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Rockingham resident and Richmond county commissioner Ben Moss, who is running as a Republican for N.C. House of Representatives District 66, cites his blue-collar background and friendly demeanor as advantages voters should consider when they head to the polls March 3.

“I’m a very approachable guy,” said Moss, who calls himself a conservative Christian. “I could talk to a CEO or I could talk to a janitor, that’s the kind of guy I am.”

Moss is running against his primary opponent Joey Davis of Star for the right to take on incumbent Rep. Scott Brewer in November. District 66 encompasses Richmond, Montgomery and a small portion of Stanly.

Moss grew up in Richmond County, graduating from Richmond Senior High School before heading to Clayton State University in Georgia, where he became certified as a rail freight conductor. He moved back home to work for the railroad company CSX in Hamlet. Moss, 40, a locomotive engineer, has been with CSX for 22 years.

Moss is also serving his third term as a Richmond county commissioner. When he was first elected in 2010, he said he was told he was the first Republican to serve on the board in 122 years.

Some of his accomplishments during his time as a a commissioner include helping to lower the county’s unemployment rate (it was more than 15 percent when he took office and it’s now less than 5 percent), adding one-quarter of a billion dollars of economic investment and almost 800 jobs to the county.

He also presented a resolution last month to the board which made Richmond County, like Stanly, a Second Amendment sanctuary state.

“I’m an adamant Second Amendment supporter,” he said. “I’m trying my best to listen to the people and get their voice heard when it comes to the Second Amendment.”

This is his first time running for a state office. He was inspired to run after the seat became vacant last year when Ken Goodman stepped down to accept an appointment from Gov. Roy Cooper to serve on the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

“When Mr. Goodman vacated his seat, I just felt like it was time for someone with some conservative common sense ideas to try to run for state office,” he said, “and I just thought I would try to run for state office to see if I could help make the district a better place to live.”

Moss felt someone someone needed to represent the district that knew about rural counties.

Regarding Brewer, “I think he’s a great guy,” Moss said. “I just don’t think his voting record will sit well with the people of the district.

“I just want to make sure the district gets represented so that any funds that might be available to help our district, we get our proper portion of them,” he said.

He thinks education in rural areas can be improved and wants to work to try and bring more industries to rural areas.

Moss has made contacts with people in Stanly, including County Commissioner Zach Almond, and he’s been to several events such as the Badin Volunteer Fire Department barbecue sale.

He wants to represent the district and believes his experience serving in local government and his ability to connect with people will help set him apart.

“I’m just a common sense, blue-collar working guy,” he said.

Moss is married to his wife Amber and has two children, Sam and Maggie.