Rep. Paul Tine has announced that he is leaving the Democratic Party, switching his voter registration to unaffiliated, and will be caucusing with House Republicans.
Tine, who hails from Dare County and represents District 6, said he has been a Democrat since he first registered to vote. He said it was a difficult decision, but he no longer feels at home in the Democratic Party.
Here is Tine’s news release on his decision:
KITTY HAWK, NC – State Representative Paul Tine announced today that he would be changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Unaffiliated.
“This has been a difficult decision as I have been a Democrat since I first registered to vote,” said Rep. Tine, “but after a lot of sleepless nights and long discussions with family and supporters, I am convinced it is the right one for our district and for me.”
Paul Tine is beginning his second term and represents Dare, Hyde, Washington and Beaufort Counties. He stated that his district has many challenges that need to be met including reduced transportation funding, lagging behind in educational spending and the high cost of insurance. “Our region’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the state and I cannot allow party affiliation to stand in the way of moving our region forward,” said Tine.
Mr. Tine went on to say that he would be caucusing with the Republicans but that no one should expect a different approach than the one he has taken over the past two years. “I have made it clear to everyone that that my positions on public and early education, Medicaid expansion and rural issues will not change just because I am switching to Independent. I will continue to work across the aisle to do what is right for eastern North Carolina and the state.”
“We are very much looking forward to working with Representative Tine. He has shown himself to be a fiscal conservative who takes a common sense approach to state government,” said Speaker-nominee Tim Moore. “I know we will have disagreements but feel that we will continue to find more in common than what separates us.”
Representative Tine went on to explain why he no longer feels at home in the Democratic Party. “My positions as a moderate have become increasingly less welcome in the Democratic Party over the past several years, especially in Raleigh,” said Tine. “I have always been and will continue to be a centrist that puts my district and my state first. Right now, I feel that voice can best be heard as an Independent working with the majority.”
The change means that the Republican caucus in the House will have 75 members (74 Republicans and unaffiliated Tine), with the Democrats having 45 members.
