The Salisbury Post sent questions to the candidates running from local offices as well as those that will be representing local districts at the state level. Each candidate was given the same questions with the Rowan County Board of Commissioner candidates and Rowan-Salisbury School System candidates each given one additional question pertaining to their sought-after office. The responses from the candidates that replied are listed below based on the race and sorted alphabetically by last name.

Rowan County Board of Commissioners

Bobby Kemp

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

After going to commissioners’ meetings from February to August speaking on high taxes. It was my choice to run on a write-in ballot. I applied just before the deadline. My goal is to help the seniors, veterans and the disabled and every citizen in Rowan County. It was the worst time in the history of Rowan County to raise our taxes so high. Some people that I have talked to tell me their taxes have doubled. How can anyone’s property value be raised so high all at one time? When our taxes are raised, homeowner’s insurance goes up also. If you rent, the landlord goes up on the rent to offset his new cost. Did someone forget about the high cost of gas and food and everything we buy? This is a hardship on a lot of seniors, veterans and disabled people.

I believe I’m the best choice for commissioner because I care about the people. And as a commissioner, I will do everything I can to make their lives better. I have never run for any kind of office before and I know very little about politics, but I do know the difference between what is right and wrong. No longer can we let the county commissioners go in debt and send the taxpayers the bill.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• To help our seniors, veterans and the disabled.
• To find out were the increased tax money is going.
• And to make sure we support our sheriff’s office, fire departments and our emergency services.

In a time of need, these folks are our best friends. Also, the support of our schools and teachers and the safety of our children. Not just in school but on the buses, playgrounds and cafeterias. They must have supervision at all times till they are safely back home.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

To help our seniors, veterans and disabled, and it can be done. First as commissioner, it would be a must for our county and state representatives to get on board. If need be, I would be willing to go to Raleigh to the House of Representatives to speak in front of them. I would be asking for a new tax relief plan that would take the tax burden away.

4. What kind of taxation strategy would you favor going forward and why?

First, I would want to see where our tax money is going and where we could cut cost to help lower taxes. Do we really need a county-owned mall? Why was the Enochville school sold for $500,000 and not remodeled? Did we need to build a new Knox School for $55 million? Could we have remodeled it for about half that? It is wonderful what the school board is doing for our young people, but lets remember that the money is coming from the taxpayers. I believe we should freeze spending on new projects till we get ahead on the one’s already started.

Mark Ortiz

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I’d like to be the Dan Osborn of Rowan County. Who’s Dan Osborn? He’s an unabashedly progressive independent U.S. Senate candidate running in Nebraska, a state so red that the Democrats couldn’t recruit a candidate (https://osbornforsenate.com/platform/). He’s running against a Republican incumbent. At this writing, polls show him leading by five points.

I’m the nominee of a new party formed to give Main Street candidates a way to run against the two Wall Street parties.
The County Commission is effectively a one-party body. No non-Republican has won a seat since 2008. The Republican primary is effectively the election. That’s not what democracy looks like. There is one Democrat running for County Commission, but there are two seats up, and the voter can vote for two.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• First, address the biggest problem we have: Wall Street manipulation of the housing market and our monetary policy.
• Second, support and improve public education.
• Third, provide free or affordable daycare, preferably with instruction in practical life skills.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

On housing: Use taxes and subsidies to claw back some of the money out-of-county investors are sucking out.
Provide safe places for homeless people to camp. Use unoccupied former mills and new spec warehouses for temporary shelter, possibly using “as is” shipping containers indoors. Consider partnering with Cabarrus County on a joint housing task force.
On education: Fully fund school infrastructure and salary supplements. Encourage practical life skills education.
On daycare: Increase use of schools for optional after-school programs. Have community members come in and informally teach practical life skills, talk about their life experiences, and read to the kids, preferably for some pay.

4. What kind of taxation strategy would you favor going forward and why?

I unequivocally favor using taxation and spending to move wealth downward. I make no apologies to those who say that’s anti-freedom. We are all getting gouged because of government-assisted upward wealth transfer. We need to claw some of that back. We are prohibited from making property tax progressive, and there are only a few things we can grant property tax relief for.

