Fayetteville councilman joins three other candidates in running for Cumberland County's District 45 seat

Kristen Johnson, The Fayetteville Observer
·4 min read

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Susan Chapman is running as a Republican for the NC House District 45 seat.

A Fayetteville city councilman and two other Cumberland County residents are running in the Democratic primary for the District 45 seat in the state House of Representatives.

Keith Byrd and Frances Jackson are seeking the position, along with Chris Davis, the city's District 6 council member. Republican State Rep. John Szoka, who is running for a spot on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, now represents the district, which was redrawn after the 2020 Census.

Byrd, Davis and Jackson are all running as Democrats. The winner of the Democratic primary will run against Susan Chapman, a Republican, in the general election in November.

Chris Davis

Davis, who has served on the City Council since 2019, said the work he did in that capacity has prepared him to serve on a state level.

"People really want to know and understand where Fayetteville is as a thriving economy," Davis said Wednesday.

Davis said Cumberland County's 45th district is drawn around the city's District 6. Because of this, many residents and voters in that area are familiar with him and his work, he said. A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Davis came to Fayetteville more than 10 years ago for his family and work.

Christopher Davis
Christopher Davis

"(People) know me and understand that I'm a solution guy. I'm very people-oriented," Davis said. "There are a lot of people fighting for healthcare, for teacher pay and I'm going to be right there echoing them. But when you look at I-295, you need someone who understands infrastructure. We need to have leadership that is representative of the abilities of the problems that come with growth."

Davis said that he is determined to continue the momentum that Cumberland County's legislative delegation has maintained.

District 45 encompasses Hope Mills and Fayetteville's Gray's Creek area. The area was redrawn after a state court ruling against gerrymandering and the revised map placed more Democrats in District 45.

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Frances Jackson

Jackson, a Fayetteville native, went up against incumbent Szoka in the November 2020 general election. The race was close, but she lost with about 49% of the vote.

She graduated from E.E. Smith High School before earning degrees at North Carolina A&T State University, Fayetteville State University and Walden University

Frances Jackson
Frances Jackson

Now a Hope Mills resident and an adjunct professor at Fayetteville Technical Community College, Jackson previously worked as a transportation and community planner in the Cumberland County Planning Department and as the director of transportation in Hoke County.

She said, if elected, she would prioritize more funding for education and higher teacher pay in the state.

"There are things that people on the outside don't know that teachers have to deal with," Jackson said Wednesday. "Not just the teachers but other people who make learning happen like bus operators, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, social workers and guidance counselors and nurses,"

Jackson also wants to improve the district's environment and drinking water.

The Gray's Creek area's ground and drinking water has been plagued with chemicals known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

"People need safe drinking water and medical insurance. We have people who are dealing with mental health issues ... during the pandemic," Jackson said. She also wants to provide more resources for children with exceptional needs.

Keith Byrd

Keith Byrd
Keith Byrd

In the March 2020 primary election for District 45, Jackson defeated Keith Byrd.

He is back on the ballot for the seat this year.

Byrd is a retired U.S. Army officer and Cumberland County native. He attended Seventy-First Senior High School and graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh. He was stationed at Fort Bragg where he served as a police chief.

Byrd could not be reached for comment on this story.

Susan Chapman

Running as the only Republican candidate for District 45, Chapman will be on the ballot in November for the race.

Susan Chapman announced her candidacy for the District 45 seat on March 19, 2022. Running as the only Republican for the seat, Chapman will only be listed on the November ballot.
Susan Chapman announced her candidacy for the District 45 seat on March 19, 2022. Running as the only Republican for the seat, Chapman will only be listed on the November ballot.

Chapman has experience in the political field as she has served in positions in Connecticut where she was elected as the first selectman, or member of the local government, in 2013. Before that, she served on the planning commission for the city of Danbury, Connecticut.

Investigative Reporter Kristen Johnson can be reached at kjohnson1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Meet the four candidates running for NC House District 45