Name as it appears on the ballot: Allison Dahle
Campaign website: www.allisonforhouse.com
Phone number: 919-884-5714
Email: adahle@allisonforhouse.com
Years lived in the district: 13 years
1. In your view, what are the three most pressing issues facing North Carolina? If elected, what will you do to address these issues?
I call them my three Es: Equality, Economy, Education
EQUALITY
In my world and political view, Equality is the fundamental basis for everything. I will work to make sure all citizens regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion feel that they have a stake in the growth of North Carolina. Equality means respect in the workplace, respect for women, people with disabilities, all people. In fact, Equality should be so ingrained in our government, our workplace, and in
it should not be an issue at all! It should simply be the norm.
ECONOMY
I will work hard to continue prosperity in North Carolina and in our District by creating jobs and encouraging a livable wage with a $15 minimum wage. I worked with people with disabilities in the community for more than 15 years to help place individuals in good working environments with local businesses. I want to expand that work helping all job-seekers and businesses seeking workers to meet their needs. I will work hard to tackle the difficult problems to improve our infrastructure, including
so that it meets the needs of our people and our economy.
EDUCATION
Public money is for our public schools. Our schools and teachers need to be supported
income that matches the national average, and funding that supports every child. I will focus on making sure our public schools, community colleges, trade schools, higher education system and STEM programs are affordable and accessible to our citizens so that we are prepared for the future. I also am very concerned about the exorbitant amount students have to borrow just to get a decent education.
2. If you are challenging an incumbent, what decisions has the incumbent made that you most disagree with? If you are an incumbent, what in your voting record and experience do you believe entitles you to another term?
I believe there is no room in any workplace and especially our governmental institutions for inappropriate sexual behavior. There is no place in the Democratic Party for individuals who engage in sexual harassment. I agree with Governor Cooper, Wayne Goodman the head of the State Democratic Party and House Minority Leader Darren Jackson that Mr. Hall should step down from his office due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment. I plan to be an ambassador on this issue when I am elected and I know I am more suited for the job than Mr. Hall.
3. The state’s economy seems to be humming along nicely. How much of that do you attribute to the tax cuts enacted over the past several years? What policies would you like to see put in place to ensure growth going forward?
To create a growing economy there has to be a focus on the big picture. What has to be considered is what taxes are being cut, and where the money will come from to finance the programs that will be affected by any tax cuts. We must not simply cut taxes in one area, only to make seniors and the middle class pay more for health insurance, Medicaid
Medicare. The middle and working class must not be forced to financially bear the weight of the tax cuts for the rich. I will work for policies that put the economics and finances of the working and middle class at the center of tax reform. We prosper when there is a strong middle class. The current cuts for the very rich do not support the overwhelming majority of the American people. I will refocus our attention on the true engines of prosperity, educating workers to take good jobs, and building our middle class so the majority of our people have what they need including healthcare, education, and housing.
4. On the other hand, much of the wealth has gone to the state’s urban centers, whereas many rural areas are struggling. While this is in many ways a national phenomenon, what can North Carolina do to address the disparities in prosperity within its borders?
North Carolina is a wonderful state with both rural and urban areas. We are proud to be the recipient of many “Best of” categories. I am interested in a task force that goes into rural areas and speaks to the farmers and residents to hear their concerns.
One idea could be to build on my past work with 4-H. When I was younger, I worked with N.C. State after they were awarded a grant to promote Alternative Energy Education in North Carolina. I believe that rural areas are ready for new businesses that require space. Large spaces can become Solar Farms and Wind Farms. We need to look at what businesses work well in rural areas so that the people in those communities can thrive.
I want to make sure rural areas in North Carolina have a seat at the table of economic success. North Carolina is only as strong as its weakest link and we must make sure our rural and less populated areas are supported so that they can be successful.
5. Republicans in the legislature have boasted in recent years of increased school expenditures and
teacher pay, some local officials, particularly in urban areas, have complained that it is not good enough. Do you think North Carolina’s schools are being adequately funded? If not, what taxes would you be willing to raise—or what services would you be willing to cut—to fund them better?