I propose: Increase property taxes dramatically. Use a large share of the proceeds to give every active voter in the county an identical subsidy. This would not be a tax adjustment; it would be a use of tax revenue. It would transfer some wealth downward within the county, but more importantly, it would transfer wealth from out-of-county property owners, especially big corporate landlords, to people who live here. No tax breaks for big business in the name of job creation. We’re an attractive location without that.

Craig Pierce

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I choose to run for office to make our county the best it could be. As a three-term elected official I think that gives me the proven record of taking this county in the right direction.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

My three focus areas are and have been during my years of service are vets, pets and jets.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

I will continue my work that have given us the state’s only Veterans Social Center that was founded by Kenny Hardin. We have been able to have a state-of-the-art animal center through working with private donors and Shelter Guardians to achieve these results without spending tax dollars. And last but not least is our airport. We continue to invest in making Rowan County as a great place to do business and to live.

4. What kind of taxation strategy would you favor going forward and why?

Keep taxes as low as possible without cutting services for our citizens. As our population grows, demand for services will increase and balancing taxes will always be a challenge but I’m up to the task.

Alissa Redmond

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I am a small business owner who previously served in India; Afghanistan; Washington, D.C.; Hong Kong, and Bolivia with the U.S. Foreign Service. I wrote grants for the New Orleans’ Mayor’s Office for health policy post-Hurricane Katrina and as a Peace Corps volunteer/teacher in Fiji. A graduate of the N.C. School of Science & Math, UNC-Wilmington and Duke University (master’s degree in public policy), I will forever be a Methodist preacher’s kid.

As a parent of daughters enrolled in Rowan-Salisbury Schools, I serve the boards of Communities in Schools and the Literacy Council to strengthen community ties inside our public schools. I raised over $13,000 to donate books to the county’s little free libraries during the pandemic.

I understand policy concerns at the local, state and federal level from prior professional experiences and will utilize my knowledge to work with all for a stronger, more competitive Rowan County.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

When considering moving to Rowan County, I was excited about almost everything available — minus online reports of the school system, which were so disparaging I considered not settling my young family here. I later started dialogues around education initiatives in downtown Salisbury that stalled because of county representatives’ perceived lack of interest.

I believe renewal should be a symbol to our community; our collective creativity must bubble around our schools. The county must pay higher supplements to school staff and first responders, so our kids have every advantage to learn in safe environments that retain top talent. We should fund (ideally via the state’s court-ordered Leandro plan) school nurse positions for each school, as neighboring counties already choose to provide.

There are many steps we can take to sustain small businesses (including family farms), provide more affordable housing, and attract more mental health providers to call Rowan County home.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

When setting the county’s budget, commissioners set aside approximately 33 percent of funds to address school facility and talent retention projects; this percentage is arbitrary, and I will do everything in my power to craft arguments for increases whenever possible.

Upon entering as a new commissioner, I would request a budget analysis looking specifically at all county projects over the past decade. The county has relatively recently made several significant purchases, which many in our community have struggled to understand as beneficial. I want to be able to articulate why there remains a need to hold on to such projects or identify ways to cut back on others that might be privately funded, so we can refocus our priorities on providing public goods (like quality educational experiences), as public servants should.

4. What kind of taxation strategy would you favor going forward and why?

We have substantial land assets, low taxes, and a desirable location to migrate towards; given surpluses at the local and state level, I do not believe we need to raise taxes, but I do believe we need to substantially alter our county’s budgetary priorities.
It will soon be necessary for Rowan County to pass a school bond to catch up on facility upgrades, as evidenced by the fact we have children attending classes at locations with condemned areas.

Long term, I will do all I can to lobby Raleigh to fully fund the Leandro Plan, so the state’s surplus money adequately addresses systemic issues with public school resource availability.

Rowan-Salisbury School System Board of Education

Rebecca Childs

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

Rowan-Salisbury students, families and educators deserve board of education members with the experience and heart to support excellence for all students. I am running for Seat No. 5, so my expertise and commitment to public education can make a difference for those we cherish most — our children.

I am a bilingual doctor of education with 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher and school administrator. I have taught middle school, high school and community college students. I currently serve as the program manager for real estate and construction trades programs at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and each day I witness the power of public education to transform lives and communities.

