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Get to know Rep. Donnie Loftis

Appointed last year to replace the late Rep. Dana Bumgardner, Rep. Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston, is one of the newest members of the House. His selection by Gaston County Republican leaders faced opposition to Democrats, who highlighted his presence at the Jan. 6 Trump rally in Washington that led to an attack on the Capitol (he has not been accused of any illegal activities). But the Iraq War veteran has long been well-known in local politics, serving as a Gaston County commissioner and running several times for the N.C. House. He now serves on committees on transportation, health care and local government.

Age: 65

What are the current and past jobs you’ve held outside of politics? I was employed as a district training store manager for CVS pharmacy. I was responsible for approximately 38 stores and approximately 800 employees (while managing my own store) in getting the required state and federal training completed. Training new store managers and shift supervisors was part of my focus. My district’s required training was always completed before the cutoff time and was recognized nationally by CVS Health for this accomplishment.

In 2014, 2016, and 2018 I was recognized nationally by CVS Health as part of the top 1% of the company. In 2018, I was recognized as one of twenty four out of approximately 245,000 employees with the District, Regional, and Area Paragon Award. I retired from CVS/pharmacy in 2019 with fifteen years of service.

I’m a 30-year Combat Veteran, who served in the United States Army and the Army National Guard, retiring as an E-8/Master Sergeant in 2010. During my entire career, I was assigned to combat engineer units (where we could build it, bulldoze it or blow it up). I served two years and five months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with fourteen months on the ground in Iraq where in 2006 I survived an IED attack on the vehicle I was in while conducting combat operations. I earned the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, along with over 25 other military awards during my service. And fifteen state active duty missions serving North Carolina during hurricanes, snow blizzards, forest fires, and water shortages, with the North Carolina Army National Guard.

As a civilian I was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, (North Carolina’s highest civilian award), and the Old North State Award (the state’s second highest award), and both were awarded by the governor.

I served eight years on the North Carolina Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, to foster emergency medical systems, trauma systems, and credentialed EMS personnel, to improve in providing responses to emergencies and disasters which will result in higher quality emergency medical care being delivered to the residents and visitors of North Carolina. I served on the Education and Enforcement Committees.

Locally, I served eight years as chair or vice chair of the Board of Directors for CaroMont Health, North Carolina’s largest independent hospital – an almost two-billion-dollar operation with approximately 4,300 employees providing over $700 million dollars in economic impact to our county, and one of the top 100 hospitals in America. As board chair, I was honored to lead the board in 2019 through the discussion, planning and approval process of investing approximately $325 million dollars into our community over the next five years, such as building a new hospital in Belmont, adding a four story new surgical ward tower, and upgrading many of our 53 outlying offices. I resigned that position effective upon my swearing in as a member of the N.C. House.

I currently serve on one civilian state level board, the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Families. I serve as chairman for North Carolina, along with all 50 states and District of Columbia, to ease the transition for students’ educational credits and to ensure that there are no barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families, (approximately 50,000 children per year in North Carolina) because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents.

What lessons from those roles have you applied to your elected position? Balance. I cannot do it all by myself. Building consensus and being able to work across personality lines is critical in accomplishing goals. Learning and appreciating what each member brings to the table is important in finding resources that may be very knowledgeable in certain areas. Seeking out good people who have a positive outlook and personality makes my job much more rewarding and fulfilling.

If you could enact a single piece of legislation into law today, what would it be? Abolish the IRS and enact a National/State Sales Tax. In my opinion that would make everybody equal in items purchased and taxes paid. Even those working in the cash only society, illegal aliens, and you would get a full paycheck not taxed at different percentages.

Where do you most enjoy taking an out-of-town visitor in your district? Tony’s Ice Cream, it’s been making ice cream for over 100 years. During the summer, just about everybody in the county cycles through weekly for ice cream. Or Stowe Botanical Garden, the largest botanical garden east of the Mississippi River with a great orchid garden. Or hike Crowders Mountain. It rises 1,625 feet above sea level and has clearly marked hiking trails.

What is your favorite hobby outside of work? Golfing, taking mountain roads in my 1996 Corvette with the roof top off or visiting our beach house.

Who do you most admire, and why? The Lord Jesus Christ. He gave us a pattern to live by and a promise to inherit.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about how to get legislation passed? Identify the idea, see if it has constitutionality issues, estimate the cost, and find 60 other “friends” who’ll help you.