Hudson announces plans to run for Senate

Updated at 7:11 p.m.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson announced Tuesday that he will run for N.C. State Senate.

The move comes a few days after fellow Democrat and long-time state Sen. Charlie Albertson said he will not seek a 10th term to the 10th Senatorial District, which represents Duplin, Lenoir and Sampson counties. Hudson, the chief prosecutor for the Fourth Prosecutorial District that includes Onslow, Duplin, Sampson and Jones counties, announced the same day, Friday, that he would not run for a fourth term in the DA’s office.

Hudson will instead run for what is currently Albertson’s seat.

“This is a new decade and a new day in North Carolina,” Hudson said. “We are presently recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression. As a result, many people have suffered tremendous hardships. The pork and poultry industry have especially experienced unprecedented losses the last few years.”

Hudson — born and raised on a farm in Sampson County — said he will work to help the pork and poultry industries recover.

He will also concentrate on the local economy, crime and education.

“I will be a strong advocate in the legislature involving issues of gangs and crime to protect our families and make our communities safer,” he said. “Our courts and criminal justice system need a major overhaul to improve effectiveness and efficiency.”

Since taking over as the elected D.A. in 1998, his office has consistently been ranked as one of the most efficient prosecutor’s offices in the state, according to the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts.

Hudson prosecuted hundreds of jury trials as an assistant district attorney since 1977 when he graduated with a law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Hudson, the second of five children, graduated from Union High School in 1970 and received a degree in economics in 1974 from N.C. State University in Raleigh.

“I am running for the state senate because I believe I have the background, abilities and qualifications necessary to deal with the serious problems facing our district and our state,” he said.

Hudson has been married 36 years and has two children. His wife owns a rehabilitation company.

Contact Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read his blog here.

District Attorney Dewey Hudson has announced that he will run for N.C. Senate.

Hudson's district would include Sampson, Duplin and Lenoir counties, according to a press release from Hudson.

"I believe I have the background, abilities and qualifications necessary to deal with the serious problems facing our district and our state," he said in the release.

Hudson announced last week that he would not seek re-election as district attorney for Sampson, Duplin, Jones and Onslow counties. Sen. Charlie Albertson announced Friday that he woul not seek re-election for the Tenth Senatorial District.