Brian Farkas

Farkas was raised in Pitt County, and attended J.H. Rose High School. Following graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a minor in Economics. [1] He then worked for three years within the administrative division of the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina from 2008-2011.

From 2011-2013, Farkas attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Master of Public Administration. From 2012-2013, Farkas specialized in emergency management at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, located in the Research Triangle Park.

In January 2014, Farkas joined Greenville-based JKF Architecture as Director of Development and Client Relations. While working in the private sector, Farkas continued to volunteer with a number of local and state boards and commissions. From 2014-2017, Farkas served on the City of Greenville, North Carolina Public Transportation and Parking Commission, the last two years as Vice Chair. He is the only two-term President in the history of the Greenville Museum of Art, serving from July 2016 through June 2017 and again from July 2019 – June 2020. In 2019, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Farkas to serve on the Disciplinary Hearing Commission of the North Carolina State Bar as a public member.[2]

In September 2015 Farkas announced his candidacy for 9th District in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[3] In the March 2016 Primary Election, he defeated Pitt County School Board member Walter Gaskins with over 60% of the vote.[4] In the 2020 General Election, Farkas faced Republican incumbent Greg Murphy, who had been appointed to serve following the resignation of Brian Brown. Murphy defeated Farkas to retain the seat for a full term. [5]

In November 2019, Farkas announced his candidacy to serve Pitt County’s 9th District in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[6] House district 9 represents a portion of Pitt County, including Greenville, Grimesland, Pactolus, and Simpson.[7] In the March 2020 Primary Election, he defeated Jacob Hochard with over 62% of the vote.[8] In the 2020 General Election on November 3rd, Farkas faced Republican incumbent Perrin Jones, who had been appointed to serve following the resignation of Greg Murphy.[9] Farkas defeated Jones to become the new representative for North Carolina House District 9.[10] As a result, the seat flipped back to Democratic control for the first time since Representative Marian McLawhorn in 2012.[11]