May 30—A Republican business owner from Maggie Valley has announced his intention to challenge N.C. House Rep. Mark Pless for the seat representing Haywood and Madison counties.
While it’s rare for a sitting legislator to face opposition in the primary, the move is a reflection of Pless’ strong-arm leadership style rubbing many in his own party the wrong way.
A self-avowed political junkie, Ken Brown has closely followed local and state politics, especially as they impact Maggie Valley where he operates MarxBrown Consulting.
After seeing politicians in Raleigh attempting to overturn the judgment of locally elected leaders, Brown began toying with the idea of running for the state legislature in House District 118, which encompasses Haywood and Madison counties.
Pless’ bill to upend the credentialing process for emergency medical technicians across the state was the last straw.
After talking to a fire chief in the county about the bill — and learning that the bill had blindsided local EMS workers who were spitting mad over it — Brown said he knew it was time to act.
Pless is also a Republican, but Brown said he and the incumbent differ greatly in their approaches to local government.
“I’d been noticing a lot of the legislation Pless put forward seems to be working against the autonomy of local government,” he said. “I don’t even care if I agree with what a town is doing. If local folks want to do XYZ, and it is lawful across the state, it should be up to them.”
He referred to local bills Pless has introduced that he said undermines local authority, among them a bill that passed to end down-zoning in Maggie Valley; one proposed this session to allow certain properties within Maggie’s town limits to de-annex that did not make it out of committee; and one to dissolve the Haywood Tourism Development Authority and eliminate the county’s right to collect an occupancy tax. That third bill, if passed as introduced, would have meant about $3 million in taxes collected annually from tourists would disappear. Again, the bill blindsided local business and tourism leaders. Pless has since done an about-face on the TDA proposal, actually proposing to increase the room tax along with reorganizing the TDA’s board of directors.
“As a conservative, it boiled down to the fact the government that is closest to the people is best. That’s why we elect federal, state, county and municipal leaders,” Brown said. “To take away something, especially without their involvement, is unacceptable.”
The candidate sign-up period for state seats isn’t until December, but Brown’s campaign has already gone public. The primary election is in March 2026, and the winner will go on to face a to-be-determined Democratic candidate in the November general election.
A natural next step
Brown believes his entire career has shaped the type of leader he wants to be in Raleigh, and that’s based on the philosophy of servant leadership. This concept follows a philosophy that prioritizes the needs of others and focuses on empowering them to grow and develop. Brown said servant leaders are motivated to serve and help others — something he’s done throughout his entire career, he added.
At Eastern Kentucky University, he double majored in business management and information systems and got a masters degree in business from Xavier University in Cincinnati. His career started in 1984 as a systems analyst with GE Aerospace — Jet Engines — and transitioned to sales and marketing three years later.
In the enterprise software business, Brown stressed it is vital to “listen a lot more than you talk,” which helps identify problems corporations are having and create a roadmap to solve the problems.
“The problem-solving part and connecting the dots boils down to a listening and collaboration. My background fits nicely with what’s needed as a legislator,” he said.
Brown and his wife, Beth, bought property in the White Oak community in 2000, and moved to the county full-time in 2005. The duo has an office building in Maggie Valley where she has developed a thriving photography business and he runs MarxBrown Consulting.
In 2022, Brown opened a business to focus on helping smaller and start-up companies that couldn’t afford and didn’t have enough work for a full-time chief revenue officer. He accepts no more than five non-competing businesses at a time.
At age 63, Brown said he can adjust his work schedule to fit a campaign and eventual work schedule in Raleigh.
A plan
While those seeking federal, state or local elected positions can’t file for office until Dec. 1, Brown said he has a lot of listening to do to prepare for the job. To lead with humility and empathy, tenets of servant leadership, requires knowing the issues and the stakeholders in House District 118, so he’s getting started early.
Brown has launched a website that discusses his background, philosophy of servant leadership and a calendar that will show the places he will be as he listens to people across the district.
That includes not only local government meetings where he will learn about pressing issues local leaders face, but plenty of regular and special events through the summer and fall where he can connect with people.
For now, Brown conceded he’s “probably best known as Beth Brown’s husband,” something he hopes will change as he kicks off his efforts to claim the N.C. House seat in 2026.
He will be adding a Facebook and a Linked-In page. For those interested in learning more about Brown and his candidacy, visit www.brown4nc118.com, call 828-944-9919 or email him at ken.brown@brown4nc118.com.