HAMLET — A congressman hoping to once again represent part of Richmond County paid a visit to a local museum on Friday.
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, toured the Hamlet Depot and Museum and met with Director Mechelle Presslar and Secretary/Treasurer Angie Averitte, according to social media posts.
(Note: Averitte was recently featured by Visit Richmond County for Women’s History Month.)
The Silver Meteor exhibit in the Tornado Building is dedicated to Riley Watson, Hudson’s great-uncle. Watson was the brother of Hudson’s grandfather.
“My grandfather worked at the Hamlet train station until retirement with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad and my mom partly grew up there,” Hudson said in a post. “It was great to visit the station and museum while in Hamlet and also see the Seaboard exhibit dedicated to my uncle, Riley Watson.”
Both the Depot and Hudson made posts on Facebook.
Hudson’s post included a video.
“My family roots run so deep here, and I’m just thrilled that Richmond County is now part of the new 9th District, and I have the opportunity to once again represent this community in the United States Congress.”
Last month, a three-judge panel — including Richmond County Superior Court Judge Dawn Layton — rejected a second map from state legislators and opted for one drawn by “special masters.”
The district now comprises Scotland, Hoke, Lee, Chatham and Randolph counties in addition to northwest Cumberland, western Harnett and a sliver of eastern Richmond — stretching from Hamlet and northward on N.C. 177 to include Marston, Hoffman and Derby.
The rest of Richmond County is in the 8th District with Anson, Union, Montgomery, Stanly, Rowan and Davidson counties, as well as eastern Cabarrus. The latter is Hudson’s home county.
Congressman Dan Bishop, who currently represents all of Richmond County in the U.S. House of Representatives, has filed to run for the 8th District.
While Bishop is unopposed, Hudson is not.
Hudson is being challenged in a Republican primary on May 17 against Mike Adriani of Fayetteville, Francisco Rios of Charlotte, and Jen Bucardo of Asheboro.
The RO is unsure if Adriani’s address falls within the district. However, of the other three candidates, including Hudson, Bucardo is the only resident.
But, a quirk in the U.S. Constitution allows House members to live outside the district they are elected to represent.
The winner of the primary will face state Sen. Ben Clark, a Hoke County Democrat and Air Force veteran.
Hudson has represented, at some point, eight of the nine counties in the new district, with Chatham being the exception, according to the congressman’s office. Hudson also had an office in Richmond County at one time before maps were redrawn in 2016.
Following his Hamlet visit, Hudson posted a video of himself filling up at a gas station in Pittsboro, which is in Chatham County, calling for President Joe Biden to open domestic energy exploration.
Hudson also posted a video Thursday during a visit to Laurinburg.
