GOP Rep. Allen Chesser on how 9/11, COVID rules shaped his life | Under the Dome podcast
State Rep. Allen Chesser of Nash County had zero interest in politics growing up.
“My family was not political at all. In fact, when I was in the Army, I registered as a Republican simply because I figured the Republicans were more likely to give the Army a pay raise,” he said.
Now the Nash County Republican, an Iraq war veteran, is in his second term in the House.
Good morning and welcome to our Tuesday Under the Dome politics newsletter, which is a preview of our latest Under the Dome podcast. I’m Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief and host of Under the Dome. Chesser is my guest on this episode.
We talk about the family tragedy that led to his run for the state House. COVID-19 restrictions meant he couldn’t be in the doctor’s office when his pregnant wife learned their daughter would be stillborn, Chesser said.
“And so it was kind of in that moment that I realized that government doesn’t get to strip away humanity — like government doesn’t get to tell me how to be a father, how to be a husband. And so we can never again lose sight of the humanity of the people that are affected by the decisions we make here at the state Capitol,” he said.
We also talk about the status of his bill about foster care, and why he recruited Democratic Rep. Vernetta Alston to cosponsor the bill. House Bill 612, called “Fostering Care in NC Act,” has already passed the House. Among other things, the bill would allow the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to review county social services decisions, tighten the timeline to investigate abuse and neglect, and add resources to place children in permanent homes.
Chesser also shares how the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks influenced his decision to join the military, and about his work for the Nags Head and Raleigh police departments while he was a law enforcement officer. And what he’s learned in his time at the General Assembly.
On the lighter side, you’ll hear Chesser’s suggestions for where to eat in the Outer Banks and what to order at the Legislative Office Building snack bar.
Stay tuned until the end for our picks for Headliner of the Week.
Where to listen
Listen to the Under the Dome podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, iHeart, Pandora and Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Thanks for reading, and listening. If you work in state government, politics or policy and are interested in being a podcast guest or have topic recommendations, email me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com.
.jpg)