Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

February 28, 2008 issue

Daniel Soucek Files To Run Against Tarleton For State House

Story by Sam Calhoun

At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, at the Watauga County Board of Elections, Republican Daniel Soucek filed to run against Rep. Cullie M. Tarleton (Dem.) for the seat Tarleton currently holds representing the 93rd congressional district. The 93rd congressional district includes Ashe and Watauga counties.

“I want to run because I love this area and the people of this area,” said Soucek. “I want to represent their needs and values and I think I can do that well.”

Soucek, a nine-year resident of Watauga County, is presently employed at Samaritan’s Purse as the regional desk officer for North Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. Before taking the job as regional desk officer, Soucek was the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child regional director for south and east Asia from 2004 to 2007. He and his wife of 15 years, Kim, have three children—Isaac, 7, Janie Ann, 4, and Lucy, 10 months—and live on Williams Ridge Road in Boone. 

Soucek is a 1991 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a 1992 graduate of the US Army Aviation Center Officer’s Basic Course Certification in the AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 helicopters. From 1998 to 1999, Soucek served as company commander for the International Military Student Office in Fort Rucker, Ala.

Soucek served as the Young Life area director for Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties from 1999 to 2004, and was the Watauga High School cross-country and track coach from 2001 to 2003. Also, Soucek acted as a Watauga County youth soccer coach in 2007 and previously has served as an adult and high school Sunday school teacher at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone.

Soucek explained the needs and values he will work to meet and uphold if he is elected. Soucek said he wants a strong support for the family through supporting education and affordable healthcare. He also wants to strengthen and protect marriage and children.

Soucek also wants to pursue smart economic growth.

“I want a balance between pro-business and pro-family while protecting the area as well,” he said. “But we cannot have policies that burden local business.”

Soucek also wants to address some tax issues in the state, he said. He is in favor of administering tax dollars fairly to the region, and used road repairs as an example.

“And with a budget surplus, we don’t need to grow government but rather give money back to the people who pay taxes,” said Soucek.