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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.)