By Miles Layton

EDENTON — Republican congressional candidate Bobby Hanig told members of the Chowan County Republican Party on Thursday night at Edenton Town Hall that his life story, legislative record, and commitment to Eastern North Carolina are proof that “the American dream is alive and well.”

Speaking for more than an hour, Hanig traced his path from poverty in South Philadelphia to service in the North Carolina General Assembly and his current bid for Congress, blending personal biography with stories from his political career and outlining what he plans to do if elected to Washington. He also devoted significant time during the question-and-answer period to discussing his role in blocking legislation that he said would have devastated the region’s commercial fishing industry, an episode often referred to as “Shrimpgate.”

“If you’re not looking at the American dream right here, there is not an American dream,” Hanig said. “To come from nothing and be where I am, I’m running for the United States Congress.”

Primary election is March 3 and early voting starts Feb. 12, with absentee ballots available now. The Albemarle Observer will cover other candidates as opportunities arise.

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Hanig began by recalling his entry into public service in Currituck County in 2015, when he was encouraged to run for county commissioner.

“I was talking about it with someone and they said, ‘You know, you ought to run for county commissioner,’” he said. “I said, ‘Well, what’s a county commissioner do in Currituck?’”

After researching the position, Hanig learned that Currituck and Hyde counties are the only two counties in North Carolina without municipalities, leaving county government as the primary local authority.

“So that’s it. You’re the government,” he said.

He decided to run and ended up unopposed.

“My opponent decided he wasn’t gonna run, so I got to run unopposed,” Hanig said. “Pretty awesome.”

As a new commissioner, Hanig said he focused on learning the system and trying to make a broader impact. One of his first actions, he said, was imposing a moratorium on solar farms.

“The first thing I did as a county commissioner at my very first meeting was put a moratorium on solar,” he said.

He said solar companies were targeting landowners with misleading promises.

“They were coming into Currituck County and just taking advantage of them,” Hanig said. “What they were doing versus what the contract says was totally different.”

The county paused approvals for about 18 months, he said, and eventually developed new regulations that other counties later adopted.

“Now several counties have contacted Currituck to say, ‘How’d y’all do it?’” he said. “Several counties throughout the region are using that UDO.”

After redistricting, Hanig said he was encouraged to run for the N.C. House of Representatives.

“Someone called me and said, ‘How do you feel about running for House of Representatives?’” he said. “I’m like, ‘Y’all have lost your minds.’”

He said he initially did not expect to win.

“The intention wasn’t to win,” Hanig said. “We really didn’t think we were gonna win.”

But he won and credited early advice from a Pamlico County supporter.

“She said, ‘You need to stand right here at this door and greet every single person,’” Hanig said.

After serving in the House, Hanig ran for the state Senate, where he said he again defied expectations.

“It was a D5 district,” he said. “Won by five points.”

“Everybody was calling me going, ‘How the hell did you win?’” he added.

Hanig said his time in Raleigh reinforced his sense of public service. He described his routine of arriving early and pausing near the Capitol.

“I sit there and say, ‘You know, I get to do what I do for 11 million people. What a privilege,’” he said.

He said many politicians lose sight of that responsibility.

“They go up there with good intentions, but then they kind of get lost,” Hanig said.

Hanig also addressed his challenge to Democratic Congressman Don Davis.

“His true colors came out,” Hanig said. “I told Don, ‘You gotta tighten up. I’m coming after you.’”

He described the scale of the congressional district and said his service in multiple districts gives him an advantage.

“I’ve served 15 of them,” he said. “I know those counties.”

Hanig said his campaign now has 192 volunteers.

“Why we have 192 volunteers is because of the job we’ve done,” he said.

Much of Hanig’s speech focused on his personal background.

“I’m a mechanic by trade. I’m a high school graduate,” he said. “I was born into poverty in South Philadelphia.”

He credited his stepfather, a career Navy serviceman, with shaping his values.

“He saved our lives,” Hanig said. “He taught me what commitment meant, what service meant, what duty meant, what honor meant.”

Those lessons, he said, fueled his advocacy for veterans.

