As 2013 gets under way, 10 UNC Charlotte alumni were sworn into offices at the national and state level. They join hundreds of alums in public service at the local level across North Carolina and in other states.
In Congress, Rep. Richard Hudson took the oath of office last week. Former student body president and a 1996 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history, Hudson represents the state’s Eighth District in the 113th Congress. The Concord Republican is the University’s first alumnus elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dan Forest (’93, ’94), who received Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture degrees from the University, won statewide office as lieutenant governor; he was officially sworn in Monday during a ceremony in the State Capitol building.
In the General Assembly, UNC Charlotte has two state senators and six state representatives. Sen. Gene McLaurin (D-Richmond) earned a psychology degree in 1978, and Sen. Bob Rucho (R-Mecklenburg) completed a master’s in business in 1994.
State representatives are Dean Arp (R-Anson, Union) a 1999 graduate with a master’s in civil engineering; Bill Brawley (R-Mecklenburg), who earned a bachelor’s in accounting in 1978; Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg), a 2001 alumna with an undergraduate degree in history; Mike Hager (R-Rutherford), a 1987 graduate with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering; Kelly Hastings (R-Gaston), who earned a teaching certificate in 2009; and Jason Saine (R-Lincoln), who earned a bachelor’s in political science in 1995.