For fans of old-time political campaigning, complete with the candidate’s family singing a cappella and prayers with the family pastor mixed with straight talk about the state of the state, Kevin Corbin’s regular re-election kickoff is a favorite.
Held at the Moss Valley Venue last Thursday, regional legislators, and the state’s labor commissioner joined Republican party leaders and supporters from across Western North Carolina to endorse State Senator Corbin for re-election, celebrate his achievements and energize voters.
Attendees enjoyed dinner, free t-shirts and hats, and a handout highlighting 19 major victories by the Conservative legislator.
A record of delivering for WNC and the state
A common theme was that while Corbin staunchly maintains his Christian Faith-based policy-making, he is also known for his ability to work across the aisle to support of all North Carolina’s citizens.
One example of working with the Democrats would be serving on a Hurricane Helene commission at the request of Democratic Governor Josh Stein. The result? More than $700 million in recovery funding for western NC counties. Another would be the recent state budget delivering pay increases for teachers, law enforcement and state employees.
All the accomplishments lauded that night covered numerous initiatives including taxes, healthcare, workforce development, agriculture, small business resilience and public safety.
And now, Corbin is the chair of the education appropriations committee which means he controls 57% of the state budget, which means his assistance to the western NC counties will grow too.
Regional praise
Republican State Representative Anna Ferguson, the first member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to serve in the state house and who replaced Mike Clampitt after he died this year, spoke of Corbin’s common sense leadership.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Helene recovery, teacher’s pay, if it’s working together to get taxes under control to help out cost of living, Senator Corbin is right there at the forefront of all that. We are lucky to have him there for us,” she said. “He is a man that really and truly has Western North Carolina’s best interests and the betterment of our lives at his core.”
Jimmy Rogers from Haywood County, who is running for state representative after serving 20 years on the Haywood County School Board, said, “Teachers got a great raise this year and thank you senator and Representative Gillespie for fighting for teachers and our kids.”
He also praised Corbin for protecting women’s rights by keeping men out of women’s sports.
“We’ve got to keep working on our Conservative values, and our values to lift up God every day,” said Rogers. “I’m so thankful that I know him.”
Franklin’s own Karl Gillespie, state representative for the 120th district covering Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties, said, “We’ve had a great senator that looks out on our behalf. It’s not just what he does, it’s the way he does it. It’s not when the cameras are rolling and he can take credit for it, but it’s after everyone goes home.”
The labor commissioner, Luke Farley, said “Talk about dedication. There are five state capitals closer (to Franklin) than our own state capital in North Carolina and Kevin makes that drive.”
He focused on the difference Republican control has meant for the state. With the majority, the GOP overcame a $3.7 billion state deficit and managed to cut taxes while protecting the state’s AAA credit rating.
Farley also highlighted Corbin’s work to reform state government and stop protecting a bureaucracy that “protects people who aren’t doing a good job and don’t have the taxpayers’ best interests in mind.”
Ted Alexander, state senator from Shelby, said Republican voters must get out to vote. Western North Carolina must counteract Asheville’s politics, while his own district must counteract Mecklenburg County and Charlotte.
Corbin focuses on those around him
Elected to the Macon County School Board at just 22, Kevin spent 20 influential years there, 16 of them as chairman. He then went on to serve as county commissioner and state representative.
Some of his top successes as senator include the bills to limit most abortions with the exception of rape, incest and life of the mother, and Fairness in Women’s Sports that keeps biological males from playing in women’s sports at all school levels. He also wrote the bill to ban DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs at colleges and universities.
In a speech full of facts and his signature sense of humor, Corbin spoke for nearly an hour highlighting elected officials around him, his staff and recounting his legislative battles thanks to the help of the representatives in the audience.
Much of the time Corbin spent extolling the value of his longtime legislative assistant (LA) Cindy Hobbs who is retiring after more than 20 years at the capital. The senator’s new LA is Ed Stiles. He brings decades of experience including mountain districts and eastern districts like the Outer Banks.
At one point, he pulled Michael Stephens on stage to talk about Men’s Challenge of the Smokies. For his part, Stephens focused on the help Corbin provided that organization.
He thanked the senator for directing approximately $350,000 in grants to Men’s Challenge. With the money, the Bible-based rehab and recovery organization paved its campus, upgraded infrastructure and installed air-conditioning in its chapel.
Stephens also pointed out that Corbin paved the way for the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center to receive a $300,000 grant to renovate its new location.
“There’s a lot of Christian people in Western North Carolina and they pay taxes too, and the state should have its hands open to the faith-based community that are doing good work just like any other agency,” Stephens recalled a quote from the senator. “And so I commend you, Senator Corbin, for being such a friend to agencies like ours.”
At the end of his time on stage, he said he will spend most of his campaign money helping Republicans in other districts.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for you coming out and supporting me,” he said in closing. “Let’s stand up and give the lord his praise.”
