Van Duyn Named to NC House
When Senator Martin Nesbitt died after a brief bout of cancer this past February, it was up to members of the executive committee of the Buncombe County Democratic Party who live in his district to choose a replacement for him.
Nesbitt had been an important figure in the state legislature for more than 30 years, since he was first appointed to the state House seat held by his mother when she, too, died in office. Later Nesbitt moved to the Senate, where he served ten years, and at the time of his death he was Minority Leader for the Senate Democrats.
The Democratic committee met at the beginning of April to name his successor, and on the third ballot they chose activist Terry Van Duyn, who had run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Buncombe County Commission in 2012.
In speaking with The Urban News, Van Duyn said, “I am truly honored to be chosen to take Senator Martin Nesbitt’s seat in the North Carolina Legislature. Martin Nesbitt always stood for the people of Buncombe County and not special interests. It is my intention to honor his legacy by fighting for better pay for teachers, better jobs for Buncombe County, and by protecting our water from contamination by corporate interests.”
Van Duyn will also run for a full two-year term in November.