“That’s what I really champion,” Hanig said. “Mental health for our veterans.”

He described visiting a disabled veteran at home.

“I went and spent two hours with him and heard his story,” Hanig said.

Turning to economic development, Hanig highlighted a major Hertford County project.

“It’s gonna be the biggest economic boon Eastern North Carolina has seen in over 100 years,” he said.

He also detailed his legislative record, saying he has submitted 285 bills and passed 73.

“Most of my bills are reducing the regulations,” he said.

He criticized housing and environmental regulations.

“We’ve been overregulated,” Hanig said.

He pointed to fights within his own party.

“I had to vote against our own Republican budget,” he said. “It was a tax increase.”

Hanig emphasized constituent services.

“If you can’t get a hold of me, you can’t tell me what’s wrong,” he said.

During the question-and-answer session, a local newspaper representative asked Hanig about the future of “Shrimpgate,” referring to the controversial legislative battle over commercial fishing regulations that drew statewide attention.

“I will tell you this,” Hanig said. “I could talk about it for days.”

He said the episode gave commercial fishermen an opportunity to finally tell their story.

“What that did for the commercial fishing industry is open the door for us to tell our story,” Hanig said. “We have never been able to tell our story.”

He blamed environmental and conservation groups for shaping public opinion.

“For 40 years it has been big money to CCA, the Wildlife Federation, bad propaganda,” Hanig said. “You hear it enough, people believe it.”

Hanig said supporters of the restrictions underestimated the backlash.

“What they didn’t take into account was, when you come after my people, you’re leaving with a scar,” he said.

Hanig described learning at the last minute that an amendment threatening the industry was about to move quickly through the legislature.

“If it wouldn’t have been for Norm Sanderson letting me know… we would’ve lost our fishing industry,” he said.

Hanig said the bill was scheduled to move rapidly to the governor.

“They were gonna run it on a Tuesday, run it in the House on a Wednesday and send it to the governor,” he said.

Hanig said a single parliamentary move changed the outcome.

“One thing saved it, the word objection,” he said.

When the measure advanced without opposition, Hanig said he intervened.

“Then I went, ‘Objection,’” he said.

He said the move stunned supporters of the bill.

“You could’ve seen Bill Raven’s head pop off his shoulders,” Hanig said.

The objection delayed the vote and coincided with the Juneteenth holiday, giving opponents time to organize.

“That gave us five days to rally the troops,” Hanig said.

He said the delay led to a massive turnout.

“Seven hundred people showed up at that building,” he said.

He said lawmakers behind the measure reconsidered.

“They have learned their lesson,” Hanig said. “I promise you they have learned their lesson.”

Out of the controversy, Hanig said, emerged a regional advocacy network.

“We formed the Coastal Fisheries Coalition,” he said. “Nineteen counties.”

He said the coalition has kept pressure on lawmakers and maintained public awareness.

“What it’s also doing is keeping the story alive,” Hanig said.

Hanig argued that the issue was about more than environmental policy.

“It isn’t about clean water,” he said. “Take away the commercial fishing industry and what do you have? You’ve got miles and miles of waterfront property.”

He said powerful financial interests stood to benefit if fishing declined.

“It is money of untold hundreds of millions of dollars,” Hanig said.

He vowed continued resistance.

“We’re not gonna let that industry go away,” Hanig said. “We’re gonna keep talking about it.”

He said the coalition is prepared for ongoing battles.

“Every year it’s gonna come up again,” Hanig said. “We have to be prepared for the angles.”

“I dare them to try it,” he added.

Near the end of his speech, Hanig returned to the theme of opportunity.

“It isn’t where we’re starting, it’s where we’re finishing,” he said.

He closed with reflections on national resilience.

“We’re gonna rebound from this,” Hanig said. “We’re gonna be better for it.”

“God built this country for a reason,” he said.

As the meeting concluded, Hanig thanked party members for their support.

“It’s an honor for me to be a part of it,” he said. “Thank y’all.”

Applause followed as Hanig wrapped up his appearance, having tied his personal history, legislative record, and defense of coastal industries to his case for representing northeastern North Carolina in Congress.