SALISBURY — Former High Point Mayor Jay Wagner is running for U.S. Congress in the 6th Congressional District. After there was redistricting done to North Carolina last year, Rowan County now falls within that district.

Born and raised in High Point, Wagner has practiced law for the last 25 years and was a High Point City Council member for five years before becoming mayor in 2017 and stepping down in 2023.

Wagner initially ran for mayor of High Point because he felt that its leadership had “grown stale” and that he could be the deciding factor in ensuring it would flourish.

“I saw a city that I felt wasn’t reaching its potential. I really ran out of a sense of duty to make my city better,” Wagner said.

In October, Wagner announced he was running for U.S. Congress when he saw an opportunity to build upon what he accomplished in High Point and take other communities in North Carolina in the same direction.

“I feel like I’ve had success in High Point and I feel a duty to help these towns. I really feel it in my heart. I lived through the ’90s and saw the jobs that we had in traditional industries like furniture, textiles and hosiery. Through this district, we lost those jobs and we didn’t just lose the jobs, we really lost a lot of our identity. We lost a part of our culture. So, my heart is really with these towns,” Wagner said.

Wagner brags about being the only 6th Congressional District candidate who actually lives where he’s hoping to represent. That familiarity is what he’ll be demonstrating in Washington if he wins.

“When I go to Washington, I can go there and listen. Not all towns are like High Point, so I want to go to the cities and towns of the district, to the farms and listen to people and figure out how I can help improve our towns. That’s really what drives me,” Wagner said.

As mayor, Wagner ran on a platform for revitalization, which he calls his “passion in life.” He oversaw the construction of Truist Point Stadium and during his six-year tenure, High Point’s total property tax value increased from $9 billion to $13.5 billion. Wagner mentions his history of working in local government as his biggest strength as a candidate.

When outlining his policy on national issues, Wagner is eager to go up against the drug epidemic that is plaguing not just North Carolina, but the entire country. He also believes in a “strong national defense” and supports more efficient police departments.

“A strong America makes for a peaceful world,” Wagner said.

Wagner says he pledges to spend as much time in the district as possible and to meet with both small and large communities to find out what their main problems are. After speaking with them, he will discover what their federal legislative agenda is or assist in producing one from scratch.

“I know what it’s like to develop a plan, create that plan, have your staff work so hard to create a plan, and then go to Washington and seek funding for that,” Wagner said.

On Jan. 9, Wagner met with Mayor Karen Alexander at the city hall building to discuss his campaign. Both of them know each other through their joint involvement in the North Carolina League of Municipalities and the North Carolina Metro Mayors Coalition.

Alexander said in recent years, local mayors have encountered a multitude of obstacles to overcome that include COVID, natural disasters, economic and social turmoil. Alexander admires Wagner’s “experience by fire” and is confident his electable traits can translate to the federal level.

“I think that integrity for me is very important. When you are a public servant for the right reason, which is to serve your constituents, to me, that is something that stands out,” Alexander said.

Wagner chose not to run again as mayor of High Point after he was convinced he did all he could in that position. Now he describes being a congressman as his “next great life challenge and I feel like I’ve acquired the skills necessary to be successful at it.”