My children attend Isenberg Elementary, where I am an active member of the PTA, a Communities In Schools volunteer, and a Title 1 Advisory Committee representative. I am endorsed by the Rowan-Salisbury Association of Educators and Public School Strong Voters.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

Our public schools must be cherished spaces. They open their doors to students from different backgrounds with differing abilities and lead the charge to ensure every child has an opportunity to achieve. I believe that each child who attends Rowan-Salisbury Schools deserves an excellent educational experience that leads to academic, social, cultural and emotional success. We all play a role in making that happen.

Our path to excellence must be intentional and consistent. First, we must prioritize engagement by creating welcoming school environments that encourage participation and support student success through a culture of belonging. Then, we must increase empowerment within the school district by providing all stakeholders with knowledge, resources and opportunities to promote and sustain high levels of achievement. Finally, we must pursue a continuous process of individual and collective improvement by encouraging students and educators to routinely reflect on performance and identify next steps for growth.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

By uplifting the voices and perspectives of students, families and educators within the decision-making process, we will create a district with the support of the community. In addition to actively soliciting input and feedback on the educational experience, we must extend ongoing, accessible opportunities for families to serve as advocates, volunteers and substitute teachers.

By respecting students as co-facilitators on their journey to success and enhancing communication methods to keep families informed, we can encourage collaboration, critical thinking and creativity to address school challenges. We must also advocate for teacher compensation that reflects their role as essential professionals and push for fully funded public schools where students and educators have the resources they need and deserve.

By leveraging renewal school status flexibility, we can drive innovation and achievement, protect instructional time so students maximize learning outcomes, and promote professional development spaces so educators refine their practice and scale success.

4. What is your opinion of the state’s method for grading school performance?

Student achievement is complex and should not be limited to performance on standardized tests, which can misrepresent reality and misinform the public. Instead, we need to cultivate school communities that embrace the use of data and performance feedback as tools for continuous improvement.

District leaders must foster school environments that empower educators and students to work together to achieve learning objectives that go beyond letter grades and address each child’s unique learning profile. By incorporating ongoing opportunities to assess student development and teacher effectiveness throughout the year, we can promote progress and ensure that students achieve multi-dimensional success.

When we evaluate overall performance, we should also incorporate feedback from students, families and educators regarding the campus climate and school experience. These insights will provide a more complete picture of each school’s overall health and capacity to meet the community’s needs.

Lynn Marsh

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I chose to run for re-election on the school board because I have worked diligently over the past 3 years to make sure all students in our school system receive a quality education. I am most qualified to hold this position because I have 35+ years of experience in education as a teacher for 10 years, an elementary principal for 20 years, and an adjunct special education professor for 7 years. I hold a dual bachelor’s degree in regular and special education, a master’s degree in learning disabilities, a master’s degree in school administration and curriculum supervision and a PhD in business administration. I have published research in special education in the Journal of Learning Disabilities and have served as a Special Olympics coach for 32 years. I come from a long line of educators, and I believe every student has a talent and it is up to us as educators to discover and develop that talent.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• Continue to create and implement policies to make all our schools safer for our students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents.
• Completing building of the new Knox 3-8 school and re-designing Overton to become a much-needed pre-school through second grade.
• Continue increasing student achievement and growth while preparing all students (gifted, traditional, students with special needs, ESL students) for the future workforce in our community and for becoming productive citizens in society.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

The school system’s discipline code of conduct has been re-written and enforced throughout our schools over the last couple of years and steps have been taken to ensure safety precautions are in place — resource officers are at all schools and events, purchase of metal detectors and wands, buzzer systems installed and vestibules for entry into schools, safety plans and diagrams of schools shared with law enforcement, and mock drills practiced by school personnel. The safety of our students, staffs and parents is an ongoing priority in our school district and needs to be revisited frequently.

The building of the new Knox is coming along as planned. The groundbreaking has occurred and foundation is being laid. It will be a state-of-the-art school that is well-deserved by the Salisbury community. I am on a building planning team that has parents, staff and community members who are taking input from all stakeholders as to the vision of the new school and curriculum offered. The progression of the new Knox is posted on the district’s website and the building design can be found there as well. We are in the process of obtaining community partners to invest in our new school. Overton will be transformed into a K-2 school that will provide additional pre-school classes that are badly needed in our district so students will be kindergarten ready. Also, the curriculum for the K-2 school will be skills-focused on reading, writing, math, social studies and science. All our teachers have received training in the Science of Reading and implementing this curriculum in our schools. Skills-based instruction is essential in the early years.

