One MOORE entrant for the state senate GOP primary?

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Stuff keeps coming in over the transom about the state senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Harris Blake of Pinehurst.

Recent redistricting moved Blake and Moore County from the current district to District 29, which includes Randolph County and is currently represented by Senate Majority Whip Jerry Tillman (R).

Well-informed political sources within Moore County and across the region tell us that Moore County Republican Pat Molamphy is seriously eyeing the district 29 seat.  Molamphy, a resident of Pinehurst, is vice-president of The Albermarle Oil Company, which owns and operates numerous convenience store gas stations and fast-food restaurants across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Recently, Molamphy was identified by Roll Call as a potential GOP challenger to Congressman Larry Kissell, who represents North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District.

(Congressional candidates are not required to live in the district they run for. Republican congressman Walter Jones initially was not a resident of his district.  Democrat Mike McIntyre of Lumberton will be running for reelection to the  7th congressional district seat he has held since 1997, even though his home is no longer in the district.)

A survey of Molamphy’s past campaign contributions includes checks to former Congressman Robin Hayes, former 8th district GOP congressional nominee Harold Johnson, and Congressman Howard Coble.