RALEIGH Local businessman Chuck Edwards, from Henderson County, has been chosen to serve the remainder of Sen. Tom Apodaca’s term following the influential Republican’s announced retirement on July 15.Edwards, from Flat Rock, N.C., won the Republican primary contest in March after being endorsed by Apodaca who had indicated he would not seek re-election. Local Republican officials unanimously selected Edwards to represent the state’s 48th Senate district.The Edwards family owns and operates multiple McDonald’s franchises in Henderson and Transylvania counties, private sector experience Apodaca says makes him a great asset in the General Assembly.”I know Chuck Edwards is a great businessman and a no-nonsense, principled conservative who will use decades of private-sector experience to fight for Western North Carolina and solve problems in Raleigh,” said Apodaca in a statement.His selection will become official when formally appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory.
