RALEIGH — Deb Butler, a Wilmington attorney, has been selected to replace former Rep. Susi Hamilton in the state House.
Hamilton, a New Hanover County Democrat, resigned to accept the job of secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in Gov. Roy Cooper’s Cabinet.
Butler, who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in 2012, will represent House District 18, which includes portions of New Hanover and Brunswick counties. She was chosen by a district Democratic Party executive committee.
“I’ve never shied away from a fight,” Butler told Wilmington TV station WECT. “I’m looking forward to articulating the issues and pointing out the shortcomings of the Republican legislature, and again where we can build consensus we will, and where we can’t we’re going to dig in and fight and try to champion our causes for this district.”
In the interview with WECT, Butler said she is openly gay and would, among other things, push for repeal of House Bill 2, the state’s law affecting, among other things, Charlotte’s previous transgender bathroom ordinance.
The Lumina News reported in November 2011 that Butler appeared before the Wilmington City Council urging the council to permit Occupy Wilmington to stay overnight in a city park.