With the renewal model, our district has the flexibility of charter schools with calendar, budget, hiring and curriculum. We focus on how much our students grow each year and not just performance on one test at one point in time. I am in complete support of preparing our students for life after graduation whether they enroll in higher education, enlist in the military or seek employment. The career and technical education academies in our schools are preparing our students to gain skills applicable to their adult lives. Computer science, health science, industrial science, agriculture, family and consumer science, business/marketing/finance and early childhood education are examples of life- goal skills available to our students. An adult student advocate follows each student though-out middle and high school to assist in academics, life goals, social emotional wellbeing and developing interpersonal skills. We are working on developing relationships with local businesses and on communicating effectively with parents and the community. We are preparing our students to give back to Rowan County and be good citizens.

4. What is your opinion of the state’s method for grading school performance?

I think the state’s method for grading student performance is not adequate. Eighty percent of the scoring is based on a one-time test and only 20 percent based on student growth. With our renewal-in-action model, our school system has adopted individualized student growth as one of our metrics to measure performance. There should be a year’s growth for a year’s instruction. We do need to raise proficiency but other variables need to be included such as attendance, community involvement, graduation rate, etc. Proficiency on the test should not have this much weight on a student’s or school’s performance. Our renewal model could be transformational to public schools in North Carolina if it was adopted by the state. Growth in some schools was phenomenal this past school year and our parents and community should be made aware of how this model works. This is one thing I intend to focus on as a board member. Of course we need to continue striving for excellence. I am frequently in the schools and view a lot of student engagement and learning taking place.

Bryan Wymbs

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I chose to run because I feel a debt of gratitude to RSS. My daughters, wife and I have benefited a great deal from the experience at Salisbury High School. As students, employees, coaches and volunteers we have all had amazing, life-enriching times and relationships forged by investing our time in RSS. Despite this amazingly positive experience for us, I have also witnessed the need for more community involvement, effective communication and strategically placed investment in our schools. I feel that I have the relationships, knowledge and service minded ethos to make an impact for our school systems, and that is why I am running for the school board.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• Fostering more public private partnerships (“P3”). In my 20 years of living in Rowan County, I have always been amazed by the multitude of non-profit organizations doing amazing work in our community. I will work to coordinate these nonprofits, faith communities and PTAs to support our teachers and administrators.
• Communication and engagement. I have experienced and heard that communication with our families is an area in which we can improve. I will work with school leaders, booster clubs and the communities in which our schools operate to foster a culture of effective communication. Additionally, as a board member I will be a liaison between our teachers and superintendent and other leadership at Wallace.
• Advocate for effective investment. I will be a tireless advocate to our state legislators, county commissioners and grant providers (all of which I have done over the years).

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

I have been asked: “You are just one person, what are you actually going to do?” My response is, I will not do this alone! I have been overwhelmed by the support of so many community leaders that are excited and thankful I am running. By leveraging these trust-filled relationships, built over the last 20 years, I will encourage more investment and communication and partnerships in our school system.

4. What is your opinion of the state’s method for grading school performance?

From my experience, there are not “D” schools or “A” schools. I think it’s a travesty to grade a school based on an end-of-grade, standardized test. I do not think the current method is accurate, effective nor constructive for teachers, students or the community.

House District 76

Alisha Byrd-Clark

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

My decision to run for office stems from a deeply rooted commitment to service. I believe leadership should not be about titles or positions, but about taking action and advocating for those who need it most. I was born and raised in this community, I am homegrown and I made a conscious choice to return home after college because I wanted to give back to the place that shaped me. 

The motto from my alma mater Winston-Salem State University is: Enter to learn, depart to serve, and after graduation, I vowed to do just that. Becoming a servant-leader was not just a career move — it was a calling. I founded my nonprofit to advocate for our youth, who represent the future of our district, and this has been a driving force behind everything I do.

