Banking legend runs for N.C. House
Banking legend vies for N.C. House seat
Democrat John Forlines will contest Republican Starnes
BY ANDREW MACKIE
RECORD STAFF WRITER
HICKORY
A local banking legend will try his hand in the political arena.
John Forlines, retired chief executive officer of Bank of Granite, announced Tuesday he will file for election to the 87th District of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The district covers all of Caldwell County. The seat is held by Republican Edgar Starnes, now serving in his seventh term.
The 90-year-old Forlines, a Democrat, will make his first bid for public office.
“Caldwell County needs strong representation in the House, someone who will work hard to help revive the economy and will also do everything possible to help improve the lives of Caldwell County citizens,” Forlines said in a news release.
Forlines said several residents encouraged him to seek office. Many state-wide contacts Forlines forged while in banking and education would serve him well if elected, he added.
Forlines is a former chairman of the North Carolina Bankers Association and past chairman of the State Board of Community Colleges. He is also treasurer of Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation of Caldwell Community College and Tech-nical Institute.
The Granite Falls resident moved from Durham to Caldwell County in 1954. He is an Army veteran and a Duke University graduate. He also is an active member First Presbyterian Church in Lenoir.
If his bid were successful, Forlines would likely become the oldest House member, depending upon the outcome of other races this year. That current claim goes to Dewey Hill of Whiteville who is 82.
The House’s all-time oldest member is believed to be Ruth Easterling, who was 92 when she ended her service in 2002.
Attempts to reach Starnes for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
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