The filing period for the 2016 elections is continuing. The filing period opened last week and will remain open until Monday, December 21st at Noon. Four candidates from Johnston County have filed in recent days for state office. Among those filing were Tony Braswell, Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, and Larry Strickland, Chairman of the Johnston County School Board, who both filed for the NC House District 28 seat.
Tony Braswell
Tony Braswell, Chairman of the Johnston County Commissioners, filed for the North Carolina House on Friday. Braswell, a successful small businessman and conservative, is running for the 28th House District seat being vacated by retiring Representative J.H. Langdon.
“I have owned and operated small businesses and I know what it is to sign the front of paychecks,” said Braswell. “I have experienced first-hand the harmful effects of high taxes and unnecessary regulations and will continue to fight to cut red tape and high taxes.”
Braswell pledged to run an aggressive campaign based on his solid conservative record of accomplishment. “I was involved in the successful effort to land the largest pharmaceutical plant expansion in the world and I’ll use that knowledge to help create even more jobs,” Braswell said.
A U.S. Army veteran, Braswell served in the Vietnam War, received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, and now chairs the North Carolina Veterans Affairs Commission. He is a member of VFW, American Legion and several disabled service members organizations. He also serves as a member of the North Carolina Child Fatality Commission.
In addition to working in the agri-insurance industry, Braswell is a co-owner and managing partner of Triangle East Realty. Tony and Nobe Braswell have been married for 24 years and have seven children and five grandchildren. The Braswells are members of Pine Level Methodist Church.
Larry Strickland
School Board Chairman Larry Strickland filed Thursday for the NC House District 28 seat. Strickland was joined at the Johnston County Board of Elections Office by Representative J.H. Langdon who endorsed Strickland for the seat Langdon is vacating next year.
“Having served as Chairman of Education and Agriculture, I believe that Larry has the background, work ethic and character to eventually become chair of either of these committees or possibly the Transportation committee,” Representative Langdon said. “His experience as Chairman of the Board of Education in Johnston County will serve him well in similar capacities in Raleigh. He will continue to be a great advocate for the people of District 28 as well as for the people of the state of North Carolina in the area of education, which has always been one of my highest priorities.”
“Larry also has a working family farm that he grew up on and continues to oversee. It is important to me as the senior Agriculture chair in the House that whoever fills this seat understands agriculture and more importantly the family farm,” Rep. Langdon said. “Larry has been a twenty-five year employee of the Department of Transportation and understands how important building highways and infrastructure is to the recruitment of jobs and the overall economy of North Carolina. Having worked as a state employee for much of his career, Larry understands state employees.”
Benton Sawrey
Johnston county attorney Benton Sawrey, a conservative Republican, filed his paperwork at the Johnston County Board of Elections to run for the 11th District seat in the North Carolina Senate.
“I am excited about the opportunity to represent the people of Johnston, Wilson, and Nash counties in the North Carolina Senate. Today is the beginning of the journey, and I look forward to working hard during the campaign to introduce myself and ideas to the voters of the district,” Sawrey said.
“I am a conservative, and will stand-up for our conservative principles in the Senate. I will work hard to improve our schools, infrastructure, and bring well-paying jobs into our communities. I want Johnston, Wilson, and Nash counties to thrive, and good jobs and successful schools are integral to the foundation.”
Sawrey is a native of Johnston County and an attorney with the law firm Narron, O’Hale and Whittington, P.A. He was appointed by Governor Pat McCrory to serve on the Board of Trustees at Johnston Community College, and is also on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. His wife, Beth, is a pharmacist at WakeMed in Raleigh. They reside in Clayton. Sawrey holds a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
He is seeking the seat being vacated by Senator Buck Newton who is running for NC Attorney General.
Rich Nixon
Rich Nixon, a teacher at Corinth Holders High School, and a resident of Clayton, filed Friday afternoon for the NC House District 26 seat. Nixon will challenge Johnston County School Board member Donna White, also from Clayton, who is seeking the District 26 seat, being vacated by retiring lawmaker Representative Leo Daughtry.
