Candidates Name: Rick Glazier
District: NC House 44
Opponent: Richard Button
What endorsements have you received for your current candidacy?
I have been endorsed by: NC Police Benevolence Association, Sierra Club, North Carolina Association of Educators, and NC AFL-CIO. I have also received extensive contributions from, among others, the NC Realtors PAC, the Apartment Association of NC, Carolinas Association of General Contractors, Nationwide Carolina PAC, NC Advocates for Justice PAC, NC Association of Electrical Cooperatives, NC Automobile Dealers PAC, NC College of Emerging Physicians PAC, NC Dental Society, NC Home Builder Association PAC, NC Hospital Association PAC, NC Pork Council PAC, South East Radiology Organization PAC, Wells Fargo Good Government PAC, McGuire Woods PAC, Eastern Board of Cherokee Indians, CSX, Century Link Employee PAC, Bayer Corporation PAC and NC Beer and Wine Wholesalers PAC.
If offered, would you accept contributions from our political action committee RPAC?
Yes, I would absolutely accept and have done so this spring.
If elected, what are you going to do for homeowners/property owners in Cumberland County?
I will continue to work across partisan lines to invest in and create the best educational, transportation, technological and energy infrastructure for our state and community. I will continue to give support for the NC Housing Finance Agency and mortgage assistance programs. Finally, I will increase justice system resources to more capably detain, prosecute, deter and incarcerate repeat home invasion offenders.
How would you propose to reduce or balance the state budget next year?
I do not propose to reduce the state budget next year, as it already is insufficient to meet critical education, senior health care, and basic infrastructure needs of the state. Stability and sustainability are critical components of a sound fiscal policy. Balancing the budget will require fidelity to priority decision-making; targeted revenue sources to particularly meet growing and vital educational and transportation needs; and the elimination of a series of unconstitutional, expensive and unjustified programs enacted by the majority the last three years particularly.
Do you see fracking as a positive or negative for the real estate industry?
I see fracking in general as a negative. Given the very limited amount of shale in North Carolina, its proximity to the aquifer and the Cape Fear River Basin, the current economics of the industry, as well as technological and safety limitations of the industry, I do not support fracking on a large-scale in North Carolina.
If elected, what are your priorities for the long session next year?
A) Significant improvement to K-12 education, including: creation of a truly sustainable, competitive, and fair salary schedule for teachers and non-certified personnel; reversal of the elimination of advanced degree pay; restoration of cuts to in-classroom and school support positions; elimination of advanced degree pay; restoration of cuts to in-classroom and school support positions; elimination of the unconstitutional voucher program; and increase in textbook, digital and professional development and classroom resources for schools.
B) Significant supervision of the coal ash cleanup and closure program; development of increased health, safety and property protections in fracking regulations and permitting; and an emphasis on water, air and recreational resource protection.
C) Renewed commitment to the state’s community college and university systems.
D) Realistic examination of resources and inefficiencies in the justice system.
E) Creation of a more bi-partisan, less ideological, more transparent and civil dialogue and governance process in the General Assembly with a far deeper focus on problem-solving, compromise and the restoration of confidence in state government.
What new ideas/concepts can you bring to the office you are seeking?
As the Democrat in the General Assembly with the highest effectiveness rating, I am going to continue to reach across party lines whenever possible, find ways to connect to my colleagues, consider each issue in a thoughtful and informed manner, and operate with a belief the civility breeds civility and incivility breeds incivility, in all that we do and say. My hope is to continue to move the House forward in its consideration of best evidence-based practices, to restore validity to the doctrine of local control and govern NC from the center rather than its ideological wings.
