Johnson fills vacant seat following Cody Henson’s resignation

 

POLK COUNTY—Polk County Commissioner Jake Johnson announced in a press release on July 31, that he would be filing the rest of the term for the vacant District 113 State House Seat. 

Johnson was appointed to the position after NC Rep. Cody Henson announced his resignation after admitting to cyber-stalking his ex-wife in court. Johnson had already announced that he would be filing for Henson’s seat back in April. Johnson made that announcement after Henson announced that he would not run for re-election in 2020, several months prior to Henson’s guilty plea for the misdemeanor cyber-stalking charge.

Johnson will represent Polk, Transylvania and some of Henderson counties in the North Carolina House of Representatives District 113. With Johnson’s appointment to the seat in the State House, he will have to resign as Polk County Commissioner. Johnson served his second year as a commissioner as the Chairman of the Board. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners will now have to fill the seat Johnson left on the Polk County Board of Commissioners, the person appointed will finish the remainder of Johnson’s term that ends in December, with the option to run for re-election in 2020 should they choose to do so. 

The General Assembly is currently in session; the General Assembly still needs to approve a budget for the state for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The 2019-2020 budget should have gone into affect on July 1, 2019. The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene in August. If there are no special sessions after the current session, lawmakers are not scheduled to meet again until 2020.

Johnson released a statement regarding his appointment to the empty District 113 seat.

“I would like to start by thanking the district delegates for appointing me to fill out the rest of the term for the vacant District 113 State House Seat. Now that the appointment has been made, it is my goal to serve the interests of the entire district. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and commit to being accessible to all constituents.”

I look forward to the opportunity to stand up for pro-Christian values, the 2nd Amendment, our businesses, and our educators here in Western North Carolina. I want the citizens of my district to know that they have a voice in Raleigh, and a Representative who truly cares about helping them build a better future.

Thank you all so much and God Bless.” 

After finishing the remainder of Henson’s term, Johnson will run for re-election in 2020 for the position as the representative of District 113 in the State House. 

By Samuel Robinson

Sam.robinson@tryondailybulletin.com