Doyle Teague, of the Haywood County Election Board, assists Joe Sam Queen in filing for NC House 119
WAYNESVILLE–A veteran North Carolina legislator is vying for a new seat, and will be on the Democratic primary ballot May 8th.
Joe Sam Queen, a three-time state senator from Haywood County, has filed to run for the District 119 NC House seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Phil Haire of Sylva. Haire, a 14-year veteran, is retiring.
It’s another example of how redistricting and retirements are shifting the North Carolina political landscape.
Queen, a former state senator, has represented the 47th senate district for years and planned to vie for that seat again this year. But when Haywood County was moved out of the 47th district and into the 50th late last year, Queen found himself in the same district as a longtime senate colleague, Democrat John Snow.
Queen supports Snow’s senate campaign for the 50th district, so he has chosen to seek the open 119 NC House seat instead, a district which includes Jackson and Swain Counties and part of Haywood County.
“These are difficult times,” Queen said. “The new Republican legislature in Raleigh has damaged North Carolina in many areas: education, environment, and the economy among them. It has truly been a race to the bottom. To get back on track we need experienced and effective legislators in Raleigh, ones who represent the real needs of the mountains: education, jobs, and opportunity for all.”
Queen invites supporters to join his campaign at his Campaign Headquarters Opening March 1st from 5:00-6:30 pm at 58 Pigeon St. Waynesville or contact him through his website at www.joesamqueen.com