Larry Dean Arp JR

Larry Dean Arp, Jr. is the incumbent Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 69, a seat he has held since 2013 and for which he is on the ballot again in the 2026 election cycle ¹¹¹⁵. The 69th district covers parts of north‑western Union County. In the most recent 2024 general election he won 63.2% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Leigh Coulter, and he previously secured re‑election in 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016 and 2014, often with margins above 60% ^{11101112131415}.

Arp earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and a Master of Science in civil/structural engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, becoming a licensed professional and structural engineer ¹¹¹⁵. He founded and serves as president of Arp Engineering, Incorporated, based in Monroe, North Carolina, after earlier engineering roles with Duke Energy, ODEL, RTWA Engineers, and Yates/Starnes Engineering Professional Association ¹¹¹⁵.

Before his legislative career, Arp served on the Union County Public School Board from 2000 to 2011, and he has been active in community service, including volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, the H.E.L.P. Crisis Pregnancy Center, and Operation Reach Out ¹⁵. In February 2025 he rescued an elderly woman from a burning mobile home along U.S. Route 1, an act that was later recognized by members of the U.S. House of Representatives ¹¹.

Within the General Assembly, Arp has held several leadership positions. He is the senior chair of the Appropriations Committee and chairs the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, while also serving on Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs, Judiciary I, and Oversight committees ¹¹. He previously served as Majority Whip and Freshman Whip, and has chaired subcommittees on capital appropriations and other policy areas. His legislative focus includes infrastructure, energy policy, and fiscal responsibility, reflecting his professional background in engineering and budgeting.

Arp’s professional accolades include the 2013 Legislator of the Year Award from the Professional Engineers of North Carolina and academic honors such as the George W. Walker White Award from The Citadel ¹⁵. He continues to reside in Monroe with his wife Anne and their two children, and remains a member of the advisory board for the William States Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte ¹⁵.

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