For the past eight years, I have had the profound honor of serving as an elected official on the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, and this year I was entrusted with the role of chair. Throughout my tenure, I have gained invaluable insight into the critical issues that affect our schools and communities — particularly the need to ensure our teachers, custodians and bus drivers are paid fairly and are provided with the resources they need to succeed. I have seen the challenges that both educators and students face, and I’ve worked hard to ensure that decisions made at the board level are always in their best interests.

I am not running for office just to hold a position — I am running to expand my advocacy for so many sectors in Rowan County and to elevate the voices of those who have often been unheard. to come together to solve problems, uplift one another and invest in our shared future.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

My top three priorities, if elected, are: 

• Education/teacher’s pay, 
• Sustainable development/affordable housing
• Women’s reproductive freedom

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

Education is the cornerstone of our community’s future, and our teachers are the driving force behind that foundation. My top priority is to ensure that our educators are compensated, deeply respected and fully supported in their mission to shape young minds.

Investing in teachers is not only a moral imperative — it’s a strategic investment in the future of our children and our community. I will advocate strongly for increased teacher pay across the board, with a special focus on reinstating masters pay. In addition to better pay, I will push for increased resources in the classroom and policies that empower teachers to focus on what they do best — educating, inspiring and preparing the next generation of leaders.

Allocating $463 million to private and charter schools while leaving public schools with nothing is not just an oversight — it’s a blatant disregard for the needs of our public school districts and a slap in the face to educators, students, and families across the state, not just in Rowan-Salisbury. 

Sustainable development and affordable housing: Our community cannot truly thrive unless every family has access to safe, affordable housing. Housing is more than just a roof over our heads — it’s the foundation for stability, health and opportunity.

I will advocate for policies that:

• Ensure new developments include a mix of housing options to accommodate a variety of income levels.
• Leverage public-private partnerships to expand affordable housing opportunities.
• Promote green building practices that protect our environment while lowering energy costs for residents.
• Support zoning reforms that reduce barriers to building affordable housing and increase housing supply.

Women’s reproductive freedom: Protecting the rights of women to make decisions about their own bodies is non-negotiable. I am unwavering in my commitment to advocating for women’s reproductive freedom, ensuring that access to comprehensive healthcare, including reproductive health services, is not only safeguarded but expanded. Every woman deserves the autonomy to make informed personal healthcare decisions without interference from government entities or external pressures. 

I recognize the importance of addressing systemic inequities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, ensuring that every woman, regardless of her background, has access to the resources and support she needs. I will tirelessly fight to protect and enhance access to reproductive healthcare, empowering women to take control of their futures. 

Moreover, I believe in fostering a healthcare system that prioritizes women’s health and well-being at every stage of life — from adolescence through motherhood and beyond. This involves promoting mental health services, supporting maternal health initiatives and ensuring that women have access to a full range of reproductive options, including fertility treatments and postnatal care.

Harry Warren

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

Rowan County has been a wonderful place to live and raise my children. Offering my time and experience is the best way I can give back to the county and state.

Having 30+ years of labor and management experience in three different industries, enables me to better understand how policy affects everyone from the homemaker to the corporate CEO. This experience has proven a critical asset when assessing proposed legislation. Knowing the right questions to ask is essential in identifying oversights/shortcomings and making  proposals for improvement.

 As a senior House member, I am best positioned to continue bringing millions of our tax dollars back to Rowan County to address our needs and our plans.

 Having raised six children, I am extremely experienced with conflict resolution and relationship building. Retired, I can continue to devote my full-attention to the legislature, constituent services and keeping you informed

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• Economy: Every state responsibility, (public safety, education, healthcare, disaster response, etc.), is dependent upon a robust economy for funding. It is critical we continue exercising conservative fiscal policies ensuring a strong, vibrant economy, so our children and grandchildren will be in a position of financial strength during the next economic downturn.
• Education/ work-force development: It is impossible to have a sustainable, robust economy without an excellent education system producing a well-trained, educated workforce.  Our traditional and charter k-12 school systems do not rank well nationally. This must be addressed, not only by funding but systemically, as well.
• Transportation/ infrastructure: Our population increased by 1.5 million people in the last decade. Our roads, bridges, airports and ferry systems require updating to facilitate that growth and the influx of new businesses. We must be able to efficiently move goods and services and facilitate people getting to work/school.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

 Begin due diligence by consulting with colleagues, legislative staff, research analysts, subject matter experts and stakeholders, to determine cause(s).

