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Dear Friends,
After weeks of travel and events, I was able to focus this week on constituent engagement in-district. Our district has many reasons to celebrate, and I want to highlight just a few.
I invite the community to join United Way of Davidson County, Communities in Schools, and Fly High Lexington for the 2026 Big Toy Day tomorrow at Davidson County Executive Airport. I’m excited for families to enjoy a fun-filled day while receiving or donating school supplies to support local students.
I’m honored to celebrate John “Jack” L. Jerome on his 100th birthday and recognize his lifetime of service. As a WWII veteran and longtime community volunteer, he continues to serve others through Davie Medical and the local VFW, and I’m grateful for the example he sets for our community.
Governor Stein has vetoed H377 and H958 - bills intended to update and strengthen the laws of North Carolina. Both bills will now return to the House of Representatives for override votes. I am proud to support bills that will strengthen our laws and ensure election integrity in NC.
I’m pleased to welcome Sharon Fennell as Lexington City Schools’ new Chief Academic Officer. With more than 27 years in public education, I look forward to her leadership in strengthening instruction and supporting students and teachers.
I’m proud to recognize local veteran Thomas “Ski” Kopetzki for his continued service to veterans and our community. Through his work raising awareness of military suicide and PTSD, he has earned the VFW Distinguished Fraternal Award, and I’m grateful for his dedication.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you.
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Senator Steve Jarvis,
NC District 30
Use the QR Code below for Newsletter Sign-Up
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August 24-28, 2026
After another productive week in Raleigh, the members of the NC Senate are returning to their home districts to engage with constituents, plan future policies, and continue serving our communities from our home districts.
While I may not be in my Raleigh office, my staff will still be present and we are all still ready to assist you. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is any way my office can provide you assistance. It remains my priority to serve the people of District 30.
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I invite the community to join United Way of Davidson County, Communities in Schools, and Fly High Lexington at the Davidson County Executive Airport on Saturday, August 22, for the 2026 Big Toy Day.
This community event is an opportunity to receive or donate school supplies to support our local students.
The event will be a family-friendly day of fun activities, emergency vehicles, flights, and more. Come out to enjoy the day while supporting our local students as we begin a new school year.
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Local WWII Veteran Turns 100
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Photo published by Davie Enterprise Record
I invite the community to join me in wishing John "Jack" L. Jerome a happy 100th birthday!
Mr. Jerome is a life-long North Carolina native, WWII veteran, husband, father, and long time member of our community. He has always had a heart for service. Even now in his retirement, he volunteers at Davie Medical twice a week, committing several hours to serving others.
He is also active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post, and serves there as often as possible. He is known for working in the kitchen for any and every event the post holds.
Throughout his life, he and his wife have traveled all around the world - only a few countries because of his military service. Most of them were sight-seeing and volunteering.
Mr. Jerome is a shining example of how to love and how to serve well. Our community is blessed to know him, and I am grateful for his presence in Davie County. Happy Birthday, Jack!
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This week, Governor Stein vetoed 2 bills - House Bill 377 (H377) and House Bill 958 (H958).
H377 makes clarifying and technical changes to court procedures. It would also alter current law to allow the North Carolina Supreme Court to suspend trial judges without pay during an investigation if it is deemed that allowing them to remain in their positions would be harmful to the public or administration of justice.
H958 shortens the early voting period from 17 t0 10 days, extends the timeline allowing voters to change early voting ballots, requires the Auditor to conduct random audits in chosen counties after elections, and would require the DMV to share social security numbers with the SBE for voter registration, voter roll maintenance and set up a process to remove illegal/dead voters from the rolls.
H958 is impactful and important as it will modernize NC voter laws and protect election integrity. A few key aspects:
- Strengthens election integrity — Establishes clearer standards for election administration, voter eligibility, ballot handling, and oversight.
- Hold election officials accountable — Allows incompetent or noncompliant precinct officials to be suspended or removed, including on Election Day.
- Improve election-worker training — Requires stronger, standardized training for county boards, election directors, and precinct officials.
- Keep voter rolls accurate — Strengthens routine list maintenance, including removal of deceased voters and cross-state data checks. All list maintenance MUST be compliant with the Voting Rights Act and National Voter Registration Act.
- Verify voter eligibility — Requires voter-registration applicants to confirm U.S. citizenship, while providing an opportunity to correct an incomplete application.
- Increase independent election audits — Requires the State Auditor to audit every county's election systems at least once every six years and publicly report findings. Findings cannot be used to challenge the official election results.
- Protect ballot integrity — Establishes clearer procedures for challenging absentee and early-voting ballots while giving challenged voters due-process protections.
- Increase transparency at polling places — Expands observer opportunities, including for candidates in nonpartisan municipal, school-board, and special-district elections.
- Use objective population data — Requires local district boundaries to be based on the federal decennial census rather than competing population estimates.
- Protect the integrity of party primaries — Generally requires candidates to have been affiliated with a political party for one year before seeking its primary nomination, while allowing party-approved waivers.
- Reduce unnecessary campaign-finance bureaucracy — Raises reporting thresholds and increases the exemption for small local campaigns from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Build public confidence in elections — Creates a system based on trained officials, accurate voter rolls, bipartisan staffing, documented procedures, independent audits, and public accountability.
Both bills will now be returned to the House for override votes. If the House votes to override the bills, they will be sent to the Senate for a vote. I have voted to pass both these bills, and am proud to support legislation that will secure and strengthen North Carolina elections. By protecting our elections, we maintain the integrity of each individual's votes.
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Lexington City School Board Appoints a Chief Academic Officer
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Photo published by Davidson Local
Ushering in the new school year, the Lexington City School Board has appointed a new Chief Academic Officer - Sharon Fennell.
With more than 27 years of experience in public education, Ms. Fennell has filled the roles of teacher, principal, administrator, and more. Her most recent role was that of principal at East Garner Magnet Middle School.
In her new position, she will lead the district's academic programs, strengthen instruction, and provide leadership so our students and teachers may continue to thrive.
Congratulations on your new position, Ms. Fennell. I look forwards to your leadership in our district.
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A Local Veteran Receives National Recognition
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Photo published by the Davie Enterprise Record
A local veteran has received national attention not just for his military service but the ways he has kept serving his community.
VFW Post 1119 Cooleemee-Mocksville Memorial Post Quartermaster Thomas “Ski” Kopetzki has taken on the mission of raising awareness for suicide in the military and PTSD in veterans. This year, he and his wife, Cheryl, rode across the country to bring awareness to the cause.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Commander-in-Chief Carol Whitmore recently presented him with the VFW Distinguished Fraternal Award at national convention.
Thank you to Mr. Kopetzki for your service, both military and in our community.
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