Tillis hires new legal counsel

House Speaker Thom Tillis will start the new session with a new legal adviser to replace Jason Kay.

Ray Starling, who was general counsel at the state Department of Agriculture for about six years, is now working for Tillis. Tillis spokesman Jordan Shaw said Starling started work about a month ago.

Kay resigned in August, but continued to work for Tillis under contract.

Starling has an undergraduate degree in agricultural and extension education from N.C. State, and a law degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.