Democrats pick Hughes to replace Wright in state House

Burgaw | Sandra Spaulding Hughes is going to the General Assembly.

The former Wilmington councilwoman was named Thursday night as the new representative of District 18, filling the void created by Thomas Wright’s historic expulsion last month. Wright was kicked out of the House for allegedly bilking businesses and donors out of nearly $350,000.

“I am elated,” Hughes said. “The community is now going to say we have someone in the position.”

More than 40,000 registered voters live in the parts of New Hanover and Pender counties that make up District 18. But Hughes’ victory rested on only four of them, the members of the Executive Committee of House District 18, a group of Democratic party members that exists only in the event of naming a replacement.

They are: James Faison, a former Pender County Commissioner; Pete Cowan, the mayor of Burgaw; Reese Smith, a retired longshoreman and precinct chairman; and Lynn McIntyre, a Democratic activist and homemaker.

Any registered Democrat living in District 18 had the right to appeal to the committee. Five did, including Hughes, former Wilmington Mayor Harper Peterson and Hollis Briggs, a chef and community activist, who will face Hughes again in the May primary.

Faison, Cowan and Smith voted for Hughes. McIntyre backed Peterson who said he wanted to serve out the remaining months of Wright’s terms as a temporary caretaker focused on returning normalcy to the district.

Cowan said he supported Hughes because he liked her emphasis on education and managing growth and he valued her experience.

“She can move into Raleigh and know best how to open doors,” he said.

McIntyre refused to say why she supported Peterson.

Despite the loss, Briggs said he remained confident of winning in the May primary and going on to face Republican Thom Goolsby in the November election.

“I don’t think it hurts me,” Briggs said. “The constituents will probably think a little different than this”

Wright, the third contestant in the Democratic primary, did not attend the meeting after spending the day testifying in a Wake County courtroom. He is in the midst of a felony trial related to his alleged misconduct.

Nearly 120 people attended Thursday’s hearing at the Pender County Courthouse annex in Burgaw.

Sam Scott: 343-2370

sam.scott@starnewsonline.com