Commissioner to seek seat in state Senate
By Scott Nicholson

A statewide conservative Web site reported Monday that Watauga County commissioner David Blust will challenge John Garwood (R-Wilkes) for the 45th District state senate seat next year.

North Carolina Conservative.com said Blust planned to challenge Garwood in the Republican primary in the spring. Blust told the Web site he had weighed the decision heavily and was at peace with it. Blust, 50, was elected to a four-year county commission seat in 2000.

Blust was chairman of the Watauga Republican Party from 1989 to 1991 and is a former precinct chair. According to North Carolina Conservative, he ran former Rep. (and now U.S. Senator) Richard Burr’s campaign in Watauga County and also co-chaired Gov. Jim Martin’s campaign.

Blust is a businessman living in Foscoe, and owns Independent Therapy Services and Blust Properties. His brother, John Blust, represents Guilford County in the N.C. House of Representatives.

Republicans have dominated regional politics for years. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-Watauga) held the state senate seat for ten years before running for Congress last year. Garwood defeated Democratic challenger Jim Cain by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin in 2004.

Garwood is representing Watauga County for the first time, though he had been a state senator for the 27th and 30th districts for eight years. Garwood previously served as a Wilkes County commissioner and as a trustee for Appalachian State University. He lives in North Wilkesboro and is a Realtor and insurance agent.

Garwood drew criticism from Republicans for failing to oppose the state lottery bill. Garwood, who was at home recovering from illness when the vote was taken, said he could have “paired” with a Democrat and canceled out the  vote, which would have led to a stalemate. He said the lottery would pass sooner or later, but acknowledged at the time his position might make him politically vulnerable.

Blust was unavailable for comment before press time but local Republican officials confirmed Blust’s candidacy on Tuesday morning.

• Scott Nicholson may be contacted at nicholson@wataugademocrat.com.