Name as it appears on the ballot: Joe John 

Age: 85 

Party affiliation: Democrat 

Campaign website: https://www.joejohnnchouse.com 

Occupation & employer: Legislator, State of North Carolina House of Representatives, HD 40 

Years lived in North Carolina: 69 

1. What in your background qualifies you to represent the people of your North Carolina district effectively? What would you cite as your three biggest career accomplishments? 

In 2016, the voters of NC House District 40 made me the first person in the history of our State to come to the General Assembly, the legislative branch of government, with significant experience at the highest levels of both the judicial branch (legal aid attorney; prosecutor; attorney in private practice, and District Court, Superior Court, & Court of Appeals Judge) and the executive branch (DMV Acting & Deputy Commissioner; SBI Crime Lab Director). Now, with eight years of experience in the NC House (member of the Appropriations, Judiciary, Justice and Public Safety Appropriations, Transportation, Education – Community Colleges, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, and Legislative Ethics committees; the bipartisan North Carolina Legislative Working Group on Criminal Recodification and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Capital Improvements), I seek the opportunity to continue bringing this unique experience, coupled with an independent, common sense approach to legislation, to bear upon the process of enacting laws. As I did during my many years as a Judge and as I have as a legislator, I will carefully consider all sides of every issue, diligently review the pros and cons, and make the best decision I can under the law and in the best interests of all North Carolinians. 

My three biggest career accomplishments include 1) 25+ years of service as a trial and appellate NC Judge; near the conclusion of that service, a state newspaper described me as “the epitome of the career professional judge” who had achieved an “exemplary record”; 2) retooling the operations of NCDMV and particularly the SBI Crime Lab while serving in the leadership of those agencies; in assessing my performance at the Crime Lab, the Raleigh News & Observer observed that I “took on some tough duty when called in to straighten out the SBI Crime Lab and … did an excellent job”; and 3) election to the NC House of Representatives by defeating a 5-term incumbent and subsequent service for four terms; my legislative record continues to develop as I (a minority party legislator) seek whenever possible to work across the aisle to promote meaningful legislation (such as a bill allowing inmates to pursue community college degrees and prepare for law-abiding careers upon release),

and to fight against unwise legislation (such as bills restoring partisan judicial elections in North Carolina and restricting abortion access for women). 

2. What do you believe to be the three most pressing issues facing the next General Assembly? What steps do you believe the state should take to address them? 1) Education: A strong educational system, from the beginning years to the community college and university levels, is absolutely essential, not only to allow our children to develop their natural abilities to the fullest, but to promote and support a robust economic and business climate in North Carolina. As the proud father of three children educated in North Carolina schools and, more importantly for the years to come, a doting grandfather of seven children at various stages in the education process, I believe in maintaining a high quality, fairly funded and connected educational environment so that all North Carolina’s children will be prepared for the jobs of the future. 

2) Independent Redistricting: It is without doubt time for a fresh approach to the drawing of legislative districts, both federal and state–a common sense approach that puts aside divisive finger-pointing and name-calling, and which is dedicated to creating a process resulting in responsible government meeting the needs of all North Carolina families. I strongly support elimination of the current methodology whereby legislators pick their voters who then have little actual voice in the selection of their representatives. Therefore, I believe we must establish a truly independent, impartial, non-partisan redistricting commission to configure legislative districts. 

3) Courts: Swift justice in the criminal courts and the prompt resolution of litigation in the civil courts, where business disputes, domestic cases and other lawsuits are decided, have become seriously jeopardized. It is time to recognize the judicial branch of our state government as a co-equal partner with the legislative and executive branches. Finally, to ensure complete judicial independence and impartiality which are currently threatened, we must return to non-partisan election of judges. 

3. To what extent do you support municipalities exerting local control over issues such as regulating greenhouse gas emissions, criminal justice reforms and police oversight, and passing development-regulating ordinances? 

In a perfect world, these large-scale issues might well be resolved by state and federal governments. However, the reality is that true action is not often taken at either the federal or state level, leaving local governments to respond to their concerned and troubled citizenry. Because local government is the closest and in most contact with the voting population, it is most likely to be aware of community circumstances. Bottom line, I have consistently supported local government responsibility and control as opposed to ceding authority to the state or federal government. 

4. Do you support raising North Carolina’s minimum wage, and if so, by how much? I support raising NC’s minimum wage to $15/hr. incrementally over a 5-year period. This graduated time period would accommodate the wide disparity in standard of living and local economies among North Carolina’s 100 counties.

