Rep. Rick Catlin resigns from NC House

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC  (WWAY) — A state house representative has moved up his day to leave office. Back in November Representative Rick Catlin said he would not seek re-election. Now he will not finish his term.

Catlin, who represented most of the northern part of New Hanover County since 2012, resigned from the North Carolina General Assembly on Monday.

He said running Wilmington-based Catlin Engineering is the reason why he is leaving office earlier than expected. He said it was time to devote more time to his company and his employees, especially after the 2014 death of his company’s CEO.

“It’s the company that needs to be taken care of, and I have great employees that have done a good job. But it’s my job to get back to them,” said Catlin.

Catlin said he would support Holly Grange taking over for him to serve out the remaining months of his term. Grange won March’s GOP Primary and doesn’t have a democratic challenger in November.

We have to wait and see if Grange could replace Catlin. A vice-chair of the New Hanover County GOP said in order to recommend Grange, the full executive board has to vote. The process could take about ten days.

Catlin said other than work he wants to focus his attention on the numerous boards he sits on, which includes the Wilmington Symphony and Bellamy Mansion.