Name as it Appears on the Ballot: Rosa U. Gill
Party: Democratic
Date of Birth: 06/05/1943
Campaign Web Site: rosagill4nchouse.com
Occupation & Employer: Legislator/ NC General Assembly
Years lived in North Carolina: Lifetime resident
1. What do you see as the most important issues facing North Carolina? If elected, what are your top three priorities in addressing those issues?
Creating jobs and a strong economy
Investing in Education
Improving access to affordable quality health care services and health insurance
2. Are there specific needs in your district that you would add to that list? How do you propose to address them?
Protecting victims and the vulnerable population as well as safe neighborhoods
Providing fairness in the criminal justice system
Both would require providing law enforcement agencies and the court system with funds for additional resources
Re-drawing of the legislative districts based on 2010 census to ensure minority representation in the General Assembly
Helping the working families by working with state and county agencies to ensure families who need help because of the economic downturn are able to access it.
3. What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective on the issues you’ve identified? Please be as specific as possible in relating past accomplishments to current goals.
My major focus will be a quality education for all children, job creation and economic development. These issues are critically linked to affordable healthcare, increased pay and benefits, improved urban infrastructure and environmental concerns. I will use my knowledge and experiences to work with members of the General Assembly to create economic strategies that will benefit all citizens of North Carolina.
There is no replacement for experience. I have been elected three times to the Wake County Board of Education. I understand how to work with citizens, colleagues and staff in strategically planning and implementing proposals and processes. I have a proven record of dedicated leadership and service through my involvement in many civic, social, professional and political organizations.
As a member of the Wake County Board of Education, I dealt with the redrawing of district lines based on the 2000 census. With the 2010 census, I know how importance it is to maintain majority Democratic districts as well as minority districts. I have the knowledge and experience to effectively accomplish what is in the best interest of the citizens of our district as well as the entire state.
4. How do you define yourself politically, and how does your political philosophy show itself in your past achievements and present campaign platform?
My life work to improve the quality of life for all people begin with my involvement in the Civic Rights Movement, helping elect progressive Democrats, leading the Democratic party, ensuring that every vote was counted, impacting the lives of students, improving working conditions and pay for employees as well as developing and implementing policies that ensure fairness and equity for all.
There is no replacement for the experience that I have gained from serving on the Wake County Board of Education combined with my involvement in the community. Being a member of the North Carolina House of Representative has allowed me to not only continue my focus on education but has assisted me in establishing priorities for job creation and economic development, which is directly linked to education, affordable healthcare, increased pay and benefits, transportation and a clean, safe environment. I will continue using these experiences and the knowledge I have gained to build a strong relationship with members of the North Carolina General Assembly and to serve the citizens of North Carolina.
5. The Independent’s mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle. Please point to a specific position in your platform that would, if achieved, help further that goal.
I believe that all children should have equal access to a quality education. Investing in our children through education is the best fiscal policy. Resources spent now in the classroom are a sound investment in our future and save our community money in the long run. This investment should begin with early childcare education and continue through PK-12, community colleges and the university system.
All people should be treated fair and equal. No one should be discriminated against for any reason.
We should provide fairness in the criminal justice system; compensate those who have been wronged by the state.
We must provide protection for victims and the vulnerable populations; protect our children and seniors by strengthening child labor laws for our youth and enforce adult abuse laws
We must work with state and county agencies to ensure those families who need help because of the economic downturn are able to access it.
6. Identify and explain one principled stand you would be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some popularity points with voters.
Increase funding for educational programs and services even if it requires a tax increase. Investing in our children through education is the best fiscal policy.
Smaller Class sizes improve test scores, promote learning and result in students prepared for the future.
Resources spent now in the classroom are a sound investment in our future and save our community money in the long run.
Investing in education is an investment in a stronger economy.
7. The current state budget was balanced with approximately equal amounts of spending cuts (primarily to human services and local school districts) and tax increases. Another very tough budget battle looms ahead next year. Will you support: (a) deeper spending cuts? (b) greater tax increases? (c) another mix of the two? Please tell us what you’d cut and which taxes should be raised, if any.
I would be in support of some cuts and maybe some increase in revenue. I would not support additional cuts in education except for out of state tuition for athletics.I am not in favor of increasing taxes but if necessary to save program that impact education, I will support extending the sale tax for another year, taxing video game poker revenues and, after impact studies, some services.
8. North Carolina is sending record numbers of people to prison, and when they’re released, they’re often lost and get in trouble again. The Governor’s StreetSafe initiative is aimed at breaking this vicious cycle and reducing the recidivism rate. As a legislator, what would you propose that she and the General Assembly do to help?
I believe that the Governor and the General Assembly should instruct the judicial system to establish guideline, come up with a plan, by which persons who are guilty of non-violent crimes can be given a chance to work to support his/her family and pay the state restitution while serving time for the crime committed. If they could continue with that employment after serving the time, then maybe we can break the cycle.
9. Health care: What should the state do next to address the problem of adults and children without adequate health care or insurance? What do you propose to do to address the mental health crisis?
With the passage of the Healthcare Reform Bill, the state is in a better position to address the problem of adults and children without adequate health care or insurance. It is important that the state support and respond quickly to the mandates to assist the federal Government with addressing the problems. As legislators, we muct be diligently to address
The mental ill is one of the population that we need to ensure that there is adequate availability of space to accommodate them, to decrease their wait time for services and to improve their quality of life overall. We must continue to work with local agents and care providers to address their needs. This year’s budget appropriated $12 million for additional local inpatient beds for the mentally ill to treat people closer to their homes and relieve state hospitals. Last session we funded more than 100 local inpatient beds across the state and we are already seeing the positive effects of reduced admission rates at our state hospitals. Access to local crisis services and local inpatient beds will help us build our local provider networks and provide additional services and facilities
10. What is your position on capital punishment in North Carolina? If in favor, will you support a moratorium on executions while the question of whether the death penalty can be administered fairly is studied by the General Assembly?
I have mixed feeling about capital punishments but I will support a moratorium on executions until there is a decision as to whether it can be administered fairly.
11. What is your position regarding LGBT rights? Please address whether gay marriages or civil unions should be made legal in North Carolina; also, whether sexual orientation and identity should be added as a protected class under state anti-discrimination laws, including state personnel laws.
I support marriage between a man and a woman and I do accept the concept of domestic partnerships
I would support legislation that includes sexual orientation and identity as a protected class under the state anti-discrimination laws and personnel laws.
12. Do you support women’s reproductive rights, including the “right to choose” as set out by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade? Given that North Carolina has the ninth highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation, do you support medically accurate sex education that includes information about birth control?
Yes to both questions
13. Should public employees have the right to bargain collectively in North Carolina?
I am in favor of collective bargain by public employee.
14. The latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 11.2 percent of North Carolina’s workforce is unemployed. Please state specifically what the state should and can do to create new jobs, describe the kinds of jobs the state should support and what your role will be in creating them.
The Governor and the General Assembly should consider and support:
Providing tax credits for new jobs created
Extending small business health care tax credit to reduce the cost of health insurance
Providing economic incentive program for small business development
Improving funding for small business development centers at community college
Investing in all levels of education is an investment in a stronger economy
As a legislator, I will support and/or sponsor legislation that will create clean green jobs.
