Better late than never, District Attorney Jeff Hunt has announced that he is endorsing Mark Meadows for Congress.

Jeff Hunt

Meadows, who enjoys strong support from the the Republican establishment and behind-the-scenes strategists in Henderson County, faces Vance Patterson of Morganton in the July 17 runoff for the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District, one of four Democratic seats Republicans are targeting.

Hunt’s endorsement comes nine weeks after the May 8 primary and a week after early voting started in the runoff. A happy-talk news release made no mention for the long delay nor a reason for it. Hunt, the third place finisher in the eight-candidate primary election, had been upset that many of the top Republican figures in Henderson County had lined up behind Meadows instead of him.

Meadows, who has a broader organization, led Patterson in the primary 38 to 24 percent and is widely expected to top the runner-up next Tuesday.

Here’s Hunt’s statement:

“Today I am pleased to announce my endorsement and support of Mark Meadows
for the 11th District Congressional seat in the July 17 Republican Primary
Run-Off Election.  I am endorsing and supporting Mark Meadows in this
Run-Off Primary Election because I believe he is the best candidate to stop
unsustainable federal spending, the overreaching federal government, and
best protect Social Security and Medicare on which many of our citizens rely
for a substantial portion of their income.”
“We have a narrow window of opportunity to solve these problems.  We must
retake control of the 11th Congressional District in the fall election. Mark
Meadows is the candidate to do that and take our Republican principles to
Congress.  Mark has assured me that he will work hard to balance the federal
budget by cutting spending without raising taxes, to repeal ObamaCare, and
to restore our country to the constitutional principles of limited
government.  And I believe he will do just that.”
And here’s Meadows’:

“I have known Jeff for years and we share the same opinions on many of the
issues facing our nation. Jeff is well respected in the counties he serves
and is highly thought of by members of the Republican Party. I am humbled to
have his support.”