand upon services such as fire protection, law enforcement, etc.”

How would you work with someone with different viewpoints or a different political party on issues such as Medicaid expansion?

 “I’m not interested in party; I’m interested in jobs and education. The time I’ve spent has been about trying to do what’s right for the community and trying to get the quality of life better for every citizen in that area. I would love to do that and work with whoever is in the House in the future.”

For additional information on Hester and his campaign, visit his Facebook page at Tommy Hester 4 NC Senate Dist. 3 (click here).

To hear the interview in its entirety, including additional questions and responses from Hester, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal air time/coverage on WIZS.)

Ernestine Bazemore

Town Talk 08/31/20: Ernestine Bazemore, NC Senate District 3 Dem. Candidate

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Ernestine Bazemore, the Democratic candidate for the District 3 NC Senate Seat, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

Bazemore, of Bertie County, will face Republican candidate and Vance County resident Thomas “Tommy” S. Hester, Jr. for the seat that represents Beaufort, Bertie, Martin, Northampton, Vance and Warren County.

Raised with six siblings, Bazemore said she learned the value of a good education and the importance of serving others. She earned a B.S. in Criminology & Criminal Justice and served for 28 years in the Bertie County School System in various roles.

Bazemore was elected to the Bertie County Board of Commissioners in 2014, serving as chair in 2018. According to her campaign website, she was also appointed by NC Governor Roy Cooper as a Trustee for Roanoke Chowan Community College and continues to serve on several state and national boards, including:

• District 2 Director for the State of North Carolina (North Carolina Association of County Officials)

• Bertie County DSS Board

• Trillium Regional Board and the Governing Board

• Bertie County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)

• North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Board of Trustees

Bazemore provided the following responses to questions asked during the Town Talk segment:

How will you use your voice to represent your district’s concerns?

“I want to hear from the people. I’m running to serve the people, not myself. There will be a place to call to share their [citizens’] concerns. Preferably, COVID will be over so I can visit in person. If not, we’ll do it virtually or by phone conference, so there is still a way to communicate with my constituents.”

What are the issues people are sharing with you while you’re campaigning?

“Broadband is a major concern across all the counties; not all areas are currently being served. Also, the services offered by rural hospitals as well as Medicaid expansion are big concerns.”

Your webpage mentions unlimited promise for businesses and children. How can you help with that?

“Tier One counties need economic stabilization. COVID-19 has left us in a horrible situation. I’ll be seeking monies from federal funds to help stabilize our communities. Also, education should be at the forefront. We have very good teachers, but the salary is low; therefore, people are leaving education to find other jobs.”

What are some examples you’d point to of helping others?

“As a commissioner, I pushed for Bertie County to implement the quarter-cent sales tax increase. Bertie was one of the last NC counties to receive it. My vote was to give the money to education because we are such a poor county, and there is no money for education. It [sales tax increase] has all been devoted to education. If we are expected to compete with Wake County, Mecklenburg County and other larger counties, we have to put money into our school systems.

I’m also proud of the creation of Bertie Beach. It was such an exciting journey to see that come to fruition. Now Bertie is becoming a destination.”

Why is now the right time for you to seek the NC Senate seat?

“When I became a commissioner, I realized my desire to serve the citizens was stronger than I even imagined. Instead of talking about the troubles, I decided to help solve the troubles, so I ran. It’s an exhilarating feeling when you know you have helped make someone’s life a little bit better. Senator Erica Smith-Ingram has decided to run for US Senate, so maybe this is my time to serve a larger base of people.”

For additional information on Bazemore and her campaign, visit www.bazemoresenate.com.

To hear the interview in its entirety, including additional questions and responses from Bazemore, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

(This is not a paid political advertisement. Political candidates are offered equal air time/coverage on WIZS.)

Vance Co. Commissioner Tommy Hester Announces Plan to Run for NC Senate

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Thomas “Tommy” Hester, Jr., lifelong Henderson native, long-serving Vance County Commissioner and local businessman, has announced that he will file for the NC Senate District Three seat in the 2020 election. The filing period begins Monday, December 2, 2019.

NC’s third district is currently represented by Democratic Senator Erica Smith-Ingram and includes Vance, Warren, Northampton, Bertie, Martin and Beaufort counties.

With Smith-Ingram expected to file for federal office as opposed to filing for reelection to the state senate, Hester said the time is right to seek an office that “can help bring jobs and education – the two most important factors in economic growth – to rural NC counties.”

Tommy Hester announces to the local media on Wednesday that he will file for the NC Senate District Three seat in the 2020 election. The filing period begins Monday, December 2, 2019. (WIZS photo)

All six of the counties comprising district three are considered Tier 1, a distinction that makes them among the most economically distressed in the state. Rankings are based on an assessment of a county’s unemployment rate, median household income, population growth and assessed property value per capita, according to the NC Department of Commerce.

As a resident and county commissioner in a Tier 1 county, Hester said he is prepared to bring jobs and education to the district and believes his experience on the North Carolina Golden Leaf Board of Directors and Chairman of the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority, in part, make him an ideal candidate.

“Being involved in Golden Leaf and being in Raleigh with the Rural Infrastructure Authority for six years has given me the background on what needs to be done to help rural counties,” stated Hester.

In addition to his many service roles in Vance County, Hester has connections to other rural NC counties including the three years he was stationed in Warren County as part of his 15 years of National Guard service and connections made through wife Jenny, a Northampton County native.

Locally, Hester has served the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Committee as its elected Board Chair. He was also named Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year in 2017 and has been recognized with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian award.

A Vance County Commissioner for 14 years, Hester said he will only resign the local office if he wins the senate seat. If elected, Hester would also be required to resign from the Golden Leaf Foundation and the Rural Infrastructure Authority.

Hester pointed to recent examples of growth in Vance County, many of which he was either directly or indirectly involved with, as proof that the tide can turn in counties categorized as “economically distressed.” Examples included:

  • Expansion of the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park located off US-1
  • Mako Medical Laboratories opening in Henderson, bringing 100+ jobs (to date)
  • New Vance Charter School Building and Salvation Army Building in Henderson
  • Wireless Broadband agreement to provide service to 95-98% of Vance County
  • Vance County’s water expansion project, currently on phase 3

While he is proud of the strides made in Vance County in recent years, Hester said he also wants to help expand that growth to other rural counties via the third district senate seat.

“There’s no one running right now or announced to run except for me. I’m running for it because I care about NC and I care about rural counties. If we help one rural county, we are helping all surrounding counties.”

The general election for the North Carolina State Senate will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020.

If elected, Hester would assume office the first day of the new General Assembly in January 2021. Members of the state senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.