N.C. House District 22 representative Republican William Brisson claimed a victory Tuesday night, much like he did four years ago as a Democrat.

Brisson, incumbent, defeated Martin Denning by nearly 4,000 votes, receiving 15,386 (56.73 percent) and Denning received 11,735 (43.27 percent) for both Sampson and Bladen counties.

Brisson carried both Bladen and Sampson counties.

“I want to thank everyone for all the support during this race,” Brisson said Wednesday morning when asked about his win. “I knew it would be a tough race, but the people stood with me.”

The official switch from Democrat to Republican was made in October 2017 and Brisson was elected unopposed in November 2016 for the N.C. House of Representatives’ District 22 seat. A farmer by trade, Brisson formerly represented Sampson, Bladen and a small portion of Johnston.

“It’s a tough job up there and people don’t realize the time and work that is involved,” Brisson noted. “Serving helps me feel better when I know I am representing the people. It has always been about the people.”

Prior to his party switch, Brisson voted with the Republican majority 92 percent of the time. Brisson consistently caucused with Republicans, voting with the Republican majority more than nine out of 10 times (92 percent) since they took power in 2011.

Growing up in Dublin, Brisson is a full-time farmer along with his brother. He is the former chair of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners, chair of Bladen County Hospital Board of Trustees and Bladen Medical Center.

District 21 seat

The N.C. House of Representative District 21 seat has been held by Larry Bell for 18 years, and following Tuesday’s election will now be held by Democrat Raymond Smith Jr., who defeated Republican Robert Freeman Sr.

Smith defeated Freeman, garnering 11,939 total votes (52.58 percent) in both Sampson and Wayne counties. Freeman, however, carried Sampson County, garnering 2,841 votes, or 62.21 percent.

Currently a member of the Wayne County Schools board, Smith will have to surrender his position now that he has been elected as a state representative. He worked for the state Department of Transportation before becoming executive director of GATEWAY transportation services and later becoming director of the transportation department for Wayne County Schools. He held this position until 2014.

“I would like to thank Sampson County and Wayne County, the voters in District 21,” Smith said. “I would also like to express my gratitude for all those individuals I have met on this journey.”

From here, Smith says he is ready to begin serving the people of District 21, and coming together to what is best for not only Sampson and Wayne counties, but the entire state of North Carolina.

“My motto is that it is people before politics,” Smith said. “I do truly hold to that doctrine. The plan is to now go and meet the individuals I will be working with.”

Smith
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_raymondsmith_full-1.jpgSmith

Brisson
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Brisson-William-1.jpgBrisson

By Kristy D. Carter

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Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.