Get to Know John Blust: Putting People First in North Carolina Politics
I had the privilege of representing North Carolina House District 62 for nine terms and of serving a term in the North Carolina Senate prior to that. Being elected by the people of Guilford County to represent them in the legislature was a very great honor that I never took lightly.
John Blust with his family.
I am a strong, consistent, principled, constitutional, limited government conservative who has demonstrated that I will stand for what is right even when it puts me at odds with party leadership. As you carefully deliberate your choice for the North Carolina House of Representatives in the new 62nd District, please consider my record of service. I am not new to public service. I first joined the United States Army the day after I turned 18 in 1972. I have always tried to serve this great country.
More on John’s Political and Personal Background
- Background
- Grew up in Guilford County and learned the values of faith, family, freedom, individual responsibility, hard work, and initiative.
- Attended public schools and graduated from Western Guilford High School.
- Hobbies are reading and working out; holds a 2nd-degree black belt in tae kwon do.
- Education
- B.S. in Business Administration/Accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill, 1979. Passed the CPA Examination.
- J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law, 1982.
- Completed Army ROTC at N.C. State University.
- Faith and Family
- Saved by grace at Ambassador Camp at Lake Waccamaw at age 8.
- Attended Westover Church in Greensboro and started there at age 6 in 1960.
- Married to my wife Maria, who has also served very actively in the state and local Republican Party and its affiliated organizations for over a decade.
- We are blessed with one daughter, Barbara, who is 14.
- Professional Work Experience
- Practices law in the areas of taxation, estate planning, commercial and business law, restructurings, and bankruptcy.
- Assisted numerous clients with tax issues, wills, trusts, and estates, planning financial affairs to reduce taxes, protect assets, and work out financial problems or start or expand businesses.
- Understands that the private sector, not the government, creates jobs and opportunities.
- Political Service
- Served as County Chairman of the Republican Party in Guilford County.
- North Carolina Senate, 1996-1998.
- North Carolina House, 2001-2018.
- Consistently sponsored bills/amendments and voted for lower spending, lower taxes, less regulation, gun rights, pro-life, and pro-freedom legislation.
- Served as co-chair of the Judiciary Committee.
- Consistently rated as a top conservative legislator by Civitas and received the endorsement of the NRA every election.
- Military Service
- Class leader of Officer Basic Class in Field Artillery at the United States Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
- Earned airborne wings at the United States Army Airborne School.
- Volunteered for duty in the 2nd Infantry Division along the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of Korea – the toughest duty assignment for new artillery officers.
- Assigned to a nuclear-capable field artillery battalion – trusted with and trained to employ tactical nuclear weapons.
- Served for 18 months in the 82nd Airborne Division – “America’s Guard of Honor.”