Paul Lynwood Scott is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives who has represented the 111th district (covering parts of Cleveland and Rutherford counties) since 2025. He was first elected to the seat in 2024. A pastor from Ellenboro, North Carolina, he previously served on the Rutherford County Board of Education from 2022 to 2024.
Scott was born and raised in a small rural town in Hillsborough County, Florida, where he spent his youth involved in family, church, and school activities. He was ordained by his home church, the First Baptist Church of Riverview, Florida. Scott earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Scott has served as the Senior Pastor of Big Springs Baptist Church for over fifteen years.
Prior to his political career, Scott worked as a client technologies architect at the Duke University Health System.
Scott is a volunteer firefighter with the Polkville Volunteer Fire Department, a role he has held for more than a decade. He also serves as a chaplain and hostage/crisis negotiator with the Rutherford County SheriffâÂÂs Office, holding advanced negotiation certification and participating in the Crisis Negotiation Team.
In 2022, Scott ran for a seat on the Rutherford County Board of Education representing the East Rutherford district. He ran unopposed in the primary and defeated Unaffiliated candidate Parker Tate in the general election.
In 2024, Scott ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives to represent the newly open 111th district, following the retirement of longtime incumbent Tim Moore. He won the four-way Republican primary and went on to defeat his Democratic opponent in the November general election.
Scott assumed office on January 1, 2025. In the legislature, ScottâÂÂs stated priorities include support for constitutional rights, strengthening education, confronting drug addiction in communities, and prioritizing law-abiding citizens.
Scott is married to Kelly (née Conkling), whom he met while serving his first pastorate in Morrisville, North Carolina. They have four children: triplet sons and a daughter.
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