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On March 15, long-time ASA member and two-time past-president of the North Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (NCSA), Frank Moretz, M.D., won the Republican primary election in North Carolina’s District 115. Dr. Moretz ran against local teacher Bob Chilmonik to determine who will face incumbent Rep. John Ager (D) in the November general election. North Carolina House of Representatives District 115 covers Asheville.
Dr. Moretz recently retired after practicing as a physician anesthesiologist for more than 30 years. In 2003, he became a part-owner of Highland Brewing and presently serves on the Board of Visitors of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where Dr. Moretz originally completed his undergraduate, medical school, and residency in anesthesiology. He served in the US Air Force and won NCSA’s lifetime achievement award, the Bertram Coffer Award in 2011.
Despite running a strong race, Scott Aumuller, D.O., was unsuccessful in his effort to win the March 15 Republican primary for retiring Senator Fletcher Hartsell’s (R) seat. Long-time Senator Hartsell represents Senate District 36 which is a heavily Republican district. Dr. Aumuller came in second in this four-way Republican primary.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Past President, Sharon Pearce, was also unsuccessful in her attempt to win the candidacy for the Republican nomination to represent District 81 in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Physician anesthesiologists are currently serving in the following state legislatures as elected lawmakers: Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
With state lawmakers determining the fate of a range of measures that can dramatically impact the profession and the patients it serves, now more than ever it is critical for physician anesthesiologists to be involved with the political process. For more information on how to become politically involved in your state, please contact Jason Hansen at [email protected] or Erin Berry Philp at [email protected].
