By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Eric Troyer, a Republican, has filed to run for N.C. House District 76.
Troyer, 49, of 500 Stevens St. in China Grove, works as a doctor at Troyer Medical.
“As a physician, I solve serious problems on an individual basis many times a day,” Troyer wrote in a prepared statement Tuesday. “My goal is to expand this in an effort to benefit the lives of the 80,000 people living in District 76.”
After last year’s redistricting, the 76th district now includes northeastern Cabarrus County as well as southeastern Rowan.
Troyer said he plans to focus on the areas of education, job creation and health care.
President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan, he said, creates more problem than it solves. He said reform should be handled on the state level.
“Health insurance companies are practicing bad medicine without consequences for their actions,” Troyer wrote.
In the area of education, he said, North Carolina should “push hard to be paroled from” the No Child Left Behind Act.
“My daughter is an elementary school teacher and has to spend too much time pleasing bureaucrats at the expense of educating her students,” Troyer wrote.
Troyer said he also wants to redirect “boondoggle funds” from high speed rail toward repairing and improving roadways, which would put people to work.
If elected, he said he plans to eliminate or repeal two existing laws for each bill he introduces.
“Overall, there is too much governmental regulation and interference with businesses and individuals,” he said.
Troyer is also known locally as the author of “Insecurity,” a novel published in 2008 that is being made into a movie. Parts of “Witness Insecurity” were filmed in China Grove, and the film stars Eddie Furlong, Meat Loaf, Ed Asner and Grace Johnson.
Troyer previously made the news in March of 2011 when the N.C. Medical Board reprimanded him for having an inappropriate relationship with an employee.
He filed Feb. 20 and will run against Carl Ford in the Republican primary for the wide-open 76th District seat. North Carolina’s primary elections will take place May 8.
Rep. Fred Steen, a Republican who currently holds the office, has chosen to run for Congress.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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Eric Troyer
Office sought: N.C. House District 76
Age: 49
Address: 500 Stevens St., China Grove
Phone number: 704-232-0178
Party: Republican
Occupation: Doctor, Troyer Medical
Education: B.S. from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.; M.D. from USC School of Medicine in Columbia, S.C.
Previous elected office: None
Community involvement: Founder and board member, Main Street Mission of China Grove; numerous mission trips with N.C. Baptist Men and Women