Cleveland County has long held a place of political prominence in North Carolina. For much of the early 20th century, the Shelby Dynasty dominated North Carolina politics. O. Max Gardner and his brother-in-law Clyde R. Hoey led a group of pro-business Democrats who guided North Carolina through the Great Depression and World War II. Later, Rep. Jack Hunt, Rep. Edith Lutz and Senator Oscar Harris were forces in the legislature from the 1970s into the early 1990s and Rep. Andy Dedmon was part of the house leadership in the early part of this century.

Those were all Democrats. Now, a Republican has risen to the top. Rep. Tim Moore is Speaker of the House. His majority leader is Rep. Mike Hager, who hails from neighboring Rutherford County, an area linked politicly, culturally and economically to Cleveland County. For almost a hundred years, this foothill region has put its mark on Raleigh.

Moore brings a new perspective the house leadership. He’s from a rural area dominated by small towns after almost two decades of rule by speakers from the Great State of Mecklenburg and the Triangle. He says he’s focused on economic issues and jobs but he comes from a region with a lot of cultural conservatives.

I moved to Cleveland County in 1993. When I got there, Shelby, the county seat, was in the midst of a referendum that would allow liquor by the drink. It passed, but the opposition was vocal with bill boards and flyers warning of the sins of demon rum. One person described the region as the “buckle of the bible belt.”

At the time, the area still benefited from the influence of the Shelby Dynasty. The town had grand old houses and grander old families. Manufacturing, dominated by textiles, provided good paying jobs and steady incomes.

After NAFTA (and after I left), the county got hit hard. Most of the manufacturing left the county and both Cleveland and Rutherford suffered high unemployment rates before the recession delivered an even tougher blow. The area’s political influence waned a bit, though Walter Dalton, who resided in Rutherford County but represented Cleveland, became Lt. Governor.

Moore hails from Kings Mountain. It’s a more working class town and lacks the trappings of old money that still defines Shelby. Nevertheless, Moore knows what power and influence can do. He’s in tune with the blue collar families that have been hit hardest by the recession and he’s sensitive to the cultural forces that both define and divide rural North Carolina.

Moore said that he wants to focus on economic development and jobs. Let’s hope that he can do that. He’s shown some willingness to buck the social conservatives with his support of a casino just outside his hometown. The project would bring much needed jobs and revenue to the area. Rural North Carolina desperately needs a boost. Maybe Speaker Moore can help give it. 

Thomas Mills

Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >