Troy Lawson, a former chairman of the Guilford County Republican Party and former candidate for the NC House of Representatives, is running to fill the Guilford County Board of Commissioners District 5 seat that’s now occupied by Jeff Phillips, the current chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Lawson said that he would file to run for the seat on Thursday, Dec. 19. Lawson said he wants to help keep Guilford County on the right path – the one the current Republican board has it on.
“The county is in booming times and I want to help continue that,” Lawson said.
He added that, as a commissioner, two of his priorities would be economic development and keeping the county’s kids safe.
Lawson said he was very surprised to learn recently that Phillips wouldn’t seek another term as the District 5 commissioner.
“I saw Jeff and I told him that,” Lawson said Wednesday night.
He added that he knows Cyndy Hayworth, who has also filed to run in the Republican primary for District 5 commissioner’s seat. Lawson said the two serve together on a board for a charter school.
Two Democrats – Macon Sullivan and Carly Cook – are also vying for the District 5 commissioner’s seat.
In 2018, Lawson ran for the NC House of Representatives District 57 seat and was defeated by state Rep. Ashton Clemmons. At the time both candidates were making their first run for public office.
Lawson was the first African-American chairman of the Guilford County Republican Party and, if elected next year, he would be the first Republican African-American Guilford County commissioner.