During the 2023-2024 Session, I was a primary sponsor of House Bill 569, “Working Families Act,” which seeks to increase the State minimum wage to $15/hour, allow local governments to set their own minimum wage, reenact the Child Tax Credit, and other policies to help working families in our State. 

5. What, if anything, should the state legislature do to address the growing affordability crisis and support low-income families in North Carolina? Affordable housing policies primarily reside within the purview of local government. In North Carolina, however, Dillon’s Rule limits local governments only to those powers and duties granted to them by the state legislature which thus ultimately controls local authority to address affordable housing issues. Therefore, the legislature can avoid enacting measures under Dillon’s Rule that would hinder local efforts to increase affordable housing stock such as allowing accessory dwelling units and cottage courts. 

An additional approach, particularly by the executive branch, could be the use of geographically targeted, or “place-based,” economic development programs designed to boost job creation and business investment, incentivize real estate development, or increase property values in specific locations which might most benefit from these changes. Measures might include authorizing tax increment financing (TIF), job creation tax credits, creating enterprise zones or other financial incentives. 

6. What is your vision for transit in North Carolina? What kind of regional transit systems should the state work to implement and what kind of transit legislation would you support? 

Response to this extremely complex and complicated issue is quite difficult in the current format. With the Wright brother’s Kitty Hawk flight, NC was the site of a revolution in transportation, yet today it is ranked 28th nationally in public transportation by US News & World Report while being the nation’s 9thlargest state in population. The difficulty is exacerbated by the multiplicity of quasi-independent stakeholders and participants, including federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector and taxpaying citizenry. Regionally, the 

Raleigh-Richmond/Washington, DC and the Charlotte-Atlanta routes need attention. Any additional vehicular travel lanes seem to fill immediately upon completion. Flight and rail alternatives seem more costly and deliver only station-to-station destinations. An interesting initiative in some localities nationally as well as in NC (Wilson & Gastonia) to address regional and especially local transportation is what is called “on-demand microtransit,” described by the NC Department of Transportation website as follows: 

On-demand microtransit is similar to private on-demand services, rideshare allowing riders to book and pay for trips online, whether using personal computers or personal mobile devices connected to the internet. Riders are typically picked up at their preferred origin and taken to their preferred destination (curb-to-curb service).

Continued consideration of microtransit as an alternative to large train and bus systems seems sound, particularly when the systems are operated by contracted companies, selected through competitive bidding, rather than by government infrastructure. It appears many companies have begun offering this service. Uber, for example, has a section of its website dealing with the subject as well as a report on its “Public transportation 2030 vision.” 

7. Would you support an independent process for drawing new legislative and congressional districts? 

Absolutely. 

As indicated in the response to Question 2 above, my number one priority since declaring as a NC House candidate in late 2015 has been the establishment of a truly independent, impartial, non-partisan redistricting commission to draw NC Congressional and state legislative electoral districts so that NC citizens are able elect their representatives rather than politicians picking their voters. The goal must be to end gerrymandering which I believe is the root cause of the current toxic political atmosphere featuring partisan bickering. Gerrymandering tends to produce legislators from the extremes who typically are adherent to a rigid ideology and unwilling to compromise and seek the common good. 

8. Do you support expanding funding for Opportunity Scholarships? Do you believe the legislature has a role in ensuring that private schools don’t further raise tuition on families and taxpayers with the infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars into the private school economy? Please explain your answer. 

Private schools must meet the same standards and should be subject to the same accountability and transparency as public schools. This principle should apply–although under majority party administration it currently does not–to the funding and operation of the Opportunity Scholarship voucher program. In addition, I am opposed to the use of public tax dollars, through vouchers or otherwise, to support private schools, particularly those which are discriminatory in their admissions policies or practices, or which have faulty curricula. Finally, at a bare minimum, I believe funding the Opportunity Scholarship voucher program should be paused at least until accomplishment of the funding goals outlined in HB 885, “Sound Basic Education for Every Child,” a current bill which I co-sponsored and which seeks to promote “well-prepared, high-quality, and supported” teachers in all classrooms in North Carolina public schools, sets out recurring appropriations to help recruit and retain teachers and support staff (including school counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses and media coordinators to specified statewide ratios of personnel to students) and provides for expanding the North Carolina Teacher Fellows Program as well as a recruitment bonus for teachers in low-income and high-needs areas. The majority party thus far has not chosen to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. 

