Former Rep. Hardister appointed to Western Carolina University board

Former N.C. Rep. Jon Hardister has been appointed to the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees, according to a release from the university.

Hardister took part in a virtual swearing-in ceremony on Monday following his appointment by the N.C. General Assembly.

In a statement included in the released, Hardister said he was honored by the appointment to board of the university in Cullowhee.

"I'm excited about being a part of all of the great work that's going on," Hardister said via the release. "When I served in the House of Representatives, I chaired the Universities Committee and I got to know a lot of the people there. It's a great school and I have a lot of respect for the staff and faculty. They're doing great things and I'm looking forward to being a part of that."

Hardister, a Guilford County Republican who served nearly six terms in the N.C. House of Representatives, resigned his seat in April. A month prior to his resignation, Hardister lost in the primary for labor commissioner.

The appointment to the Western Carolina board is the second new gig Hardister has taken on since leaving the legislature. In April, he was named president of the Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition, which represents developers.

Hardister, 41, has also said he open to possibly seeking elected office again.

"I'm not going to slam the door shut on running for office again somewhere down the road," he said in April. "I don't know when I would run or if I would run or what office I would run for but I think sometimes if public service (is) in your DNA, it's kind of in your DNA."