Szoka named Republican conference chair

RALEIGH — The North Carolina House of Representatives’ Republican caucus voted unanimously last week to elect Rep. John Szoka (R-Fayettevile) as its new conference leader. Szoka is serving his second term in the legislature. He is a Retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Army and a small businessman in the mortgage lending industry.The caucus vote was held after Rep. Charles Jeter (R-Mecklenburg), who previously held the conference chair position, resigned from the House in late July citing personal reasons.The leader of the Republican House caucus is tasked with helping more Republicans get elected, including fundraising for campaign activities, recruiting Republican candidates, and encouraging consistent messaging from Republican campaigns for the North Carolina House .”I thank the caucus for the unanimous vote of confidence in electing me Conference Chair,” said Szoka. “The task before us is to ensure that voters know the great record of job creation, lower taxes, and more funding than ever for our public schools. I will work with every member of the caucus and all of our candidates to help spread this message of achievement for North Carolina families. Winning campaigns have a strong message and our record over the last few years is solid, which will help our candidates to victory.”House Speaker, Rep. Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), welcomed the new conference leader.”Representative Szoka is an asset to our caucus and I know he will work diligently to assist the House candidates. I look forward to working with him closely on the campaigns and am confident he is up to the task.”Szoka takes the volunteer role mere months before the general election in November in which the Republican caucus seeks to maintain its super-majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly.