Politics

Rep. Whitmire won't run for re-election

By Bill Moss, Published: December 1, 2015

State Rep. Chris Whitmire is leaving his state House seat to take a civilian job related to his Air Force background.

In an email he sent to supporters today, Whitmire, an Air Force colonel and former Transylvania County School Board member first elected to the House in 2012, said the new job opportunity was impossible to pass up.

"Letting you know that I appreciate your dedication and am forever grateful for the many conservative fiscal and social measures we have implemented over the past few years," he said in the email. "North Carolina’s economy is certainly on a trajectory to prosperity and many misguided liberal social vectors are now pointed in a more favorable direction under our leadership.

"This said, we cannot always dictate the timing when opportunity knocks and recently a civilian employment situation that directly relates to my military role became available and I accepted. This is tremendous for my family and many of the pursuits my life has served. With this, I will not be filing for re-election, but assure all that NC House District 113 will have another like-minded candidate or candidates to receive 'the handoff' when my term is complete."