By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Laura Eller Hutchison, a Republican and home health nurse, filed Tuesday to run for county commissioner.
Hutchison, 37, of 667 Amesbury Drive in Mount Ulla, said Thursday that Rowan County needs more women with a voice in its government.
“I am exceptionally blessed to have lived in Rowan County my entire life, and my goal as commissioner is to promote the growth, health, and accomplishments of the citizens of this county,” Hutchison wrote in a prepared statement. “The time has come to focus on the future, and that begins with the diversification of the board of commissioners.”
Hutchison is a registered nurse with Gentiva. She is running to fill one of two open seats on the Board of Commissioners.
In her statement, she said she wants to “breathe new life” into the board by focusing on the people of the county, and “rejuvenated leadership” may find new ways to solve old problems.
In an interview Thursday, Hutchison said her top priority is bringing jobs to Rowan County, and she has some ideas for a marketing strategy to attract businesses here.
“Being a single mother, I see and I understand the struggle that our citizens go through, and that’s why that is my priority,” she said.
Hutchison said another major priority would be improving the county’s educational system. She said Rowan County schools lag behind in test scores, and while those scores don’t tell the whole story, they do “reflect a lot of what’s going on in the classroom.”
“I have two daughters in public school, and they attend the same elementary school I attended,” Hutchison said. “Having grown up in this county, it’s near and dear to my heart.”

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Laura Eller    Hutchison
Office sought: Rowan County Commissioner
Age: 37
Address: 667 Amesbury Drive, Mount Ulla
Phone number: 704-213-2143
Party: Republican
Occupation: Registered nurse, Gentiva
Education: West Rowan High School, North Carolina State University, Wake Technical Community College, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Previous elected office: None
Community involvement: Member, preschool advisory board of Unity Presbyterian Church
Family: Two daughters, Megan and Meredith.