Forsyth County Commissioner Bill Whiteheart, a Republican, said Wednesday that he is running for the seat in N.C. House District 79, which has a population almost evenly split between Forsyth and Davie counties.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Julia Howard, R-Davie.
Whiteheart said his top priority would be to control state spending while encouraging more economic development.
Whiteheart said he also stands for private property rights, the right to bear arms, maintaining strong law enforcement, and building and maintaining roads.
He is serving his second non-consecutive term on the board of commissioners. He was elected in 2004 as one of the board's four District B commissioners but lost in the 2008 primary in his bid for a second term. Whiteheart returned to the board in 2010 by defeating Democrat Ted Kaplan for the at-large seat on the board.
District 79 formerly included Davie County and a part of Iredell County. Under 2011 redistricting, the district lost its Iredell County territory and gained parts of Forsyth — most of Lewisville and parts of Clemmons and western Winston-Salem.
By population, 52 percent of the district is in Davie, and 48 percent is in Forsyth. Howard lives in Mocksville and has represented the district since 1988.
Whiteheart said he has a wider variety of experience than the incumbent.
"Julia has always been involved in state government, so she has a singular flavor," Whiteheart said. "With Whiteheart, you get exposure and experience in a lot of fields as well as an understanding of government."
Whiteheart, who is president of Whiteheart Outdoor Advertising, said he was president of the N.C. Federation of Independent Business for six years and was once honored as Small Business Champion of the Year. He has served on the board of directors of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and co-chaired the transportation committee of the National Association of Counties.
Whiteheart also cited his long involvement with the airport board.
Howard said she plans to run again but declined to say much about Whiteheart's candidacy.
She did respond to Whiteheart's comment about her experience.
"I've run a real estate company for 40 years doing property management and appraisal," Howard said. "Before going into the House, I served eight years on the Mocksville town board."
Whiteheart's bid sets up the second GOP primary for seats in the General Assembly. In District 74, Rep. Larry Brown, R-Forsyth, and Commissioner Debra Conrad are both trying for the party nod.
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