Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Bernard Allen II officially announced his candidacy for the 33rd House District.  This seat is vacant following the vote to replace the late Senator Vernon Malone with Dan Blue.  Allen was a candidate for that seat, finishing second in what was at one time a field of nine candidates.

“A few weeks ago with the passing of a great leader we started a journey to bring affordable health care, a living wage and quality education to every citizen of North Carolina.  I am excited about the next step of this journey.”  Allen said.

Allen ran a strong grassroots campaign for Sen. Malone’s seat that included phone calls, emails, mailings and door knocking; and promised to do the same for the House Seat.  “The solutions to our problems lie with the people, and that is why I have and will continue to speak directly with the people.  How can anyone represent the people if they aren’t willing to sit in a voter’s living room and talk about the issues facing our state and this district?”

Bernard Allen II was born in Vance County and has been a resident of Southeast Raleigh for almost 40 years.  He is a graduate of Enloe High School and St Augustine’s College, and is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.  He also attended the Divinity School at Shaw University.  He has been married to his wife Amy for 20 years; his son Bernard III is finishing his junior year at Southeast Raleigh High School.

Allen currently works as a Member Action Coordinator for the State Employees Association of North Carolina.  He previously worked in the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for 6 years and in the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for 6 years.  He is a member of the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association and the Wake County Voter Coalition.  He currently serves as the Raleigh Vice Chair of the Wake County Democratic Party and the President of the Math and Science Education Network Parent Group at Southeast Raleigh High School.  He is a past President of the Bugg Elementary and Carnage Middle School’s Parent Teacher Associations.