![North Carolina Sen. Andrew Brock poses for a portrait in his office on June 30 following the final day of the long legislative session. Madeline Gray](https://nsjonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/16792_063017_brock_mg_01o-678x381.jpg)
SAILSBURY Salisbury attorney Bill Graham has notified the Rowan County Republican Party that he’s interested in filling the Senate District 34 seat. Formerly held by Andrew Brock, the seat was vacated last week when Brock resigned to take a spot on the state’s Board of Review. Brock served for more than 14 years in the N.C. Senate.”I’m excited about the possibility of representing the district and providing input into the discussions of issues around our state with the goal of making a positive contribution,” said Graham.Graham. a partner in the Wallace & Graham firm in Salisbury. ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2008. After the campaign, he worked with former Gov. Pat McCrory in different capacities, including the N.C. Economic Development Board.Graham has since been working behind the scenes and said he looks at this opportunity as an extension of what he is currently doing.Graham said he wants to contribute to the debate about current issues and also introduce new ideas of his own, including eliminating the tax on overtime, lowering the dropout rate in both rural and urban areas, creating new revenue streams for the state highway system, and increasing teacher pay. In addition, he wants to help North Carolina continue with economic development.”We have a huge reservoir of untapped potential in North Carolina,” said Graham.The Rowan County Republican Party will meet in August to begin the selection process for filling the seat.