No, talk to any teacher in North Carolina and they will tell you that our public schools are not getting the resources they need to educate the next generation. And North Carolina is not compensating teachers like the professionals that they are. That needs to change. Budgets are about priorities, and in the Legislature, I will show that our teachers, students, and public schools are a priority for me.
6. In a similar vein, there has been a movement in recent years toward “school choice” programs such as vouchers and charter schools. Critics say these programs detract from traditional schools and may even exacerbate segregation. Do you support these programs and believe they need to be expanded?
Again, this heralds back to my main message of Equality. I want all of our public monies to go to public schools. We cannot use the public’s tax money to fund private schools. Public schools are for the Public. We do not need to look at transparency in the charter Schools; we need to look at why are our public schools are not meeting the needs of our children.
7. Do you believe the state of North Carolina should expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care
If so, do you believe that expansion should come with the work requirements the Trump administration is now permitting?
Yes, we need to expand Medicaid. We have people in our state that cannot afford healthcare even with the subsidies. That is unacceptable. For the Legislature to have put partisan politics above the health and welfare of the people of the state is unacceptable, and I will work with all like-minded individuals to expand Medicaid and provide affordable access to high-quality insurance to every North Carolinian. When we have good medical care, we have a stronger
and therefore a stronger economy.
I do not believe that work requirements are needed to provide better healthcare; we need to get our population healthy first. If you are sick or have health concerns that preclude you from working then let us take care of them.
For 15 years, I worked with people with disabilities. They were penalized and threatened with the loss of healthcare and other needed benefits, depending on how much money they earned. Often people were frightened to go to work because jobs that were available did not provide healthcare and when you have a disability or a medical concern, you have to choose between your health and a job. People on Medicaid or asking for help from the state are asking for assistance because they need our help to be successful citizens in our communities. Let’s work together to keep North Carolina a state focused on supporting and working with all people; not just people who can afford healthcare.
8. After the Parkland mass shooting, Florida passed a law raising the age of all gun sales to twenty-one and requiring a three-day waiting period on all gun purchases. There have also been calls to limit magazine sizes or ban assault-style rifles. North Carolina has fairly permissive gun laws. Do you believe the state’s gun laws need to be changed? If so, in what ways?
Yes. I am a proud believer in the Second Amendment. I believe that we can take measures to make our public
while respecting the responsible citizens who want to own guns. I would support banning certain assault-type weapons, eliminating bump stocks and limits on clip size. I believe these are common sense steps we can take to help protect our children and uphold the rights of gun owners at the same time.
9. Currently, twenty-nine states have minimum wages above the federal minimum. North Carolina is not among them. Do you believe North Carolina should raise its minimum wage―or, alternatively, give municipalities the ability to raise minimum wages within their jurisdictions?
Yes, North Carolina should raise the minimum wage throughout the state. I believe that $15 an hour is a fair and equitable wage for the citizens of North Carolina. Whenever we help the working class, we help the vast majority of North Carolinians.
10. The replacement bill for HB 2 that passed last year prohibits local governments from passing living-wage or nondiscrimination ordinances until 2020. It seems likely that this legislature will set limits on how much freedom local governments will have. Did you support the HB 2 replacement? Why or why not? And what restrictions, if any, do you believe the legislature should place on local governments when that moratorium expires?
I do not support the replacement bill. I believe it should be repealed. Period. My opponent voted for the replacement bill.
I do not see the need to restrict local governments from seeking a higher wage, such as in Charlotte where living costs are higher than other parts
North Carolina. The nondiscrimination clause is astonishing. Why restrict local authorities from assuring equality?
This bill has nothing to do with what is on the surface. It has everything to do with passing a living wage. The Republicans did not want the wage per hour to go up so they decided to play dirty and get us to pay attention to the discrimination portion of this bill and not the wage per hour portion. I am infuriated that our government would use a portion of North Carolina’s population to further their divisive agenda. We need to do everything in our power to reverse the damage that has been done.
11. Over the last year, the state has frequently found itself in court over its legislative and congressional districts, which courts have ruled racial and, in the latter case, partisan gerrymanders. Do you believe the state’s legislative and congressional districts have been drawn fairly? Do you believe the process itself is fair? If not, how would you suggest changing it?
