Francis Robertson Iler JR

Frank Iler is the incumbent Republican candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 17, on the November 3, 2026 general ballot. The North Carolina House requires members to meet the constitutional qualifications for state legislators – being at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the district for a minimum period before the election – and to file the appropriate paperwork with the State Board of Elections ⁴.

Born Francis Robertson Iler Jr. on January 10, 1942, he earned a B.A. in business from Campbell University and spent much of his career as a businessman and accountant before retiring ¹⁹. He lives in Oak Island (formerly listed in Calabash) in Brunswick County, North Carolina, and is active in his local Baptist church and community organizations such as the Boy Scouts and the Brunswick County Republican Party ¹⁰¹¹.

Iler entered the General Assembly in 2009 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Bonner Stiller’s resignation. Since then he has been re‑elected every two years, most recently advancing from the March 3, 2026 Republican primary and filing for the 2026 general election to again represent District 17, which covers Brunswick County and parts of the coastal region ¹⁹¹⁵.

During his tenure Iler has served on a wide range of committees, often in leadership roles. He has been Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Chair of the Appropriations‑Transportation Committee, Chair of the Environment Committee, and Chair of the House Transportation Committee in recent sessions. He has also sat on the Commerce, Education‑K‑12, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Marine Resources and Aquaculture, and Wildlife Resources committees, among others ¹¹².

Iler’s legislative record emphasizes low taxes, public safety, and conservative social policies. According to his campaign website, he helped cut personal and corporate income tax rates, supported the enactment of voter‑ID requirements, and voted to override the governor’s veto on bills restricting transgender participation in girls’ sports and on the Parents’ Bill of Rights. He also backed the Illegal Alien Enforcement Act and championed the PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability Act in 2025, securing funding for clean‑water and coastal‑protection projects in his district ¹¹.

Outside the legislature, Iler has held leadership positions within the Republican Party, serving as former chair of the 7th Congressional District Republican Party and the Brunswick County Republican Party, and he has been a member of the Brunswick Community College Board of Trustees. He is an Eagle Scout and a deacon at Southport Baptist Church, reflecting long‑standing community involvement ¹⁰.

If elected to another term, Iler will continue to represent District 17 in the North Carolina House, where he will be expected to legislate on matters ranging from budgeting and transportation to education and environmental protection, all while adhering to the constitutional qualifications and procedural rules governing state legislators.

Sources