“No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn.”
- Hal Borland, Author

March 21 is the first (full) day of spring - a season representing renewal and rebirth.  What better time to celebrate new alumni with a “Welcome to Raleigh” event?

Please join us in honoring these eight talented new legislators in the spirit of hope for their success in the NC General Assembly:

Mary Wills Bode.  Ray Jeffers.  Frances Jackson.  Diamond Staton-Williams.  Laura Budd.  Charles Smith.  Eric Ager.  Lindsey Prather.

Tuesday, March 21, from 5:30 - 7:30pm
State of Beer, 401 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh

RSVP to [email protected] or 919.283.4819. Contributions appreciated, not required.

Each of these legislators is already making an impact. Each deserves our collective support for stepping up at a time of arguably unparalleled need.

Please greet them at State of Beer on Tuesday, March 21. Spring forward!

Now or Never NC 

Learn more about and support these new legislators here:

Mary Wills Bode (SD18 - Granville & Wake) is an attorney and former non-profit executive director, with deep roots in Granville and Wake Counties. She’s a longtime advocate for nonpartisan redistricting reform and of bipartisan solutions and has helped host and headline Now or Never NC events in the past.   
Learn more about Mary Wills Bode by clicking here. 

Ray Jeffers (HD2 - Person & Durham) is a Person County native from a family rooted in farming. Ray became the youngest County Commissioner in North Carolina, serving 12 years, including as Chairman, President of the NC Association of County Commissioners, and five terms on the National Association of Counties board.
Learn more about Ray Jeffers by clicking here. 

Frances Jackson, Ph.D. (HD45 - Cumberland) of Hope Mills has extensive experience in state and local government. She’s been a high school teacher, county magistrate, and transportation and community planner in Cumberland County. After coming very close in the 2020 election, now-Representative Jackson won a convincing victory this past November.
Learn more about Frances Jackson by clicking here. 

Diamond Staton-Williams (HD73 - Cabarrus) is a registered nurse and served on the Harrisburg Town Council in Cabarrus County. Her extraordinarily extensive nonprofit board and volunteer service has focused on mental health and child achievement, including Communities in Schools, a program in which she participated as a youth.
Learn more about Diamond Staton-Williams by clicking here. 

Laura Budd (HD103 - Mecklenburg) grew up in an Air Force family. She’s a managing partner in her Matthews-area law firm, and a member of the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. Her nonprofit service includes the Mecklenburg County Bar Association board and helping lead recreational sports and gymnastics organizations.
Learn more about Laura Budd by clicking here. 

We’re also grateful for the following new Representatives who stepped up when long-standing Now or Never NC alumni Richardson, Ager, and Turner did not seek re-election:

Charles Smith (HD44 - Cumberland) succeeds family friend and NNNC alumnus Billy Richardson. Charles is a former Assistant District Attorney, now in private practice. He and his wife Kelly, an elementary school counselor, grew up in Fayetteville. Charles fulfilled a childhood dream of playing college basketball before attending law school and returning to Cumberland County.
Learn more about Charles Smith by clicking here. 

Eric Ager (HD114 - Buncombe) succeeds his father, Class of 2014 Alumnus John Ager. Eric grew up working on the family farm in Fairview, in Buncombe County. After studying at the US Naval Academy, Eric served as a Naval aviator and expert in political-military operations, including as an attache in Turkey. After retiring from the Navy, he came back home to work on the family farm.
Learn more about Eric Ager by clicking here.

Lindsey Prather (HD115 - Buncombe) succeeds Class of 2014 alumnus Brian Turner. Lindsey is an educator, public servant, and community activist in voter education and registration in Buncombe County. She’s worked in admissions at UNC-Asheville and spent six years as a public school teacher of Occupational Skills, American History, and Civics. She’s a recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship.
Learn more about Lindsey Prather by clicking here.