Soles introduces bills to create new DA, lower pension requirements

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Sen. R.C. Soles may be leaving the legislature, but he’s not going quietly. The longest serving member in the history of the legislature filed a bill today that would split the 13th judicial district.

It would create one district for Bladen and Columbus Counties and another for Brunswick County. Under the bill, the winner of November’s election for district attorney would get the new district in which he lives and asks the governor to appoint a member of the losing party to the other district. Democrat Butch Pope lives in Columbus County. Republican Jon David lives in Brunswick.

Soles also introduced a bill that would give judges, DAs and other court workers a state pension if they retire with at least 20 years in the job after the age of 62. Interestingly, current 13th district DA Rex Gore, who lost the Democratic primary to Pope May 4, turned 62 last month and would fall just shy of the 24 years of experience. When reached by phone this afternoon, Gore said he was aware of the bill.