Republican Rep. Brian Echevarría is one of two Latino lawmakers serving in the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2025 session.
This breakthrough underscores an important shift in the political composition of the state and reflects the growing impact of the Latino community in the local political arena.
In an interview with Enlace Latino NC , Echeverría shared his story and his vision to be an active voice in the General Assembly.
Brian Echevarria , multicultural family
Brian Echevarría was born in Miami, Florida, to a family of immigrants. His paternal grandparents came from Cuba: his grandmother from Havana and his grandfather from Cienfuegos. In addition, his mother is of Bahamian descent.
The representative grew up in Hialeah, a city where the 95.4% of the population is LatinoHis grandfather, in his 90s, still lives in Hialeah and remains a central figure in his life.
“My election shows that when you have the right ideas and you are able to tell people how you are going to represent them, I think it is inevitable that you will see more Hispanic people, more of everyone, getting involved.”
Brian Echeverria
Growing up in a multicultural home, he developed a deep appreciation for diversity and contributions to the American fabric of immigrant families.
“My family's history is biracial, bilingual, and multicultural, which has allowed me to truly value everyone,” Echevarría shared. “I know that it doesn't matter what color you are, what matters is who you are.”
From businessman to representative
His foray into politics was not immediate. Before becoming a representative, he was the owner of a business in Miami, as well as a financial advisor.
Echevarría shared that his motivation to run for public office came from his desire to create a better world for her children.
“I created this beautiful little world for them to live in. And then one day you wake up and you realize they’re not going to live in that world,” he explained. “So I started looking at the world and thinking, ‘I'm going to contend for the world that my three children are going to live in.’”
The turning point came when he reflected on how government decisions impact the lives of each individual.
“Government policy impacts everyone—not just what's on your table, but conversations at the table, who sits at the table,” Echevarría said. “If you have the skills and the interest, it becomes your responsibility to step up and make a difference.”
The new wave of political representation
Echevarría notes that the political landscape is changing, focusing less on ethnic or racial identity and more on shared philosophies and values.
As Representative, Brian Echevarría is committed to fostering opportunities for documented immigrants, emphasizing that many of them come to the U.S. for the opportunity to build a better life for their families.
Echevarría believes that the rise of Latino representation in politics is not just a question of numbers, but of influence. He points to how communities that were historically divided by race are now united by common political goals and objectives.
“In the 60s, the divisions were clearly racial or ethnic,” he said. “Today, what we see, especially among young people, is that everything is divided by philosophies.”
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Brian Echeverria, Main topics for the legislative session
At the heart of Echevarría's legislative agenda, one of the most important issues is the reduction of property taxes.Which he argues are “crushing people” and threatening to force longtime residents out of their homes.
“We can't have a great economy and then tax the people who built that great economy and force them out of their homes,” Echevarría said.
Beyond property taxes, Echevarría also stressed the importance of defending individual freedoms and rights.
At the heart of Echevarría's legislative agenda, one of the most important issues is the reduction of property taxes.
“We must ensure that individual liberties are protected. Without that, everything else falls apart. My family, like many others, came to America to escape oppression, and we cannot allow that to happen here,” Echevarría said.
Believes that a healthy economy and free market are essential to creating jobs and opportunities for all residents.
"If we have a free market and individual freedom, we are a working people, which will create jobs," he said.
"You know, one of the saddest things we have is that our government is the largest employer in many cases. I don't think that's the vision, nor is it the most prosperous way for us to move forward."
Bills, 2025
Among the bills introduced during the first few weeks in the state General Assembly is the SB 50 that would allow carrying a weapon concealed without permission. Although he did not speak directly about a specific bill, Echevarría expressed his strong commitment to the Second Amendment.
“I am deeply committed to the Second Amendment, but not just so that a person can defend himself from his neighbor. It is because places that don’t have it, whether it be China, Cuba, Venezuela, have gone through terrible situations,” said Echevarría.
If this legislation passes, North Carolina could become the 30th state to adopt constitutional carry.
The main issue that Echevarría considers most urgent, however, is property taxes, particularly how they affect seniors and disabled veterans. House Bill 50 seeks to expand one of three state property tax relief programs for seniors.
“We have seniors who are being taxed out. We have XNUMX% permanent and totally disabled veterans who are experiencing big taxes on a fixed income, and we have to protect people's property rights,” he said. “So that’s really important to me.”
Guidelines by Echevarria
Rep. Brian Echevarría said he would like to propose two key changes in the 2025 legislative session to improve transparency and fairness in government.
First, he suggests that local and county governments post all itemized payment invoices on their websites on a quarterly basis, eliminating the need for FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests.
According to the representative, this measure would promote a free market system, allowing citizens to identify potential overpricing and encourage fair competition. As an example, he mentions that if a hammer is advertised for sale at $70, another seller could offer it for $40.
The main issue Echevarría considers most urgent, however, is property taxes, particularly how they affect seniors and disabled veterans.
The second proposal focuses on depoliticizing government buildings. Echevarría argues that they should represent all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation.
“When you walk in there, no matter your political position, you should be able to walk in and not feel like you shouldn't be there because the building is politicized,” Echevarría said.
Immigration
When it comes to immigration, Echevarría believes immigration laws should remain a federal, not state, responsibility.
“But I do believe the state should cooperate with federal laws,” Echevarría explained. “And by that, obviously, I mean 'we.' I wasn't here, but they said, hey, the sheriffs should cooperate with ICE. Okay, the sheriff should cooperate with ICE. The shameful thing is that we had to tell them that; that's the shame of all this. And I think most of the people I know, the Hispanics I know, agree with that.”
As a representative, Brian Echevarría is committed to promoting opportunities for documented immigrants. , emphasizing that many of them come to the U.S. for the opportunity to build a better life for their families.
“Immigrants bring a work ethic and determination that has built this country,” he said, pointing to cities like Miami, which he explained thrive thanks to the contributions of immigrant communities.
How will Echevarría push through his proposals without a supermajority?
Representative Echevarría believes that, despite the loss of the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly, it is still possible to move forward with your proposals by using “common sense” and finding solutions that benefit all North Carolinians.
“I think the solution is to have a great idea that impacts everyone,” said Echevarría, referring to initiatives such as constitutional bearing, which, although related to the Second Amendment, do not always generate the same level of interest among all citizens.
However, he points out that issues such as quality education, protection of the home and individual freedom are universal concerns that affect all people, regardless of their interpretation.
Even though the governor can veto certain bills, Echevarría believes his proposals can generate enough public pressure to convince lawmakers and the governor to support them.
Message to his constituents, neighbors
Representative Echevarría emphasizes that, regardless of ethnic origin or ideology, everyone seeks the same thing: the best for their families.
“The central message is that in America, opportunity must be equal for all,” he explained, emphasizing that policies must focus on the family.
For Echevarría, the idea of keeping families together is deeply American and also very Hispanic.
“Our culture has always valued family ties. We gather for any occasion, whether it's a birthday, the Super Bowl, Thanksgiving, or just because it's Sunday,” he added.
People should not be seen as numbers, but as individuals with families who deserve to prosper, he explained, adding that economic prosperity is key to families being able to stay together.
“If our economy doesn't thrive, our children will become economic refugees,” he warned, referring to the possibility that families will be forced to leave North Carolina in search of better job opportunities or to start businesses elsewhere.
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