Dennis Justice seeks House Dct. 117 seat

Dennis Justice has run for the Henderson County School Board, Board of Commissioners and state Senate. Now he’s running for an open state House.



Among his many areas of interest, Justice counts sports betting, the obesity crisis, high-speed fiber optic lines and even removing the 2004 marriage amendment from the state constitution.

Justice regularly attends meetings of the Board of Commissioners and comments on everything from the need for more pickleball courts to his idea to build a hurricane-proof dome at the WNC Ag Center. He works as an Uber driver and at Planet Fitness.

A widowed father of five, Justice, 49, says his wife’s death related to obesity has made him a crusader for better health and awareness of obesity’s dangers.

He thinks he knows the right way to permit sports betting in North Carolina.

“Both parties’ approaches are short-sighted,” he said. He would make North Carolina’s betting the lowest taxed in the country, meaning more winnings for bettors.

He says the state needs better high-speed internet access in rural areas, more mental hospitals and a broad approach to fitness to combat obesity. And he says he will lead by example in campaign finance reform.

“I will not accept special interest dollars, even from groups I’m sympathetic to,” he said. Nor will be accept any donations greater than $99.

“I’m going to be the candidate the establishment does not want,” he said. “Until I win, and when I win I’ll be their best friend.”

A Republican, Justice would face Tim Moffitt, a former House member, in the March 3 primary.

Justice vowed that he would drop out if state Rep. Chuck McGrady would introduce a bill to remove state constitution amendments still listed in the constitution even though they have been nullified by courts. He especially wants the 2004 marriage amendment gone.

"If Chuck McGrady can get our House and Senate Republican leaders to publicly pledge to fight to get these all officially removed from the State Constitution by a November 2020 referendum, and pledges this before the filing period ends,I will drop out of the race," he said in an email. "I will concede to Moffitt. My name would not even be on the ballot."

"The marriage amendment is hurtful and needs to go," he said. "Let's just say this amendment greatly hurt someone I really care about. Let's just say that person is far more important to me than my ambitions. Let's also say the party does not want me in a debate rebuking them for what they did to hurt that person I love, and what almost happened because of it." He said removing the marriage amendment would help the Republican Party attract independent voters it needs to win statewide elections.

"They repealed the bathroom bill, they can do this," he said. "It's the right thing to do. I'll accept this gesture on that person's behalf as the party's apology. Donald Trump would support this."