Brunstetter reportedly retiring from NC General Assembly

Peter Brunstetter

NC Sen. Pete Brunstetter, a Republican lawmaker from Forsyth County who co-chairs the powerful Appropriations/Base Budget Committee, is retiring from the General Assembly, according to the office of the NC Senate President Pro Tem. A news release indicated Brunstetter will not finish out his full term and will leave the Senate on Dec. 15.

A staffer in Brunstetter's office referred questions about the reported retirement to Amy Auth, the communications director for Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.

The news release from Berger's office included the following statement from the Senate leader:

"Pete Brunstetter is an outstanding public servant whose leadership and budgetary expertise were instrumental in closing the $2.5 billion deficit Republicans inherited and ensuring North Carolina's long-term fiscal health. As a champion of small business, Pete had a tremendous impact on reforming our state's onerous regulatory environment and medical malpractice laws. He is a close friend and trusted adviser, and I know I speak for many colleagues — and his constituents — in thanking him for his many years of service. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

Question answered: The Winston-Salem Journal reports that Brunstetter is taking a job as executive vice president and general counsel of Novant Health.