New senator picked to fill unexpired term in Randolph, Guilford counties

Republicans in Randolph and Guilford counties picked a bank vice president this week to fill an open seat in the North Carolina Senate.

Gov. Roy Cooper confirmed that choice Friday, appointing Dave Craven to fill a seat held until recently by Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph.

Tillman announced his retirement last month. The announcement took some by surprise, since Tillman was running for re-election and was already the Republican nominee for the November general election.

Vacant seats are filled by local party leaders, but the governor must sign off on their choice.

Craven chaired the Randolph County Republican Executive Committee until he stepped down, The Courier-Tribune of Asheboro reported, clearing the way for this appointment.

Craven is a senior vice president at Fidelity Bank and a former board member at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, according to Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger's office.

"I'm confident his energy and experience will serve his constituents and this institution well," Berger said in a statement Friday.

Craven said in the release that he looks "forward to being a strong conservative voice for the good folks of Randolph and Guilford counties in the North Carolina Senate."