Another contender for state party chair

janestancill — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:55:22 -0500

Luke Hyde, the 11th district Democratic chairman, is campaigning to suceed Jerry Meek as state party chair.

Hyde, who owns a B&B in Bryson City while practicing law part-time in Raleigh, has been moving around the state seeking support, reports Rob Christensen.

He is touting the Democrat’s success in the mountains, where Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler now holds what had been a Republican seat, as well as other Democratic inroads.

Hyde said if elected he would continue the party’s grassroots emphasis.

"I am a big fan of Jerry,” Hyde said. “He has been an excellent chairman.”

Hyde is the brother of the late Herbert Hyde, a former state party chairman and a well-known state senator. He is married to Leila Tvedt, a former WRAL TV reporter and former executive director of the Agency for Public Television who is now a vice chancellor at Western Carolina University.

The state Democratic Executive Committee meets in Raleigh on January 31 to select a new chairman. Among those consideirng running are Dannie Montgomery of Anson County, the party’s first vice chair; David Parker of Statesville, a Democratic National Committeman; Richard Sullivan of Raleigh, a former national party finance director, and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal.

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Another contender for state party chair