Hardister will resign state House seat

Mar. 28—GUILFORD COUNTY — State Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, announced in a letter Thursday that he will resign his state House seat early next month after losing his bid in the March 5 primary to become the Republican nominee for state labor commissioner.

Hardister, who has served as majority whip in the state House, will resign effective April 8 from the 59th District, which covers eastern Guilford County. He had chosen to run for labor commissioner rather than for reelection to the House, but he had the option of serving out his term through Dec. 31.

"There comes a time when a public servant knows it is time to start a new chapter," Hardister said in his letter. "After serving six terms in the N.C. House, the time for me to start a new chapter has arrived."

Hardister said he will shift his focus to the private sector and spend time with his family.

A successor to serve Hardister's unexpired term will be picked by members of Guilford County Republican Party executive committee who live in the boundaries of the 59th District that were in place when Hardister was last reelected, not the redrawn district that will be used for the fall general election, Guilford County GOP Chairman Chris Meadows told The High Point Enterprise.

Former Guilford County commissioner Alan Branson of Julian won the GOP primary earlier this month for the 59th District. Branson defeated fellow Republican Allen Chappell in the primary.

In the fall general election, Branson will square off against Democrat Tanneshia Dukes of Pleasant Garden in the redrawn district covering Jamestown, sections of east High Point and southern, eastern and northeastern Guilford County.

pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul