Democrat Lynne Russo is running to unseat second-term Republican state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom in North Carolina’s state House District 117.

Russo, a nonprofit communications strategist, is campaigning on a platform of increased funding for public schools, for Tropical Storm Helene recovery and for supporting veterans, according to an Aug. 13 news release.

Russo decided to run for office because she was unhappy with the level of support from the General Assembly for Helene disaster relief, she told the Times-News Aug. 13.

State funding for rebuilding efforts didn’t go far enough, especially for small rural business, her release said.

Helene devastated Western North Carolina last September. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services lists more than 100 storm-related deat

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