LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Name as it appears on the ballot: Allen Thomas
Age: 33
Party affiliation: Democrat
Campaign website: AllenThomasJr.com
Occupation & employer: Hoke County Commissioner
Years lived in North Carolina: 33
If elected, what will be your top three priorities for the next four years?
Ending poverty is the cornerstone issue of our campaign. We believe that government has the ability to address the many social and racial inequities that oppress economic mobility. Specific policies that I will push include:
• Education. I will focus on equitable funding and resources as we seek to close the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap in our schools. The disparities between schools in low-income communities and high-income communities are unacceptable. A child does not choose where they live or the economic status of their parents. We have an obligation to ensure that all children receive a good, sound education.
• Income inequality is also an issue in our state. I believe every worker should receive a living wage. We must raise the minimum wage to a living wage. Black and brown people are disproportionately harmed by our lack of a living wage statute in this state. As we focus on affordable housing, we must also realize that the reason that the homes are unaffordable is partly the absence of a living wage in that specific community. I support both raising the minimum wage and increasing investments in affordable housing to meet the needs of low-income residents. I also support expanding Medicaid to help hundreds of thousands of individuals in our state.
• Criminal Justice Reform is also a very import piece to promoting social and racial equity. I support eliminating racial bias in sentencing, decriminalizing marijuana for personal use, and creating a prison system that focuses on rehabilitation and not punishment. We must ensure that individuals re-enter society better people. We must also work to get them work and housing so that they do not re-offend. Helping individuals find jobs right out of prison alone would lower the employment rate disparity between whites and minority groups.
Do you believe North Carolina should expand Medicaid? What do you believe the advantages would be? Are you concerned that costs would be greater than expected, as New York has experienced recently?
I absolutely believe in expanding Medicaid. The advantages are clear; lives will be saved. As stewards of tax-payer money, the risk of expansion costs being greater than expected is something that we should prepare for. It should not be a reason to ignore the needs of our most vulnerable residents. People have died because of our inaction. The cost of doing nothing significantly outweighs the hypothetical cost of expanding Medicaid.
Citing a growing economy and budget surpluses, Republicans have called for additional tax cuts. Democrats, including Governor Cooper, have argued that the state has other needs, particularly education. Do you believe the tax cuts over the last decade have been effective in stimulating the economy? If given the choice, are there any tax cuts you would rescind or any new taxes you would enact? If so, toward what would you put the additional revenue?
I believe tax cuts can stimulate the economy, however, there is a point where the cuts to the corporate tax rate is so drastic, that it harms the wellbeing of our state due to our inability to fulfill our constitutional duties. I believe we have passed that point. We have schools across the state that are underfunded, teachers make less than the national average, and rising housing costs are making housing more and more unaffordable every day. I believe in standing with Governor Cooper to stop the latest attempt to cut the corporate tax rate. With the nearly one billion dollar surplus, instead of giving it back to North Carolinians, I would use most of that to begin addressing the Leandro court ruling. Our schools have been underfunded for decades. We must be aggressive in correcting this issue. Lastly, I would support bringing back the tax-free weekend and the Earned Income Tax Incentive.
In January, a superior court judge ruled that the state was not living up to its constitutional obligation to give students a “sound, basic education.” The judge relied on a consultant’s report, which some Republicans have criticized, that called for additional per-pupil spending. Do you believe the state needs to spend more on K–12 education? Broadly speaking, how much more do you think the state should spend?
I am proud to be endorsed by Kathy Leandro. The Leandro lawsuit showed the inequities that our children face in educational spending. I agree that per-pupil spending needs to increase, but we cannot forget that the Judge’s ruling was based on the Leandro court case. This lawsuit makes it clear that our current system allows wealthy counties to fund schools three to four times more per pupil than low-wealth schools. This system is unconstitutional in my point of view. We must fully fund our schools and ensure that children are not disadvantaged by living in a low-wealth county due. Our per-pupil spending should be at least the national average. And if we allow counties to also allocate funds per-pupil, the state must fully fund low wealth counties to ensure that the funding level per pupil is equal.
Do you believe that tax dollars should go to private schools? If so, under what circumstances? Do you support the expansion of charter schools? Why or why not?
In 2014, I was represented by Attorney Burton Craige when we filed a lawsuit against the state to stop the voucher program. This case was ultimately decided in the Republican controlled, NC Supreme Court. I have always opposed this program because we simply cannot afford to take money away from public schools. Private schools can also legally discriminate when it comes to admission. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund discrimination.
Secondly, I do not support a further expansion of charter schools. I believe a cap should be restored. Charter schools are ran like publicly funded private schools. We need more accountability and transparency when it comes to charter schools. It is also unfair to local governments to be forced to give money to charter schools even if that school is in another county. We must update this system.
Gerrymandering has been the subject of debate and lawsuits in North Carolina for the last decade. Do you believe the state should establish an independent process for drawing legislative and congressional districts? If so, what would it look like?
I agree that an independent redistricting commission is necessary. We have wasted millions of dollars in lawsuits and we have eroded the public’s trust in their ability to choose their elected officials. Unlike the last map draw, I believe the independent commission should have access to partisan data and election data. The people on this commission should work to make these maps as even and competitive as possible. You cannot do that if you are prohibited from seeing the data which proves that the maps are unbiased towards any one political party.
That National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has been approved by 16 jurisdictions controlling 196 electoral votes for president; it will become effective should states with 74 additional popular votes approve it. North Carolina has 15. Do you believe North Carolina should join this effort, or do you believe the current system should remain in place?
