Latest news with #CecilBrockman
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cook to challenge Brockman
HIGH POINT — High Point City Councilwoman Amanda Cook has announced plans to run for a seat in the N.C. General Assembly in next year's elections. She revealed in a social media post in March that she will seek the N.C. House of Representatives District 60 seat, currently held by state Rep. Cecil Brockman, a High Point Democrat. Candidate filing opens in December 2025 for the March 2026 primaries, with the general election to follow in November 2026. Brockman said in a text message Wednesday that he plans to seek reelection to a seventh term in the state legislature. When asked for comment on Cook's challenge, he replied, 'My only comment is this: Anyone has a right to run and anyone has a right to get beat.' A first-term council member elected in 2023, Cook holds one of the two at-large seats on High Point's governing body. She could not be reached for comment on her decision to run against Brockman, who has come under criticism from some fellow Democrats for missing votes and siding with Republicans on budget bills. Cook's website and Facebook page for her campaign contain only one apparent reference to Brockman, which she posted in announcing her candidacy: 'It's time for a representative who truly shows up and stands up for US. Let's bring change together!' Her campaign website outlines a platform of broad issues traditionally supported by Democrats. Cook's term on the council goes until December 2027. If she wins the state House seat in 2026, she would have to resign from the council, and her colleagues on the council would choose a replacement to finish her term. Brockman is the only High Point resident in the 170-member legislature. The 60th House District covers most of the city. He has defended his record, citing $40 million in state funding he helped secure for High Point needs and projects. Last year, Brockman faced a Democratic primary challenge for the first time since he won the seat in 2014. Brockman edged out a victory with 50.7% of the vote against former High Point NAACP President James Adams, then comfortably won the general election against Republican challenger Joseph Perrotta, with 63% of the vote.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local legislator files universal bills
HIGH POINT — Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, filed four bills Wednesday to extend universal coverage statewide over school meals, pre-kindergarten enrollment, health insurance coverage and baseline minimum personal income. Brockman, the lone High Point resident in the 170-member N.C. General Assembly, has some of the poorest areas in the state in his 60th House District. 'These issues are all near and dear to my heart because I've seen firsthand the disparities produced by all of these problems, and I am committed to addressing them at home and across the state,' Brockman said. Brockman faces the task of advancing the bills in a House chamber dominated by Republicans. 'These universal bills are common-sense legislation that will make a difference for those who have been neglected for too long,' he said. 'I call on all of my colleagues to join me in passing these bills and making North Carolina great for all of us.' The bills House Bill 712 would direct the N.C. Department of Commerce to establish and maintain a Pay-It-Forward Fund to provide a universal monthly income of up to $3,000 per person for up to five years to people who are currently receiving job training, performing volunteer work for 40 hours a week or both. The program would be funded in part by an increased income tax percentage for state residents who have previously benefited from the fund. House Bill 713 would establish a universal school breakfast and lunch program for each school to provide cost-free breakfast and lunch to each student every school day. House Bill 714 would direct the N.C. Commissioner of Insurance to establish and maintain a state-run universal health care benefit plan offering plans to residents with standards applicable to the federal Affordable Care Act. House Bill 715 would create a universal pre-kindergarten program at a cost of $13.3 million per year. pjohnson@ | 336-888-3528 | @HPEpaul
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City files downzoning bill
HIGH POINT — The city of High Point is seeking special legislation from the N.C. General Assembly to restore a local power that's been drastically limited by a new state law. House Bill 317 would revive the city's ability to initiate the downzoning of private property so that High Point can proceed with enactment of its proposed Southwest Mill District revitalization initiative. The measure is what's known as a 'local bill' because it would apply only to High Point. Its primary sponsors are state Reps. Cecil Brockman of High Point and Amos Quick of Greensboro. The two Democrats are members of High Point's state legislative delegation. The measure was filed in response to a law the legislature passed last year that bars any local zoning change that decreases the permitted uses or the density of what can be built on a property without the owner's written consent. The law defines downzoning as this, as well as any zoning change that would create a nonconforming use or structure on a property. The city is proposing to create the mill district by rezoning 171 acres of an old industrial area along W. Green Drive to try to spur more redevelopment activity by allowing residential and other new uses in this area, which could make the former mills in the district nonconforming structures. The local bill would allow the city to initiate the rezonings by effectively exempting it from the state's downzoning restrictions. In addition, bills to restore at least some aspects of local downzoning powers have been filed that would apply to jurisdictions throughout the state. The city says statewide legislation is its preference for regaining downzoning power but submitted the local bill as a backup measure.
