State Rep. Paul Tine’s decision not to seek re-election next year is more than understandable: he wants to spend more time with his family.

His decision opens the door for others to step forward in their efforts to represent the 6^th District in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Washington resident Ashley Woolard had done so.

The 6^th District includes part of Beaufort County and all of Dare, Hyde and Washington counties. As appealing as it would be to have the next representative from the 6^th District be from Beaufort County, it’s important that the next representative for the 6^th District be the voice for and advocate for the entire district and eastern North Carolina. In that vein, the next representative from the 6^th District must be able to work with other legislators from eastern North Carolina when it comes to looking out for the best interests of the region.

When Gov. Pat McCrory took office in 2013, that signaled a change in the North Carolina General Assembly. That change gave the urban areas of Charlotte, Raleigh and the Piedmont area more power and influence in the General Assembly. That power and influence began eroding as Republicans gained control of the legislature and after Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Dare County, retired after years of service as the president pro tempore of the state Senate. Basnight knew how to take care of eastern North Carolina.

Residents of eastern North Carolina and Beaufort County need someone who will represent their interests and work tirelessly to bring to them the resources, benefits and representation they deserve. They deserve someone — be it a Democrat, Republican or unaffiliated representative — who puts them first, not that person’s political party or personal political agenda. That representative must represent all of the district’s residents, not just a select few.

The 6^th District needs a loud voice in Raleigh, but it also needs someone who knows how to turn words into action.