I have heard wide disagreement on this issue around the state. I personally support joining the NPVC. However, I would work with legislators and voters to hear their views on this issue before making a final decision. Donald Trump being elected after losing the popular vote (by millions of votes) definitely played a major role in developing my opinion on this issue. It also leads to voter apathy and the idea that “my vote doesn’t count”.
Do you think that transgender individuals should have their treatments for gender dysphoria covered under the state’s health care plan?
Yes. Medically recognized treatments should be covered by the state health plan. We must stop playing politics with people’s healthcare.
Given the conservative makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court, several states have recently pursued aggressive abortion restrictions, even laws that directly challenge Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. If elected, would you support efforts to restrict access to abortion in North Carolina? For that matter, would you support efforts to expand access to abortion?
Last year, a Federal Judge overturned a long standing law which restricted access to abortions to 20-weeks (in most cases) in NC. As Lt. Governor, I will be firm and decisive when dealing with any attempt to take away reproductive rights from women. Issues like this one, makes the Presidential and US Senate race even more important this election cycle.
Later this year, provisions of HB 142, the replacement for HB 2, will expire, including sections that prohibit local governments from passing higher minimum wages and passing antidiscrimination ordinances. Do you think municipalities such as Charlotte and Raleigh should be permitted to raise the minimum wage or pass an antidiscrimination ordinance that includes protections for transgender people in public accommodations?
Yes, I believe that local governments should have the ability to increase minimum wage to a living wage, especially in large counties where the cost of living is higher. Local governments should also be able to pass ordinances (and include in development contracts) that provide protections for our LBGTQ communities.
In 2018, voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring voter identification, and the General Assembly soon passed a law putting it into effect. That law has since been put on hold, at least for the primary, pending a lawsuit. Do you believe in-person voter fraud is a serious threat, and the law is a reasonable way to address it? Do you believe the voter ID law should be repealed? Why or why not?
I do not believe that in-person voter fraud is a serious threat. I accept the will of the people, however we should repeal the law that implements the constitutional amendment. I believe that all voter should have their picture taken when they go to vote. A database much like the DPS offender database an be maintained so that if an individual loses their license, their picture can easily be pulled up. I bank with State Employees Credit Union. If I lose my wallet which contains my debit card and license, they will pull up my account and use my electronic picture to verify who I am. This can also work when it comes to voter ID.
North Carolina’s coast has seen several major storms in recent years, and scientists say this trend is likely to continue as the effects of the climate crisis become more pronounced. What steps do you believe North Carolina should take to mitigate the damage these storms can cause?
I live in the southeastern part of the state and I have seen the devastation that these two 500 year storms have had on our communities. We need to invest in flood mitigation. I-95 and I-40 were both shut down for days due to flooding. We have the expertise in this state to prevent this level of flooding if the same amount of precipitation fell in the future. We must act now. We can also increase the use of smart technology to alert residents of dangers. Using geofencing, we can provide fast warnings and updates to residents in specific areas. We can also do our part as a state to combat climate change. As a Commissioner, I’m proud that our county built the 1st zero-net energy K-12 public school in NC (there are a total of 2 now). The school uses solar panels to produce more energy than it consumes. I worked to negotiate a contract with Duke Energy to sell the excess energy. We use the proceeds to invest in a STEM program, ipads for each student, and state of the art security systems. I support increased tax credits that will drastically increase the number of zero-net energy public buildings in NC. We must invest in renewable energy.
Do you believe that elected North Carolina sheriffs should be required to cooperate with immigration authorities, even if they believe that doing so makes their communities less safe?
No. The federal government has made this cooperation optional. It would be wrong for the state to turn around and mandate an optional agreement.
What restrictions would you support, if any, on the rights of North Carolina residents to obtain and carry firearms? Do you believe that assault weapons should be banned? Do you believe that the state should pass “red-flag” laws?
I believe in universal background checks. In all situations where a firearm is sold or transferred, a background check should be required. I believe in increased mental health reporting when it comes to firearm specific background checks. I support red-flag laws which allows a judge to temporarily remove weapons from some ones home if they have evidence that leads them to believe that these measures are necessary to protect others. Long guns including assault rifles should not be included in our open carry law. Currently, everywhere you can legally carry a handgun, you can also legally carry an assault rifle. Lastly, we should raise the age to purchase a long gun to 21.
North Carolina has not executed anyone since 2006, and challenges to the constitutionality of the state’s death penalty continue. Would you support the repeal of the death penalty in North Carolina? If not, do you believe the legislature should change the law to restart executions?
I have always believed that the death penalty was unconstitutional. I do not support restarting executions.
Regardless of what you think of his policies, do you believe that Donald Trump is a good role model and an honorable person?
Hell no. He was impeached because he abused his power by forcing a small country to help him beat one of his opponents. This is 3 years after Russia helped him defeat Hilary Clinton. In an effort to keep this short, I will just say, he is not a role model for me or any of my loved ones.
Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address?
Poverty. In the wealthiest country in the world, the wealth gap is continuing to increase while leaders like Donald Trump attack the poor. We must use our platforms to help build bridges to the middle class. I support eviction prevention programs, affordable housing, financial literacy, limited credit score usage in employment and utility decisions, and bringing back the Earned Income Tax Credit just to name a few. We can also significantly increase grants for first generation college students. We must stop defining ourselves as great by how well the wealthiest Americans are doing, instead, we must define ourselves by how well we treat the poor.
