Chariel “Minnette” Dye, the former campaign manager for the late Latasha Wilks, was elected first vice chair of the Rowan County Democratic Party last week.

Wilks, who was named first vice chair on March 30, died suddenly on April 6.

Dye has said she ran for the office to continue Wilks’ legacy, something that she saw the ins and outs of when she served as campaign manager for Wilks’ run for Salisbury City Council and Rowan County commissioner.

Whitney Bost serves as second vice chair, and Shawn Rush is third vice chair of the party.

Geoffrey Hoy is chairman.

Rep. Budd’s district director resigns

Todd Poole, district director for U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, resigned last month following an assault charge against him that was later dropped.

Budd hired Poole in December 2016. He had previously been chief of staff for Rep. Richard Hudson and executive director of the North Carolina Republican Party.

Poole formerly served as district director and deputy chief of staff for Rep. Virginia Foxx and eventually her chief of staff.

Sen. Ford meets with Cube Hydro representative

On Thursday, Sen. Carl Ford, R-33, met with Eli Hopson, vice president for legal, regulatory and policy matters for Cube Hydro.

Cube Hydro owns High Rock Dam and three others on the Yadkin River.

Ford and Hopson discussed the revitalization of Badin Business Park in Stanly County, according to Ford’s weekly newsletter. Cube Hydro is proposing to provide tenants at the business park with electricity service and additional lease services.

Ford said the revitalization would provide numerous economic benefits for Stanly County, including the creation of jobs and millions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Ford said he is excited about the opportunity and looks forward to future developments with the proposal.

Judge Chris Brook announces Court of Appeals candidacy

North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Chris Brook has announced his candidacy for re-election in 2020.

Brook was the lead lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina in the Rowan County prayer lawsuit. He was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Gov. Roy Cooper on April 15 and was sworn in May 7.     

“As I launch my candidacy, let me tell you what I told my colleagues, friends and family on the day I was sworn in: Judges play a limited but vital role in our democracy,” Brook said.

From 2012 through his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Brook was the legal director of the state ACLU. He is the incoming chairman of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities Section.

“Every day I walk up the steps of the Court of Appeals, I am reminded of the honor and challenges of service,” Brook said. “That’s why I am running. That’s why I am asking for your support.”

Brook spent his formative years in Raleigh, attending Daniels Middle School and Broughton High School. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Governor signs craft beer distribution, rural broadband bills into law

Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday signed into law House Bill 363, the Craft Beer Distribution and Modernization Act, and Senate Bill 310, which pertains to electric co-op rural broadband services.

House Bill 363 allows breweries that sell fewer than 100,000 barrels of malt beverages to distribute its own beer, with a limit of 50,000 barrels per year.

Senate Bill 310 removes restrictions on electric membership cooperatives from seeking federal grants to provide broadband services. Sen. Carl Ford, R-33, was a sponsor of the bill.

“No matter where they live, North Carolinians should be able to depend on high-speed internet access they need to run businesses, do their schoolwork and stay connected,” Cooper said in a statement. “I’m glad to sign this bill to make Internet access a priority.”