NC House member from Wilmington won’t run again

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The state House member who succeeded the first lawmaker kicked out of the North Carolina General Assembly in more than a century won’t run for re-election this year.

Democratic Rep. Sandra Spaulding Hughes announced Monday she has decided against seeking another two-year term for “personal and family reasons.” She provided no other details.

Wilmington-area Democrats chose Hughes for the 18th House District seat in April 2008 after the chamber expelled Rep. Thomas Wright for ethical misconduct. Wright is in state prison for fraud convictions.

Hughes won her own term in November 2008 and will serve the rest of the term this year. She’s a former Wilmington city council member.

Wright was the first legislator expelled since 1880.

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