Why do you wish to serve or continue to serve in public office?

I wish to continue to serve as a Lee County Commissioner with the purpose of keeping focused on the principles of a government that values Life, Liberty, and Property rights.

2. What are the top three challenges facing your county and how do you propose to address them through your office?

The top challenge facing Lee County is the highest property taxes as compared with our neighboring counties. The higher taxes create a barrier for both business investments and job creation. I propose working to reduce taxes, induce frugality in county expenditures and to keep our pending construction bonds within their budgets.

The second challenge facing Lee County is the high unemployment as compared with our neighboring counties. The reasons former commissions gave tax incentives was to create jobs. With nearly $12 million dollars in taxpayer incentives given out in the past 12 years, we failed to increase jobs. Not only that, we have recipients of past breaks, who failed to meet previous employment goals, who are still returning to the county asking for tax breaks. I will continue to oppose corporate welfare that burdens small business with paying their full property tax burden.

The third challenge facing Lee County is working toward the safe extraction of natural gas deposits of which is highly enriched with the noble gas helium. We have a number of land rich and income poor elderly landowners who have enormous wealth beneath their property. I will work to allow those landowners the opportunity to enjoy the fruits their property. The natural gas industry will provide valuable infrastructure thus helping to increase our county’s revenue stream.

3. There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in county neighborhoods recently referred to as “orphaned roads.” A bill was introduced in the General Assembly this year but did not move forward. What are your thoughts for solving this problem?

First the county is not responsible for roads or their maintenance. It is imperative that the state pass legislation that resolves the “orphaned roads” without imposing additional costs or responsibilities on counties. I know Lee County worked to facilitate one such orphaned road where a developer went bankrupt before completing the transfer to the state.

4. What NEW ideas or incentives can you suggest to attract business into the region?

I suggest the repeal of Senate Bill 3 – the Renewable Energy Portfolio is a bill that has artificially increased North Carolina’s electricity rates 17% from 2008 – 2014 and are projected to go higher. 80% of a solar farm’s property is exempt from county property taxes and the remaining 20% is on an accelerated depreciation rate. The electricity is then sold to power companies at the retail rate and they pass on those costs to the consumer. This artificially inflates our state’s energy costs and lessens North Carolina’s competiveness.

5. What steps, if any, would you take to improve your county’s property valuation process in the years ahead? Why do you think these steps are necessary?

Our County Tax Office is currently upgrading the appraisal process by upgrading the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) software by upgrading to iasWorld. They have introduced portable filed tablets to assist in field appraisals. This fiscal year they will incorporate PICTOMETRY thus reducing follow-up field visits. The Lee County Tax office will be working on a project with Tyler Technologies using Tyler Verify. This will allow our tax office to verify their data, sketches, and street level photography. They are planning to implement additional software upgrades to provide citizens the ability to access and review the tax records.

1. Why do you wish to serve or continue to serve in the NC General Assembly?

I have been a resident of Cumberland County since 1976 and it would be a distinct honor to be its representative in the General Assembly.  I am a product of Cumberland County public schools, a daughter and spouse of its military community and actively engaged in multiple issues important to my neighbors  throughout the county.

2.  What are the top three changes facing North Carolina and how to you propose to address them through your office?

Education:  Investment in traditional public schools especially by providing stability to Teacher’s Assistants, sufficient classroom supplies and technology and competitive salaries for all our educators.
Economy:  Many Carolinians are experiencing some level of financial difficulty.  Adjustment to our tax code could enable many of them to have more funds to spend locally, bolstering local businesses and generating revenue in the process.
Healthcare:  Expansion of Medicaid would be a valuable means of improving the health of our residents.  Also, the presence of pediatric mental health facility in this district would make it easier for our families to access those services.  Ensuring local facilities are equipped to provide quality support to our large veteran community would honor their service.

3.  There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in neighborhoods recently referred to as “orphaned roads.”  A bill was introduced in the General Assembly this year but did not move forward.  What are your thoughts for solving this problem?