•       Formulate viable options to address them.
•       Research how other states addressed the same/similar situations.

Determine the most viable solution(s) then… 

•       Enlist colleagues as primary sponsors and co- sponsors.
•       Draft and introduced bill(s) for consideration. 

Bill(s) would likely include provisions …

Economy: Building on taxation & regulatory reform policies that have made N.C. the No. 1 state to do business; Support EDC incentives attracting new companies and helping resident companies grow; Fund the arts and PARTF.

Education: Raise teacher compensation / increase school funding; Hold charter schools more accountable; Support Opportunity Scholarship and tax credits for Students with Disabilities programs

Transportation/ infrastructure: Identify a sustainable revenue stream for transportation projects, offsetting the gasoline sales tax decline due to hybrid and electric vehicles. 

House District 77

Julia Howard

1. Why did I choose to run for office?

When I first ran for office, the state of North Carolina needed common sense leadership from someone who understood their community. I had specific things I wanted to fix and simplify. Now, being able to see my work in action helping first responders, local governments and everyone in my district is truly the honor of a lifetime, but I know we have more work to do. Our state is undergoing rapid change, and my experience will serve to be invaluable. I will strive to guide our district and state in the right direction. 

2. Top three priorities if elected?

My first and highest priority is — and always was — being the bridge between the people I represent and the issues that they are facing. Over the years, the people of North Carolina have been faced with unprecedented challenges. I have helped many individuals who have been presented with the most difficult circumstances, and I pride myself on being their advocate in Raleigh.

Secondly, I will continue to protect children and the elderly. It cannot be underscored how important is to do so. The world is rapidly changing, and now more than ever, we need a fighter to stand up for these folks.

Finally, containing excessive spending by the state legislature is a priority I have always worked on. Fighting bloated budget proposals is a battle I have waged my whole career. It is only by showing fiscal restraint that we have been able to lower your taxes year after year.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

I will continue to work hard extremely hard each and every day that I serve. In politics, it takes 1,000 baby steps to accomplish anything, but my work ethic has never once wavered. When constituents call my office, I ensure that their needs are promptly addressed and taken care of. With children and the elderly, I have a long history of policy proposals and successfully passed legislation to improve their quality of life. From childcare centers to senior centers, I will take care of these groups. For reigning in government spending, I push for transparency and firm numbers. I want proof that every dollar allocated will be used in an efficient and responsible manner. However, these steps are just the beginning. I am absolutely committed to serving our community at a high level and humbly ask for your vote this November.  

House District 83

Grant Campbell

Why did I choose to run for office?

My decision to run for N.C. House was based on my love of my community of over 25 years and my desire to bring servant leadership back to political representation. Service has been a part of my entire adult life ranging from military service to non-profit work. I bring a wide range of expertise to the job: Being a practicing physician for over 25 years, currently serving as the vice-chair of the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges, currently serving on the board of directors for the UNC Alumni Association and the chairman of the board of directors of The Independence Fund which is one of the largest nationwide non-profit organizations serving wounded veterans and their caregivers. My greatest qualification, in my opinion though, is my philosophy that I see this is a job and not a title where my bosses are the thousands of members of my community that I represent.

2. Top three priorities if elected?

Top three priorities: 1) Continue to find ways to ease the tax burden and government fee burden on the citizens of North Carolina. 2) Expand resources for our community college system in order to meet the significant workforce demands of the state and give North Carolinians the opportunity to obtain jobs with higher pay and advancement opportunities. 3) Emphasize efficiency and measurable outcomes when allocating government funding with the goal of decreased government spending.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

I have already begun work on some of these goals by helping re-write the N.C. Community College System funding model to eliminate punishments for enrollment growth and emphasizing coursework and training that is aligned with workforce demands.  The other goals require a Representative that will show up to the early committee meetings and forums to advocate for change at the beginning and not just complain at the end of the process if you don’t get what you want. Effective representation requires vocal advocacy and being willing to work with colleagues of all political philosophies.

