Goolsby drops out of race for N.C. House District 18

Wilmington attorney Thom Goolsby is dropping out as the Republican candidate for House District 18, the seat once held by disgraced Democrat Thomas Wright.

Goolsby’s exit seems to open the door of opportunity wider for Sandra Spaulding Hughes, who easily won the Democratic nomination on May 6. A former Wilmington city councilwoman, Hughes was already named by local Democratic leaders to serve out the remainder of Wright’s term.

“I am honored he has enough confidence in me to continue with the job,” said Hughes who spoke to Goolsby on Thursday about his decision.

But local Republicans will have the right to nominate a replacement candidate. Chris Dean, chairman of the New Hanover County Republican Party, said he did not have any names of possible replacements yet, but was sure the party would contest the seat.

“We’ll try our best to fill that seat with a qualified candidate,” he said.

Goolsby signed up for the race in February immediately after Wright filed for a ninth term. At the time, Goolsby said he couldn’t live with himself if Wright prevailed in the Democratic primary and went unopposed in the general election.

But since that time, Wright has been expelled from the House, sentenced to up to eight years in prison and rejected by voters. He finished last in the Democratic primary earlier this month. His downfall related to years of bilking donors and businesses out of campaign and charitable donations.

“My whole reason for filing was simply to keep Thomas Wright from getting reelected,” Goolsby said on Friday. “I am satisfied that integrity has been returned to the representative of New Hanover and Pender counties.”

House District 18 straddles northwest New Hanover County, including parts of downtown Wilmington, and western Pender county.

Sam Scott: 343-2370

sam.scott@starnewsonline.com