As the N.C. House Democratic Leader since early 2021, Robert Reives leads the minority party in deciding when to compromise and when to fight Republican lawmakers’ agenda. He’s also held his caucus together to uphold Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes and prevent successful override votes.
Reives first joined the House in 2014, initially representing a district that included Lee County, where his law firm is based. Redistricting has changed his district to encompass all of Chatham County and a sliver of Durham. He lives in the Goldston community between Siler City and Sanford.
Age: 51
What jobs have you held outside of politics? I served as a prosecutor for Lee County from 1995 to 2000 and have been in private practice as an attorney since 2000.
What lessons from those roles have you applied to your elected position? As a prosecutor, I learned the importance of hearing both sides of an issue, and understanding better how we who work in government can protect those most vulnerable. In private practice, I have learned more about what it means to be a small business owner. It’s our responsibility to take care of our employees and to contribute to the community in terms of our local economy and the health and well-being of those who call it home.
If you could enact a single piece of legislation into law today, what would it be? The Fair Maps Act. That law would ameliorate a number of other issues our state faces by ensuring that an impartial, citizen-led committee draws our legislative and congressional maps. Fairer districts would lead to less gridlock and more pragmatic legislation overall.
Where do you most enjoy taking an out-of-town visitor in your district? I would take someone to Pittsboro’s downtown and then Chatham Park. The downtown of Pittsboro is a picture into our community’s past, while Chatham Park shows where our future is. They’re within five miles of each other, but they show where we’ve been and where we’re going.
What is your favorite hobby outside of work? Spending time with my kids, and anything involving music.
Who do you most admire, and why? I most admire my father, because of all the changes he has advocated for on top of taking care of my family and our extended family. Also, (former N.C. Rep.) Mickey Michaux. It’s easier to stay out of politics and have an easy life, but he chose to step up and serve his community and state for decades. He stayed humble throughout the process and is just as accessible today as he ever was.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about how to get legislation passed? There are always two sides, at least, to an issue, and we as legislators need to learn to listen, not just to hear.