Hudson will run to replace Albertson
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on January 20, 2010 1:46 PM
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Dewey Hudson
Duplin District Attorney Dewey Hudson announced Tuesday he will run for the state Senate District 10 seat, currently held by the retiring Charlie Albertson.
Hudson, who will run for the Democratic nomination in May, announced Friday he would not seek re-election as district attorney -- the same day Albertson, also a Democrat, announced his retirement after 22 years in N.C. politics.
"I have a lot of friends and family who have asked me, 'Are you sure you really want to do this?'" Hudson said, citing the tough economic climate and the scandals that have rocked Raleigh in recent years. "But I love helping people, and with my qualifications, I think I can do that."
Among those qualifications are 33 years in the prosecutor's office, 12 of which have been as the district attorney covering Duplin, Sampson, Jones and Onslow counties.
Senate District 10 covers parts of Duplin, Sampson and Lenoir counties.
"I've worked with local, state and federal governments. I've been able to collaborate with all of those. I'm a problem solver," he said. "My office has always been one of the highest ranked in North Carolina in efficiency."
He also cited his family's farming background in Sampson County, where he currently lives in Clinton.
"Our community is a major agriculture community and I understand that," he said. "I just think I bring a lifetime of experience. ... I believe I have the background, abilities and qualifications necessary to deal with the serious problems facing our district and state. But it'll be up to the voters to decide who's the best candidate."
And if elected, he said, his top three priorities would be education, crime and the local economy.
"It is imperative that we educate and train our students and workers in order to be competitive in the new global economy," he said. "Our courts and criminal justice system need a major overhaul to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
"Our economy is dependent on agriculture, including the pork and poultry industries. I will zealously represent farmers and the agricultural industries."
At the end of the day, however, regardless of the issue, Hudson, 57, said his decision comes down to the fact he thinks he still has something to contribute.
"I just love public service and I'm not ready to quit," he said.
Currently, Hudson is the only Democrat to announce his candidacy.
On the Republican side, the only candidate to throw his hat into the primary ring so far is Lenoir County Commissioner Chris Humphrey, who announced Friday.