Name as it appears on the ballot: Sonya Holmes

Date of birth: 08/16/1963

Campaign website: www.Sonyaholmesforcongress.com

Occupation & employer: Farmer. Self-Employed

Email: sonyaholmesforcongress@hotmail.com

1. What do you see as the most important issues facing North Carolina and the nation? If elected, what are your top three priorities in addressing those issues?

The most important issues facing us today are Jobs, Economy and Individual Rights. My top priorities in addressing these issues are:

Explain to the constituents everything (good and bad) that is contained in each bill up for consideration.

To pass the Fair Tax Bill that was introduced to congress January 5, 2011, which will prevent hidden cost imposed on the people, and create jobs by putting the money back into the economy.

Sponsor legislation to guarantee the return of state sovereignty to each state so that the people can control legislation and regulations for themselves.

2. What issue or issues made you want to run for this office?

I decided to run for office because of the federal regulations that have killed and/or severely injured our biggest source of jobs which are the small businesses. I am also appalled at the intrusion on our individual freedoms that our current government has allowed. As an ordinary citizen I’m constantly reminded of the wise words that President Ronald Reagan spoke at his first inaugural address, “You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but only for a limited period of time. Why, then, should we think that collectively, as a nation, we’re not bound by the same limitation?” The more our leaders increase our national debt, the darker the future they are building for our children.

3. What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective in the U.S. House? This might include career or community service; be specific about its relevance to this office.

I have spent my life in the private sector of the economy. I raised a beautiful family with the help and partnership of my husband, Paul. After years working in the production sector, I returned to my life’s passion, farming. I have worked hard to provide my family with everything we needed. I have been a productive member of my community. As a result of Washington red tape, I was forced to close my farm in 2011. Since then, I have actively been working on taking on the special interests in the government. I understand the plight of the average citizen of the second district.

4. As you’ve campaigned in NC-2, what are you hearing from voters? What’s foremost on their minds?

The people of the second district are most concerned about jobs. In places like Lee and Harnett Counties, the unemployment rate is well above the national average. They want someone who is going to go to Washington, do what they say they are going to do. They want someone who is going to come back and tell them what is going on and they made the decisions they did.

6. If these issues haven’t been addressed above, would you please comment on:

a. What do you see as the primary sources of our current economic problems? What measures should Congress use to address them?

Uncontrollable spending by both parties on programs we do not need, and cannot afford. The United States government has not passed a budget in more than 3 years. How can you control spending, if you can’t even commit for a year, in writing? Congress needs to pass a budget and pay their bills. They cannot keep coming to the tax payer to bail them out. Congress also needs to pass the FairTax, which will get money moving again in the market. It will also have the double benefit of not targeting or benefitting any individual over another.

b. Evaluate the war in Afghanistan and the situation in Iran. What is our goal in each place, in your view?

Before we get caught up in another “long hard slog (D. Rumsfeld 2003), we should consider all means of diplomacy at our disposal. In Afghanistan we are dealing with a corrupt but elected government. The first elected government in generations, and a growing resistance, who had previously governed the country until our invasion in 2001. Our goal here should be to allow Afghanistan to determine for itself what kind of nation it wants to be. Does it want to be a productive and meaningful member of the world? Or, does it want to follow in the steps of other failed nations?

In Iran, we find an extremist regime determined and by all reports, close to getting their hands on a nuclear weapon, while for decades threatening to wipe an entire nation of people “off the map.”

I believe there are numerous ways we can work with our allies to protect the innocent and defeat our enemies while keeping our troops out of harm’s way. We won the Cold War without firing a shot, it’s time to use that kind national creativity that brought victory to our side.

c. Would you support repeal of the Affordable Care Act? What reforms would you make to the health care system?

Working to repeal the “Affordable Care Act,” should be the number one priority of every member elected to office until it is finally repealed. This bill threatens the very foundation of the United States Constitution.

7. What is your position on capital punishment?

As with any punishment, I require it fit the crime, be Constitutional, and decided by the states, not the federal government.

8. What is your position on Amendment One?

It is a state issue and should be decided by the state. I am running for federal office and believe that as such, I should treat these questions as I would if elected, and how the Constitution determines such matters should be dealt. If it’s not a federal issue, I defer to the states.

9. 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? Do you support the recently passed state requirements on ultrasounds and waiting periods for women seeking an abortion? Do you support attempts to eliminate funds for Planned Parenthood?

It is a state issue and should be decided by the state. I am running for federal office and believe that as such, I should treat these questions as I would if elected, and how the Constitution determines such matters should be dealt. If it’s not a federal issue, I defer to the states and the people thereof.

10. What changes, if any, do you support in federal entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans programs, etc.)

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid should require verification of citizenship to receive benefits. They should be redesigned and overhauled for a new century. We are in an age where we want all the new gadgets and toys, yet we are satisfied with a program structure designed during a different time, with very different national demographics. We can and will do better than that.

Veteran programs should be adequately funded and executed to guarantee the military service people (who have risked everything for our country and freedom) have all of the resources they need.

11. Do you approve of efforts by the Bush and Obama administrations to bailout major banks? How about the Obama administration’s bailout of U.S. automakers?

When Both administrations stepped in and used the power of the federal government to determine the winners of the biggest hit to the American economy since the Great Depression, they turned their back on both the Constitution and the free market. The marketplace is freedom at its best. It is the consumer telling businesses what they would like, and them responding. In the end everyone is happy. When the government stepped in and made losers into winners, they in effect over ruled the public. We have to remember, there is a reason these companies were failing.

12. Both parties have been criticized for overreaching during the redistricting process. Would you support an independent commission drawing the lines in the future?

I do believe both parties did try to make districts more favorable to them instead of the people to be represented. This is an issue that should be dealt with by rewriting the laws to make sure that the area covered is as condensed as possible with no regard to any other consideration except for continuous area and population numbers.