Unfortunately, the legislative and congressional districts have been drawn specifically with Republican political considerations in a partisan way that allows Republicans to increase their voting bloc. This was viewed by a panel of federal judges in January and struck down because it unfairly proved to be partisan gerrymandering.
I agree with the opinion of Judge James A. Wynn Jr. who said the Legislature of North Carolina tried to divide the state in a way that would benefit Republicans because they were “motivated by invidious partisan intent.” Gerrymandering puts party over state and country and prevents a fair and equitable representation of citizens.
I would suggest changing it by continuing to call out and expose Republicans who dare to rob North Carolinians of their representation. I would also work to ensure Gerrymandering is stopped before it is allowed to become a normal occurrence
any party.
We need to appoint a non-partisan committee of regular citizens, not politicians, to look at the real numbers devoid of any voting statistics. Politicians have become a society of sore losers, instead of looking at what the people of North Carolina are asking for, the politicians are more worried about winning and using their influence to make themselves and others richer. This needs to stop. Greed is not a reason to be in politics. The reason to be in politics is to serve the people of your district and your state.
12. While other states have relaxed their prohibitions on marijuana and raised revenues by taxing either recreational or medicinal cannabis, North Carolina has not. What sort of reforms, if any, would you support with regard to marijuana policy?
Cannabis has been proven in many medical trials to remove symptoms of Parkinson and Crohn’s disease. It is also used in the treatment of glaucoma. Why would we choose to limit good treatments for people with serious illness in our state? We are leaving money on the table if we do not at least look at the tax advantages of allowing medical cannabis to be used in the state of North Carolina.
I would support the relaxing of prohibitions on cannabis and would work diligently to educate North Carolinians
the pros of doing so. We need to be aware that although the Drug Enforcement Administration lists cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug without medicinal value, cannabis does have medicinal properties and
at the very least need to decriminalize possession of under an ounce of cannabis.
13. Give an example of a time, during your political career, when you have changed your position as a result of a discussion with someone who held an opposing view.
I felt strongly about strict gun
and
do. However, I met a person who is an avid sporting clays shooter. We talked about what that meant and how he had grown up hunting and providing for his family by hunting. He does not hunt anymore but he does shoot sporting clays and five
for fun. I was still scared of guns but realized that this person could teach me how to safely discharge a gun and enjoy myself at the same time.
One weekend he invited me to go shoot sporting clays. Prior to my shooting the shotgun, I had never held a gun or even shot a gun. He went through all the safety aspects, always keep your gun pointed
, never load your gun until you are “in the box” and are ready to shoot. Always keep
unloaded when not shooting or walking the course. Always unload and check
before you leave the shooting box. After an hour or so, he instructed me how to load the shotgun and then I tried to hit the first clay target. The good news is that I hit my first target and from then on, I have been safely shooting sporting clays and five
.
I will continue to be a safe shooter and will continue to fight for common sense gun laws and keeping our public safe.
14. What would you do to address the partisan rancor in the General Assembly? In what ways do you believe you can effectively work across party lines?
I am not running for selfish, partisan reasons. I am running to represent the people of my district and to serve North Carolina in a way that will continue to illuminate the greatness of our state. That willingness to find compromise has been sorely lacking, especially from Republican leadership in the legislature, in recent years.
I am prepared to have a committed work ethic and will listen to all viewpoints, especially opposing ones, before making a decision. Even when parties or individuals disagree, it is imperative that they work to understand the other person’s point of view to gain a better understanding of the state and the issue. Only through a genuine willingness to find consensus can we truly move North Carolina forward.
15. Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some points with voters.
I stand firmly on my desire to fight for Equality and Justice. I do so because I believe a democracy is strengthened when it includes and appreciates a diverse population of experiences, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and ages.
My overt and unabashed support for these causes (especially my non-negotiable support) for the LGBTQ community may cost me some points with voters. However, I am willing to inform voters of the benefits of reaching outside of their status quo and comfort zone in order to make sure no one in our democracy is left out.