Robert Otho Hanig is an American politician who is a member of the North Carolina Senate,representing District 1. He was appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to serve the remainder of Senator Bob Steinburg's term representing District 1 following Sen. Steinburg's resignation to seek the Republican nomination in Senate District 2. Hanig was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives after defeating incumbent Beverly Boswell in the primary election for House District 6 [2] Hanig is an Army veteran and owns The Pool Guy Aquatic Services.[3]
After completing his service in the U.S. Army,Bobby Hanig relocated to North Carolina’s Outer Banks,where he began working in the rental property sector. His hands-on experience in maintaining vacation properties laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. In the years that followed,Hanig launched his own swimming pool service company and later expanded into property management,building businesses that supported the local tourism economy and served the needs of Outer Banks homeowners.
Community-minded and driven by service,Hanig's early career reflects a commitment to hard work and economic development along North Carolina’s coast..[4]
Platform
On his campaign Facebook account,Hanig expressed his dislike for the Affordable Care Act.[5] Hanig also states that he is pro-life and a supporter of HB2.[6] He was endorsed by the NRA and posted about it on his campaign Facebook page.[7]
Hanig has also prioritized infrastructure development,including expanding broadband access and improving transportation networks in rural areas. Recognizing the unique challenges of coastal communities,he has worked on initiatives related to hurricane preparedness and disaster resilience. His legislative record includes efforts to strengthen public safety by supporting law enforcement resources and community-focused policies. Throughout his career,Hanig has positioned himself as a pragmatic leader focused on policies that promote economic stability,education opportunities,and long-term infrastructure investment.
Currituck County Commissioner
In 2016,Hanig was encouraged to run for office,specifically for Currituck County Commissioner.
Currituck County Board of Commissioners 2nd district general election,2016[8]
Hanig was elected to the Currituck Board of Commissioners after running unopposed in the Republican primary in March 2016.[9] He was elected as chairman in December 2016.[10] As commissioner,Hanig expressed his dislike for solar farms in Currituck County,by saying "[l]arge solar projects haven't been a good deal for Currituck County residents".[11]
Hanig won the election.
He voted in 2017 to ban all future solar facility development.[12] During his tenure as county commissioner,Currituck County paid $50,000 to a company owned by Rep. Bob Steinburg to promote a basketball tournament in Western NC.[13][14][15]
Steinburg said he cleared the potential arrangement with state ethics officials before approaching Currituck .[17] Currituck Travel and Tourism Director Tameron Kugler maintained the sponsorship offers the county valuable nationwide exposure.[18]
Currituck County Manager Dan Scanlon said Steinburg's request went through Currituck's tourism board,and Currituck vetted his proposal as it would any other. That included review by County Attorney Ike McRee,based on an “action history”Currituck provided with the contract.[19]
After moving to the North Carolina House of Representatives,the Currituck Republican party selected educator Selina Jarvis as their nominee to replace Bobby Hanig on the county Board of Commissioners.[20]
2018
Hanig defeated Rep. Beverly Boswell in a Republican Primary.
North Carolina House of Representatives 6th district Republican primary election,2018[21]
Hanig sponsored six bills in his first term. The bills included one that gave the College of the Albemarle the liberty to use state funds for building projects along with Dare County for educational facilities. Another bill was for the isolated schools in Currituck county and improving the transportation efficiency budget for the schools in Currituck County. Another bill passed by Hanig dealt with local regulation of navigable water and the restoration of the Federal Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. Also,a bill to make bottlenose dolphin North Carolina's marine mammal was passed the House through him and it was directed to the Senate Rules Committee.
2020
Bobby Hanig announces reelection campaign
Hanig beat Rob Rollason in March 2020.[24] During the campaign,Hanig and Rollason talked about local issues like wind and solar energy projects. Hanig claimed to be a free-market person.
