Originally Published in the Kinston Free Press.
The Senate Republican Caucus recently voted unanimously to select Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) as one of its elected Whips. Sen. Perry will serve with Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Richmond). They replace retiring members Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph) and Rick Gunn (R-Alamance) as whips.
What does the Whip do?
The title is borrowed from a historic fox hunting position of “whipper-in” who maintained order during the the hunt. The Whip position was created in congress in 1913. Traditionally, it has been responsible for communication on various topics among the caucus members, tracking vote counts on pending issues, ensuring attendance of members for votes and quorum calls, and helping acclimate new members.
This will be Perry’s first full term in the NC Senate, even though he has almost 2 years of experience. He was initially appointed in January of 2019 to fulfill the unexpired term of Senator Louis Pate who resigned due to health issues.
“Senator Perry is a natural, experienced leader. He’s very smart, very trustworthy, and will outwork everyone in the building," said Rep. John Bell, House Majority Leader, "That is a pretty good combination of traits, and it’s also why he is moving up in the General Assembly so quickly. It is easy to understand why he had such a successful career in private industry. He is a great partner to have in the district, and this is fantastic for the people of Eastern NC.”
Sen. Perry said, "It is an honor to be chosen as a Whip by my colleagues. I am thankful for the trust they have placed in me. My sleeves are rolled up, and I am ready to work hard in my new role.”
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, "Sen. Perry is a quick learner, and hit the ground running when he came to Raleigh. He's an apt communicator who finds a way to relate to everyone he meets. I'm excited for him and know he'll do a great job.”