HENDERSONVILLE — Up-and-comer state Rep. Jake Johnson, R-Henderson County, provided a 15-minute General Assemby update to the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club during a breakfast meeting on April 12 at the American Legion Post 77 here.

For another 15 minutes, the congressman then fielded a barrage of questions from the program attendees, which ended only when Men’s Club President Bruce Hatfield stepped in to thank Johnson for his presentation — and to announce that he needed to ensure the meeting ended on time (about 10 a.m.).

Hatfield quickly added that the keynote speaker will be U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Flat Rock, at the next Men’s Club meeting at 9 a.m. May 10 at the American Legion.

Then, just as Hatfield was going to officially end the meeting, Henderson County Commissioner Jay Egolf stood and vigorously waved his hand, was recognized by Hatfield and then asserted enthusiastically, “We’re really blessed to have a young man (Rep. Johnson) with so much energy” to represent Henderson County “and to show up here, despite being so busy” with so many state legislative committees. The crowd cheered at Egolf’s assessment. 

Nodding in agreement, Hatfield said evenly, “I suspect we will see Jake at higher levels (politically) in the future...” He then ended the meeting.

Earlier, Hatfield opened the meeting by noting that the Men’s Club now has 70 total members, including 50 “regular members,” asserting that “that’s great!”

Next, he introduced Greg Beam, the newly elected HCGOP chair, who thanked “everyone for their support, including the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club, and Bruce (Hatfield)” — and many others.

Beam also mentioned the need to make appointments to the county Board of Elections, as well as some other pending issues.

When Hatfield allowed Merry Guy —  running for GOP 11th District chair against incumbent Michelle Woodhouse — to briefly address the Men’s Club, she began by noting that” April 26 is the convention and asked everyone to support her.”

She added, “I think most of y’all know my leadership abilities” and her emphasis on “unity of effort, the (success of the) party (and its candidates) and inclusiveness” —  and “my dedication to supporting every (GOP) candidate on the ballot... from top to bottom.”

At that point, Hatfield introduced Johnson, noting that the congressman represents a portion of Henderson County, as well as parts of Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties.  

“He had served three-and-a-half years in the House, fulfilling the unexpired term of Cody Henson —  and recently (in 2024) was elected to his third full term,” Hatfield said of Johnson. 

(The congressman was sworn-in to replace Henson at age 22 on Aug. 6, 2019. He remains the youngest member of the state House.)

 â€œJake is the chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee” and “chair of the Appropriations, Capital and Information Technology Committee... Those two are very powerful positions....”

Futher, Hatfield noted that Johnson is the vice chair of both the Appropriations and Commerce and Economic Development Commitee and the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery. He also serves as a member of Education K-12, and Wildlife commitees. What’s more, Johnson serves on a number of non-standing committees.

 â€œCurrently, Jake is working with various fire departments and fire marshals to coordinate resources for containment of the wildfires in Polk County...

 â€œHe is one of the rising star Republicans in the North Carolina House of Representatives.  He will speak on a variety of issues and will be available to answer your questions,” Hatfield asserted, in concluding his introduction of Johnson.

Johnson then began his presentation by noting that he was born and raised on a farm in Saluda — and was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in economics.

In his most recent re-election bid, he said, “A big part of my win was getting 100 percent of Henderson County” in the vote.

He added that his district has expanded in recent years, so “I’ve (now) got Lake Lure, Chimney Rock and sort of out toward Lake James, too...”

He reviewed his many committee assignments,” noting “I kind of of wear a lot of hats up there” in Raleigh.

Having recently faced a fierce a bill-filing deadline...  it’s been a full workload” lately, Johnson said.

With a laugh, the congressman said he sometimes is asked by constituents or others if he has read a particular bill before a vote on it. Indeed, Johnson asserted, “By the time a bill gets to the floor, I probably just debated it for three weeks. And by then, you should know what the vote count will be on both sides...’

Further, he said, “Luckily during this session, we (the Republican majority in the General Assembly) covered a lot of controversial topics — because we knew that (then-Democrat gubernatorial candidate) Josh Stein was dropping money in the airwaves... He went out buying up airwaves to break the super-majority...

Ultimately, he noted that Stein was was successful in breaking the GOP super-majority in the state General Assembly.

Also, “he (Stein) dumped money into the Buncombe (media) market” causing, in Johnson’s view, at least one GOP candidate for county comissioner” — who, he said, had a chance to win — “to lose.”