9. North Carolina is one of the lowest-paying states for teachers in the nation. Schools across the state are facing shortages of educators, support staff, and other key personnel. By what percentage should the next budget raise wages for teachers and school employees? What else can the General Assembly do to improve working conditions for teachers and make the teaching profession more attractive to potential future educators? 

State government, including the General Assembly, is falling woefully short of properly funding our public education system, as well as failing to meet the State Constitutional guarantee that our schools provide a sound, basic education to all NC children. Specifically, rather than specifying a percentage increase, we need to raise teaching professional, administrator and state employee pay to the national average (likely on an incremental basis over 2-3 budgets), adjust student-to-support staff ratios to nationally recommended levels, especially for “specialized support personnel” or “SISP,” such as school counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses and media coordinators, and expand the Teaching Fellows Program. In addition, we should reinstate master’s and other relevant advanced degree pay and fund additional pay for teachers who achieve nationally recognized certifications and for those who take on additional duties and responsibilities (such as coaching or tutoring afterschool). Finally, we must reverse the ill-advised decision to eliminate health care as a retirement benefit. As the former leader of two State agencies, I am keenly aware of the importance of providing retirement health care as an employment incentive notwithstanding comparatively lower state wages. Finally, during the current 2023-24 Session, I co-sponsored House Bill 885, “Sound Basic Education for Every Child,” which seeks to promote “well-prepared, high-quality and supported teachers in all classrooms in North Carolina public schools,” sets out recurring appropriations to help recruit and retain teachers, administrators and support staff, expands the North Carolina Teacher Fellows Program, and provides a recruitment bonus for teachers in low-income and high needs areas. 

10. North Carolina bans abortion after 12 weeks’ gestation. Do you think abortion access in North Carolina should be expanded or further restricted, or do you support the current law? 

An abortion decision should be made solely by a woman in consultation with her healthcare provider without the participation of government. I support the codification of Roe v Wade which previously constituted NC law, have voted “No” on all bills put forth restricting access to abortion in North Carolina and have supported the Governor’s veto of those bills which passed. 

11. Do you support reforming North Carolina’s marijuana laws? Do you support full legalization? Please explain your position. 

During the 2023-2024 Session, I publicly supported Senate Bill 3, the “Compassionate Care Act,” which seeks “to provide for the sale of cannabis and cannabis-infused products to qualified patients with a debilitating medical condition through a regulated medical cannabis supply system.” Although it passed in the Senate, the majority party House leadership has declined to bring it to a vote, either in Committee or on the House floor.

12. Do you support strengthening gun safety regulations such as expanding background checks, banning bump stocks, and raising the age to buy or otherwise regulating the sales of assault-style weapons? Please explain. 

Absolutely. In each of my terms as a legislator, I have supported or sponsored Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPOs) or red flag laws. During the 2023-2024 Session, for example, I was a primary sponsor on HB 281, which would authorize ERPOs, but the majority party failed to hear it in committee or bring it to the floor for a vote. After nearly every mass shooting, witnesses–typically family members, classmates or members of law enforcement–come forward who were aware the individual involved was at risk for serious violence to him/herself or others and had access to a weapon. ERPOs would provide such individuals an orderly, formal process involving presenting the information to an impartial judge who could decide, following a hearing, whether to take temporary measures which could prevent potential tragedy and death. 

Gun violence in this country continues to produce horrific tragedies. Reasonable, common-sense measures have been available for far too long without legislative action. The NC General Assembly legislature has failed to consider gun legislation 

despite multiple opportunities to do so. As noted above, I personally have introduced or co-sponsored “red-flag” bills every legislative session as one means of addressing this issue. During the 2023-2024 Session, I also co-sponsored HB 705 which would have required universal background checks and safe firearms storage among other reasonable policies. I will also continue to push for and support increased resources for mental health care and other practical reforms. 

13. Are there any issues this questionnaire has not addressed that you would like to address? 

No, it is a thorough questionnaire. I am deeply appreciative of having received the INDY endorsement each time I have sought election to the NC House, and would like to express my appreciation to this publication for facilitating an important opportunity to communicate with House District 40 voters. If re-elected, I promise to continue utilizing the same approach I used for over 25 years as a Judge—gather all the available evidence, weigh it carefully from all points of view, and then make the soundest decision I can in the best interests of the tax-paying citizens of my District and our State.