It is unacceptable for government maintained roads to be “orphaned”.  Even temporary measures focused on keeping thoroughfares safe and passable have to be accomplished until permanent repairs can take place.  The process used to fund and award contracts may need adjustments to aid in getting timely repairs done.  As for the bill, the circumstances that prevented it from going forward need to be addressed in order to secure the support necessary to get action on the bill.

4.  What NEW ideas or incentives can you suggest to attract business into the region?

We need a marketing campaign that “rebrands” North Carolina with an emphasis that our diverse educational base can support multiple industries.  We also need to showcase that as a state, we embrace inclusiveness.  This will demonstrate to prospective businesses that all their employees will be productive because they will be content and safe while living in surrounding communities.

5.  Do you support a further extension of a tax on services in North Carolina?  Why or why not?

No, I do not.  The people most affected by these taxes use these services the most and are the ones least able to afford the additional expense.

 

 

1. Why do you wish to serve or continue to serve in the NC General Assembly?

 

Hoke and western Cumberland counties continue to struggle despite the growth in other parts of the state. I am running for NC State Senate because the best interests of our community are being neglected. As the community’s representative in the NC General Assembly I will earn the trust of my neighbors by being visible and accessible in order to answer questions and discuss the issues that plague our hears. I will earn the trust of my neighbors by working to repair our education system by empowering teachers as education professionals instead of treating them as baby sitters. I will earn the trust of my neighbors by defending the values, morals, and rights that our parents taught us, our preachers teach us, and the Constitution guarantees us.

 

2. What are the top three challenges facing North Carolina and how do you propose to address them through your office?

 

The poverty rate in Hoke and western Cumberland county is nearly 20%. The government assistance laws are designed to keep people trapped in poverty instead of providing opportunities for folks to climb out of government dependence. In addition to creating an environment favorable for economic growth we can encourage our neighbors to open their own businesses by reviewing North Carolina’s Occupational License requirements. Many requirements can rolled back or even repealed which will bring down barriers preventing our talented citizens from opening their own businesses. Low income tax will keep more money in the hands of hard working North Carolinians who are struggling to make ends meet.

 

Securing our future by ensuring our children receive a top-notch education is paramount. Parents and teachers need the resources required to effectively educate our children. Parents should have options to place their children in higher performing schools, public or private. Teachers should be paid higher salaries and incentivized to develop innovative and creative methods to connect with our children. Teachers and administrators should have more options when dealing with disruptive students. To improve the connection between teachers and students, classroom makeup can be based on learning styles.

 

The number one priority of any government should be ensuring the safety of its citizens. Trust between law enforcement and the community can be created through transparency as well as community events that provide opportunity for law enforcement leaders to respond to community concerns. Laws should be enforced equally with local governments not having an option to which state/ federal laws they want to follow and which ones they want to enforce. How can citizens consistently abide by laws if they are not consistently enforced? State laws should need to be reviewed and cleaned-up as many laws are out dated or simply do not past he common sense test. We need to ensure that non-violent crimes committed by teenagers don’t impact their ability to succeed in adulthood.

 

3. There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in neighborhoods recently referred to as “orphaned roads.” A bill was introduced in the General Assembly this year but did not move forward. What are your thoughts for solving this problem?

 

Orphaned roads in neighborhoods result in a dramatic decline in property value. Why should we expect property owners and tenants to care for their properties if the nearby roads are in shambles? Seriously damaged roadways will also increase the response time for first responders in the event of emergencies.

 

 

4. What NEW ideas or incentives can you suggest to attract business into the region?

 

Businesses need flexibility in order to be able to adjust to the needs of the free market. Reducing outdated regulations and reducing corporate income tax will attract new business and help existing businesses grow. As more and more business move to North Carolina and grow, more job opportunities will be created. These opportunities will put North Carolinians to work and provide career advancement opportunities with higher wages.

 

Additional grant opportunities for small business should be created with incentives that can be achieved as employment thresholds are met.

 

5. Do you support a further extension of a tax on services in North Carolina? Why or why not? The key to growing North Carolina’s economy is to increase the tax base by attracting new businesses, growing existing businesses, and making North Carolina attractive for folks to relocate to our state. While working to reduce income and corporate taxes in order to grow the base the sales tax on services will provide revenue needed for schools, community projects, and economic development projects in our states poorest areas.