Army veteran, Ports Authority member Grange to run for NC House

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A second Republican has announced her plans to run for the North Carolina House of Representatives seat Rep. Rick Catlin plans to leave.

Holly Grange, a 15-year veterans of the US Army and a member of the NC Ports Authority board since 2014, officially announced her candidacy today.

“I have always answered the call to serve,” the West Point alum said in a video announcing her run. “I am grateful to my many friends and others in Wilmington who have encouraged me to seek this office. I will not disappoint you in my campaign or my service to our area of North Carolina.

Grange joins New Hanover County School Board member Tammy Covil in the Republican primary for the 20th District seat Catlin has held since it was created in 2012 to represent northern New Hanover County. Catlin, also a Republican, announced earlier this month he would not run for a third term so he can focus more on his business.

Jason Thompson, who served for many years on Wilmington City Council and the New Hanover County Commission, has also said he is considering entering the Republican race for the seat. No Democrats have yet announced plans to run.

According to her campaign website, Grange, who is a realtor, attorney and Director of Community Relations at Osprey Global Solutions in Wilmington, also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc., the Board of Directors of the USO of North Carolina, the Board of Directors of the Cape Fear Community College Foundation and serves on the Advisory Board for the Swain Center for Business and Economics at UNCW.