Joanne Chesley

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

I chose to run because I woke up one morning, listening to NPR report on even more bad decisions coming out of our N.C. legislature. Having served our state as an educator for 40 years, I am acutely aware that keeping our public schools strong requires full funding. We will lose every excellent teacher we have if we don’t do this, and we will not attract other excellent teachers to our state if we continue draining the budget. I am the more qualified candidate because I have been there — on the front lines of education as a teacher in vocational education, a principal and a college professor. Through my teaching, I have helped to prepare countless students for the world of work, for college and for life itself!

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

I would like to work with other legislators to find a better funding formula for schooling in N.C.; one that will still give some level of financial consideration to parents who choose private schooling, charter schooling and homeschooling for their children.

I hope to work closely with a legislative committee that is dedicated to increasing affordable housing in N.C. I believe that legislators may need to do more homework on this issue, to find out where the affordable housing gaps are in our state. Here in my own district, many household incomes are very strained and rents and mortgages are not attainable

Finally, I firmly believe that we must lift the bans on maternal healthcare. The decision to carry a pregnancy is not always an elective decision. Many times it is a matter of life and death of the baby and/or the mother. I think it is only right that we leave that decision to the mother and doctor.

3. What steps will you take to obtain those priorities?

While I am out here at the precincts, asking citizens to vote for me, I am doing what I’ve always done — educating. I am sharing information on HR-10 and other pieces of legislation with voters. I will continue to do this.

If elected, I will stay in touch with my constituents so that I am aware of what they see as needs and priorities for our district. I am committed to representing the will of the people in District 83, whether they voted for me or not. None of us will get what we want all of the time, but I will work to do what is right and what seems best for the district and for our state.

Senate District 33

Carl Ford

1. Why did you choose to run for office and what makes you the most qualified candidate?

To continue helping the constituents in the district and the state by keeping the government out of the way.

My experience as a county commissioner, state representative and state senator makes me the most qualified candidate.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

• Fighting for the unborn
• Continue cutting taxes
• Continue cutting government red tape

3. What steps will you take to obtain those objectives?

Support and introduce legislation for these priorities

Tangela Morgan

1. Why did you choose to run for office?What makes you the most qualified candidate?

For over 25 years, I’ve lived in Rowan County, raised my children and worked as both a classroom teacher and a school counselor. I’ve spent my professional life preparing young people to go out into society and be successful. Right now, there are policies and systems in place that prevent the citizens of District 33 from thriving, and it is a natural progression that I take my advocacy to the N.C. General Assembly for widespread impact. I believe that a thriving community is one where the citizens are healthy, educated and gainfully employed. I want to serve the citizens of District 33 and work to improve the systems that prevent us from thriving.

As a school counselor, I am tasked with removing barriers and obstacles to a student’s success which requires me to collaborate with stakeholders, utilize resources and build partnerships to obtain the best possible outcome. This is a transferable skill that will serve me and the citizens of District 33 well as I work towards bipartisanship in the N.C. General Assembly. Stanly County is the home of my childhood where my family installed the importance of faith, education and service to others. I love North Carolina and have a vested interest in seeing its citizens prosper. I am a servant-leader committed to returning to a governing body of the people, by the people and for the people.

2. What are your top three priorities if elected?

If elected, my top three priorities include developing substantial and long-term public school funding, providing quality healthcare for all persons without exception of type of care and raising minimum wage. North Carolina has  a constitutional obligation to provide a free and sound public education to its citizens. One of the best ways to continue a strong economy and cultivate safe flourishing communities is by strengthening our education system. According to 2022 Rowan County Child Health Data, over 50 percent of Rowan county children live in poor or low-income homes, approximately 22 percent are food insecure and over 5 percent are without health insurance. We must improve the conditions under which our citizens live.

3. How will you achieve these goals?

We can begin to restore N.C.’s public education system to the standard by which other systems are measured with bipartisan efforts to release the $27 million dollars in Leandro Funds that have been owed the citizens for over three decades and redirecting the $460 million purposed for the voucher program back to our public school system. Sound legislation is key to protecting women’s reproductive rights and health care for all and that will take bi-partisan efforts as well. We must retain legislation such as the Affordable Cares Act which provides extensive preventive care access for millions. We must accept federal funds and research initiatives such as the HERO (High-speed Economies for Rural Opportunities) program which will benefit the economy, education and health care. North Carolina’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and hasn’t been raised since 2009. Minimum wage should match economic conditions so that families are living dignified lives not in poverty.