Ken Harper is back. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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That name may not be familiar to you, but it will be if he has any say in it. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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Harper, then a High Point resident, was an underdog candidate for US Senate in 2021, an African American Republican trying to replace the retiring Richard Burr in the 2022 race. He had much to overcome, both as a black man standing for a Republican cause and as a man facing overwhelming war chests by those running against him: his opponents, Mark Walker, Ted Budd and Pat McCrory each had more than $1 million dollars backing their races. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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He lost (Ted Budd went on to win the seat). But Harper didn\u2019t give up his love of serving his community while he built up his business, Harpco Benefits Alliance. His business, he says, “is bout financial literacy, educating the public about life insurance, business planning.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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His emphasis, he says, is working with youth and educating them about opportunities and, “Also the importance of being good citizens.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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This past May Harper came back to New Bern for good, leaving his High Point home and setting up shop at 242 Middle Street. “I fell in love with New Bern,\u201d he said. “I moved back here with my wife (Sarah Lyne). I wanted to give back to New Bern because New Bern has been so good to me.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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He got involved in public activism right away, setting up a “Get Storm Ready\u201d event<\/a> at the Flame that featured both state and local leaders from government to law enforcement who spoke to attendees about how the state and county prepare for hurricanes\u2014and how residents can as well.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s only the start of what he wants to do.
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n “New Bern is a great place, but every place can get better,\u201d he says. “My heart is working for the youth, but I really want to help young African American men who may need mentors and show them a great example of the opportunities that can exist for them. That is very dear to my heart. I want to make sure they have futures and not felonies.\u201d
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