North Carolina House of Representatives 6th district Republican primary election,2020[25]
Hanig was a big supporter of the Dare County Board of Commissioners declaring the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary.[26]
In January 2020,the Currituck County commissioners adopted a resolution declaring the county a Second Amendment Refuge,adding Currituck to a growing list of North Carolina counties seeking to support a citizen's right to bear arms. Hanig spoke in support of the resolution. Hanig urged the board,he formerly chaired,to support the resolution,saying he would oppose any “assault”on the Second Amendment in the General Assembly.[27]
North Carolina House of Representatives 6th district general election,2020[28]
Following redistricting in the North Carolina General Assembly after the 2020 United States Census,Hanig's 6th district was dismantled. Most of Hanig's constituents were drawn into the 79th district represented by two term Republican representative Keith Kidwell,but Hanig's home in Powells Point was drawn into the 1st district,represented by another two term Republican Representative,Ed Goodwin.[29] Instead of facing Goodwin or Kidwell in a GOP primary,Hanig instead announced he would run for the North Carolina Senate in District 3 in 2022.[30][31] Following Bob Steinburg's resignation on July 31,2022,Hanig was appointed to finish the balance of his term in the state senate.[32]
North Carolina Senate 3rd district general election,2022[33]
Hanig announced his reelection bid for State Senate.[34]
2024
Hanig hunting in the district
Jockey’s Ridge Protection Legislation (2024)
In April 2024,North Carolina State Senator Bobby Hanig introduced a measure aimed at restoring environmental protections for Jockey’s Ridge State Park,home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast. The proposal directs the Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) to reinstate its longstanding rule protecting Jockey’s Ridge until a permanent rule can be adopted.
The measure responds to a dispute between the CRC and the state Rules Review Commission (RRC),which previously rejected 30 coastal management rules,including those safeguarding Jockey’s Ridge. Hanig emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent potential development impacts on the park.
The legislation also includes provisions requiring a public hearing before granting easements for dredged material disposal on state property,clarifies regulations related to stormwater management,and specifies that artificial turf over pervious surfaces is not considered built-upon area under state and local stormwater programs. The Senate Agriculture,Energy,and Environment Committee adopted the amendment on April 30,2024.
Senate Bill 58 (North Carolina,2025)
Senate Bill 58 is a legislative proposal introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly in February 2025. The bill seeks to limit the state attorney general’s ability to challenge presidential executive orders. It was debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee,drawing discussion from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The bill follows previous legislative efforts by the Republican-majority General Assembly to restrict the authority of Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson. In December 2024,the Legislature passed Senate Bill 382,which prohibits the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to those of the General Assembly in litigation.
Supporters of Senate Bill 58 argue that it reinforces the separation of powers and ensures the attorney general aligns with state legislative priorities,while opponents contend that it undermines the attorney general’s ability to act independently in legal matters.
2025
Support for Coastal Shrimpers
North Carolina State Senator Bobby Hanig has publicly supported the coastal shrimping industry in response to legislative efforts to ban shrimp trawling in inshore waters. The proposed ban,introduced in the North Carolina Senate,aimed to restrict commercial shrimp trawling in estuarine and inland waters due to environmental and conservation concerns.
Senator Hanig expressed concern over the economic impact such a ban would have on commercial fishermen and coastal communities that rely on shrimping as a primary source of income. He emphasized the need to consider both environmental stewardship and the livelihoods of those working in the commercial fishing industry.
Although the Senate approved the bill,it was not taken up by the House,effectively halting the measure. Hanig’s involvement highlighted the broader debate in North Carolina over balancing natural resource conservation with the protection of traditional industries along the coast.
North Carolina Retirement Savings Bill
In April 2025,Senators Gale Adcock (D) and Bobby Hanig (R) introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at making retirement savings more accessible to private-sector workers in North Carolina Spectrum Local News+3Beaumont Enterprise+3Axios+3North Carolina General Assembly+3Spectrum Local News+3Spectrum Local News+3. Known as the North Carolina Work and Save Program (Senate Bill 110/House Bill 79),the initiative would:
Establish a state-sponsored auto-enrollment retirement account plan for employees whose employers do not offer 401(k) or similar plans.
Require employers without existing retirement plans to facilitate employee participation in the state system.
Provide a low-cost,portable savings vehicle designed to help workers accumulate retirement assets over time News Observer+1BillTrack50+1.
The bill is modeled after similar "work and save" programs in other states. Its goal is to reduce retirement savings gaps among North Carolinians in the private sector.
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