In an effort to highlight the voices shaping policy in North Carolina, we sat down with state Rep. Brenden Jones to discuss his background and to get his insights on current priorities at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue public service.

I’m a third-generation car dealer. I came from the used car side of the industry but certainly have had friends on the new car side all my life. Public service is something my family has done their whole life, not necessarily in politics, but in other areas. There came a point when I felt the good Lord push me into public service. The auto industry was underrepresented for many years, and I was trying to recruit somebody to run for this seat. Everyone said I should run for the seat myself. So here I am.

I’m different than most members who serve in either chamber and party. I’m what you’d call a micro-business guy. I’m one of very few people who have to sign both sides of the check, and that certainly makes how you view the world very different. I think I bring a very unique perspective to legislating because I am one of the few people who’s in the daily grind trying to make a living.

As the newly elected House Majority Leader, what are your top legislative priorities for this year’s legislative session?

There are a lot of legislative priorities, but as the House Majority Leader, my role is to be the number two to the Speaker, making sure his will of the caucus is carried through. I run the House, making sure everybody’s where they’re supposed to be. There are 70 distinct personalities that I have to deal with every day. Everybody has an agenda. Everybody has a vote. My job is to make sure that we can reach a consensus to do the will of the people as well as the will of the caucus. There are days I feel like I’m trying to keep frogs in a wheelbarrow, but we always manage to get things done. 

How do you balance the demands of public service with your personal life?

I’m in Raleigh from Monday through Thursday. I have great employees at the businesses I own who help out while I’m at Capitol Hill. Occasionally, I have to be the guy that’s in front of the customer, so there are weeks I have to travel back and forth. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep things moving forward at work and on the House floor. 

I couldn’t do any of this without the support of my family. I’ve been married for 31 years to my amazing wife, Angela. We have two daughters, aged 18 and 20. They are used to me being gone a lot — traveling to auctions or out of state to handle dealership business has been a way of life. I’m gone a little more now than then, but my wife keeps the home fires burning and makes sure that my daughters have everything they need. 

You have been the lead sponsor of motor vehicle franchise law legislation for several years now. What do you see as the most crucial aspects of the franchise law?

Direct sales have been at the forefront for the last four or five years, and it’s crucial that we continue to push back. I believe in the franchise system — the dealer having his territory, selling to and servicing people locally. It is better and safer for the customer as well — they have a local face and voice that they can go to if they have an issue. As long as I’m serving, I will combat the direct sales model in North Carolina.

Looking ahead, what is your vision for our state over the next five to 10 years?

We have had a Republican supermajority since 2011. With that, we took the state from having a $2 billion deficit to having $2 billion in surplus money, while lowering taxes and getting rid of a lot of bureaucratic red tape. I think we will stay the course. 

We also have our own type of DOGE that is making sure agencies are running efficiently and that they’re spending the taxpayer’s dollar wisely. I run several oversight committees where I have called out agencies on what I felt was misappropriation. There will be accountability as long as we’re in the majority. It’s a priority.