1. What do you think are the three biggest issues facing our state? If you are an incumbent, what have you done to address those issues, and what more would you do if given another term? If you are a challenger, what would you do differently to address those issues than the incumbent has done?
Fully funding education, to include raising teacher pay to, at least, the national average.
Making healthcare affordable and accessible to North Carolinians
Properly invest in infrastructure
2. It seems hardly a day goes by without news of another ma lagoons, pose a risk to the environment? If so, do you believe the state has done enough to minimize that risk?
Yes, I believe that any threat to people’s water and overall health should be taken seriously and treated as such. The General Assembly has done far to little to protect our waterways and water supplies.
3. In recent years, Duke Energy’s coal ash spilled into the Dan River and Chemours’s GenX leaked into the Cape Fear River. Do you think these companies have been held sufficiently accountable? Do you believe the state has put in place sufficient regulations to prevent these problems from occurring again? If not, what more do you propose doing?
No, I do not believe these companies have been held sufficiently accountable, nor do I believe that appropriate measures have been taken by the General Assembly or laws passed to prevent these problems from reoccurring. I believe that corporations should be held accountable to pay for and clean up their environmental disasters without passing the costs of said cleanups to taxpayers.
4. In the wake of Hurricane Florence, at least six hog-farm lagoons were damaged and more than fifty saw discharges or were inundated with floodwaters as of this writing, according to the DEQ. More than five thousand hogs have died, and right now it’s unclear what the ultimate long-term environmental impacts will be. Since Hurricane Floyd, environmentalists have warned that, in a severe flooding event, the farms’ “anachronistic” waste-disposal techniques could pose a threat to the state’s waterways and public health, while the industry has insisted that its farms utilize best practices and are already heavily regulated. Do you believe these farms, and their lagoons, pose a risk to the environment? If so, do you believe the state has done enough to minimize that risk?
Yes, I believe that any threat to people’s water and overall health should be taken seriously and treated as such. The General Assembly has done far to little to protect our waterways and water supplies.
5. This year, Smithfield Foods—the world’s largest pork producer—has lost three verdicts in North Carolina totaling millions of dollars, after juries found that its farms’ methods of waste disposal infringed on the property rights of their neighbors. But in the last two years, the General Assembly has taken steps to make it more difficult for these neighbors to sue or to recover substantial damages, citing the threats these lawsuits pose to the well-being of family farmers. Do you believe the legislature’s actions with regard to these nuisance lawsuits are prudent? Why or why not?
Some members of the General Assembly claim they are protecting family farmers when, in reality, they are protecting corporate donors. Moreover, they are doing this at the expense of property owners. Measures can be taken to protect family farmers while simultaneously protecting landowners’ property rights.
6. It has been estimated that special sessions of the North Carolina legislature cost about $50,000 per day. Since 2016, the General Assembly has called seven of them to deal with everything from passing HB 2—the so-called bathroom bill—to passing restrictions on the governor’s powers after Roy Cooper defeated Pat McCrory to, most recently, clean up controversial constitutional amendment language so that it complied with a court order. Under what circumstances do you think it’s appropriate to hold a special session?
Special sessions should be used when extenuating circumstances and emergencies arise in our State, such as having to address natural disasters. Using them to curtail powers and processes of other branches of government are unacceptable and an unethical way to govern.
7. What are your thoughts on the six proposed constitutional amendments before voters this November? Please explain which you support and which you don’t support and why. What do you think about the process behind these amendments—what critics have described as a limited public debate, for example, as well as the elimination of amendment numbers and ballot summaries, and the lack of so-called implementing legislation, which could be passed in another special session after the November vote?
There was a lack of transparency, public input and debate regarding the proposed amendments. Moreover, the language used on the ballot is misleading. The passage of said amendments would have a detrimental effect on our processes of law, environmental protections, equal rights, judicial independence, and separation of powers.
8. In May, thousands of teachers from all over the state marched on the legislature to demand better pay, more resources for students, and more respect. 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, our public schools are not being properly funded. Budgets are about priorities and the General Assembly has not prioritized fully funding our public schools. I believe that we need to stop funneling money into for-profit schools so that we can return our tax dollars to our public schools
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?
Yes
10. Under current law, toward the end of 2020, municipalities will gain the authority to pass nondiscrimination and living wage ordinances—unless the General Assembly intervenes. Since the winner of your race will be in office at that time, do you believe local governments in North Carolina should be allowed to make these decisions for themselves?
Living wage ordinances should always be up to the people and their representatives. Discriminating against anyone for any reason is unjust, immoral and has no place in municipal, state, or federal government.
11. Over the last couple of years in Wake County, county commissioners and school board members have battled over local school funding. Recently, some commissioners have made moves to petition the legislature to allow for a pilot program in which the Board of Commissioners turns over school-taxing authority to the Board of Education, as is the arrangement in most states. In general, do you believe the state’s elected school boards should have the responsibility to raise taxes for the schools they oversee? Why or why not?
I believe that counties should be afforded the right to make their own decisions to do so so long as the proposed power can be checked by voters by referendums. (i.e:. bonds, property taxes, etc.
12. Since Governor Cooper’s election, the legislature has taken a number of steps to assume powers that were previously the executive’s domain, including overhauling the State Board of Elections. Do you believe these decisions were merely power grabs, as Democrats have alleged, or that they were made in the interests of public policy?
Yes, they were power grabs made for the sole purpose of minimizing Governor Cooper’s ability to govern. Our framers’ keystone achievement in creating our Republic was to set up our constitution (Federal and States) to have checks and balances on every branch in our government. We should have elected officials that give such respect to the balance of power, instead of constantly putting their ideology above your constituents needs and views.
13. Over the last year, the state has frequently found itself in court over its legislative and congressional districts, which courts have ruled to be unconstitutional racial and partisan gerrymanders. Given this, do you believe the state legislature of that last several years has acted as a legitimate body? If not, what do you propose as a solution? If yes, please tell us why.
The overtly partisan process we have seen from this Legislature in the drawing of unconstitutional and gerrymandered maps is unacceptable. The people of North Carolina deserve better. We need to establish an independent redistricting commission within North Carolina to establish a fair process and draw districts that do not pack voters or manipulate votes to one side or the other.
14. 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 don't have a political career. I am a mom, a wife, an attorney, a child advocate, a volunteer in my community, and a business owner. I am not a politician. However, I decided to run for office because I felt too many voices weren’t being heard. In my legal career I have been a voice for the voiceless and that is what I will do if elected to the NC House. I will examine the issue that comes before me through the lens of my constituents, not through a partisan lens. I will thoughtfully consider all sides of a policy that the Legislature is considering. Then I will do what I believe is best for all the people I represent, regardless of whether it was my original opinion or not.
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.
Increasing access to affordable healthcare and protecting those with pre-existing conditions. While some may argue that access to healthcare is a privilege and not a right, and those individuals will attempt to scare voters on this issue, I won’t stop fighting until every North Carolinian has access to the healthcare they need. I will stand up to insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and special interests that continue to make healthcare more and more expensive and less accessible.
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