Johnson did not name the GOP loser of the closest Buncombe commissioners’ race in 2024, but a look later by the Daily Planet at the official election results shows it to be Bruce O’Connell — as Democratic incumbent Terri Wells beat him by 54.31 percent to 45.69 percent. (The Republicans lost all of the races for office in Buncombe in 2024.)

Johnson then emphasized, “Here, you’ve just got one media market in WNC (Western North Carolina) — and sometimes you have to add something (in the media mix) from the Upstate’ of South Carolina.

Since winning the governor’s race over GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, “Stein has been way better than (his Democratic predecessor) Roy Cooper on getting money for WNC needs,” Johnson contended.

He added, “We’ve got some really good bills that I anticipate Stein will veto....”

Also on a somber note, Johnson stated that, “historically, the party with the presidency, does not do that well in mid-term elections,” so he urged local Republicans to continue working hard to elect Republicans.

He then reiterated, “(Gov.) Stein has absolutely blown Cooper out of the water in terms of fundraising… I would dare say he will try to pick off some (Republican) seats” in the mid-term.

To that end, Johnson said, “We have to win Henderson County big, in an off-year, because I can guarantee we’ll see the Democrats trying to knock some people off....

“They (the Democrats) are out there constantly, protesting… They’re picking issues and keeping their people engaged — and we need to do the same.”

Referring to a case involving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Johnson said GOP state officials in power have — correctly — told those who hire workers that that they must hire solely “based on merit and talent — not DEI policies... If you threaten the money, it certainly will change their tune.”

In closing, Johnson said, “When I say that I chair the technology committee — I feel like I’m in charge of national security.”

He added, “Every dollar we invest in cyberprotection — it’s well worth it... We’re working hard to secure our people in WNC.”

During the Q&A session that followed, Johnson said, regarding “all of these things they say the legislators are trying to hide,” that “we want a ‘whistleblower ‘within state government to come to us... That’s why we’re depending upon our people within these agencies.”

On another question about the challenges of working with biased government officials or committees, he noted that “when people come into work, they need to know what the standards are and where the goalposts are… Instead, it’s been... a moving goalpost. So what we’ve asked — reign in your people and make sure they are not picking winners and losers in your county.” 

Further Johnson asserted, “It’s not my idea that we need more affordable housing... We need the workforce that wants to live there... to be able to afford to live there... If you don’t want something somewhere, zone it the way you want it, versus changing it during the process... We’d like to be more of a short-term negotiating tool.”

An unidentied man from Flat Rock asserted that “there also needs to be more consideration for historic districts, such as in Flat Rock.”

The man also complained about having so many roads without striping in Henderson County... It’d be nice to have more road-striping” in the county.

Smiling, Johnson replied, “A lot of these projects are not funded on a state level,” so state legislators cannot help in such situations, as they are local matters.

After a pause, Johnson triggered much laughter from the mainly older crowd when he, as a young man,  added, “I told someone that you will be a hero to my people if you’re able to get I-26 (widening) done before my children are driving on it.”

Next, Gene Comiskey, a Polk County Republican, noted that “the judge who convicted me of trespass is here today and is, unfortunately, a Republican...”

As Johnson listened, Comiskey continued, “There will be a trial, but don’t expect justice... Our Polk County Republican Convention was rigged… Nobody at any level of the Republican Party has been willing to stand up for me...”

The congressman then told Comiskey that “the legislature (of which he is a member) is not empowered to t legislate on (political) party procedures.”

Speaking for himself, Johnson said, “I’ve been taken off the (GOP) state Executive Committee,” so the matter is out of his hands. He then reiterated that, as for “your legislature, it’s not their job to decide on county procedures.”

Undeterred, Comiskey asserted, “We have contacted everyone at every level of the Republican Party – that (GOP District 11 chair) Michelle Woodhouse was part of the conspiracy to hide the financial malfeasance that’s being committed by the Polk County Republican Party. We’re not getting any movement from any level. I’m alleging a criminal conspiracy….”

In response, Johnson told Comiskey, “the legislature doesn’t have any say in this” — and turned away from Comiskey and asked for questions from other meeting attendeees.

In an email he sent later on April 12, Comiskey stated the following: “His (Johnson’s) answer was just another example of ‘leadership’ avoiding any responsibility for the damage that RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) are causing to the Republican Party.”

On another question, the congressman said “there also is a (state) bill out there to end tax abatement for solar (panel installations). It will cut it in half — from 80 percent to 40 percent” — the subsidy.”

Johnson added, “Often, the solar (subsidy) program results in “wasting of land” in exchange for a government subsidy. He said — happily — the bill translates into “a solar subsidy abatement.”