Forum Q&A

At the recent Candidate Forum, the candidates were asked a variety of questions. The questions were not given to the candidates in advance. Some required more time than a few minutes to think about. Here are my fuller answers to the questions presented:

What has motivated you to run to fill this vacancy? What major goal or goals do you hope to achieve if you are selected as the nominee to be sent to the Governor for approval?

First and always, it’s to help the people of House District 40 and all the citizens of the State of North Carolina. When I first volunteered for the Wake County Democratic Party, it was because I believed I could make a difference in a world that needs help right now.

Secondarily, it’s to get Democrats elected up and down the ballot so we can retake the general assembly and the supreme court. I helping do that right now. I found the Impact Circle which has revolutionized how the county party raises money. It has raised money which has led to adding two employees we never had before. It’s also let to equipping our volunteer canvassers with the resources to knock on more doors and make more phone calls to voters like we never have before.

As to specific policies, I plan on advocating for Joe John’s pending bills. As to my own personal bills, they are sensible bills that support our Democratic Party’s base values, which we will always maintain, and provide help to all North Carolinians across the political spectrum. When Democratic Party core values are being questioned and challenged by even the most independent of independents, we need bills to show them we are looking out for their interest and that the Republican party is not.

One bill that is dear and special to me is my proposed bill to require gun owners to buy gun locks and safes when there are children or teens in the house. Besides eliminating accidental deaths in the home, it can cut-off the supply of guns to kids who bring them to school and hurt others and keep our children safe. If we pass the law, let’s take credit. If Republicans won’t pass it, let’s tell parents so they know which party wants to keep their kids safe.

Joe John was known for his willingness with voters, and despite the Republicans’ best efforts to gerrymander him and change his district each cycle, he was successful because he was willing to go the extra mile to be visible to his constituents. How will you build on this tradition? How will you hold this seat as a Democratic seat in one or more competitive districts in the county?

Joe did things outside the legislature like show up at precinct meetings. I am already upholding that tradition through my work with the Impact Circle by regularly going to precinct meetings in House District 40 and to the Wake County Forum. Besides asking people to join the Impact Circle, it requires talking about party organization, purpose, and needs at the county, state, and national level.

I fear the Republican Party will come after this house seat with vigor. The main thing we need to do to hold the seat is to communicate my legislative agenda and those of other Democrats that show constituents Democrats are looking out for their best interest and that the Republican party is not. My proposed legislation includes: gun safes and locks; gun insurance; funding nursing homes; minimum living wages set by economic areas; and the guaranteed right to receive information that is truthful in politics and news.

As a candidate, I would appeal to voters as I can speak to a wide range of concerns and areas because of being an attorney, an educator, a small business owner, and political strategist with a sound legislative plan.

Last, to be blunt, I am the only candidate with a proven record of fundraising. Unfortunately, to defend the district will require money and having the proven skill to raise it as I have through the Impact Circle is essential.

One of the biggest challenges you will face as our representative choosing between competing “good” priorities. How do you evaluate and decide what is the best option between a series of “good” choices?

There is a cadre of tools you can employ to choose between competing priorities. They include: asking people who would be affected by the option; what they think and then listening; consulting experts if needed; or, just good old fashion problem solving.

In promising to carry forth the mantle of Joe John, I have experienced an issue I feel has competing “good priorities.” Representative John has a bill which would remove party designations from electoral ballots for judges and make judicial races publicly funded. I fully support making judicial races publicly funded and getting “dark money” and PAC money out of these races.

However, I have generally been against making judicial races non-partisan primarily given our experience with the North Carolina Supreme Court (and United States Supreme Court) whose rulings have become more partisan with every passing constitutional case they decide and which involve our most sacred rights. And yet, based on my experience investigating and hearing both judicial candidates and judges running for retention, judges in the district and superior courts aren’t making law but applying it. These district and superior court judges are far more likely to be non-partisan in their daily work, more than an appellate court judge or a supreme court judge that decides what the law is. To the latter, placing a designation of “D” or “R” with their name on the electoral ballot makes sense especially so voters can make a good decision in line with their political views.

How do you personally embody the goals and values of the Wake County Democratic Party? How do you plan to emphasize those goals and values as our representative?

The Wake County Democratic Party’s goal is to elect Democrats who share our values which are: ensuring “Wake County residents and all North Carolinians have a fair shot at a good life, regardless of their background, where they came from, what they’re worth, or who they love.”

These are bedrock Democratic principles that don’t need explanation. I am already helping ensure these things through my role as a Democratic Activist by fundraising for the Impact Circle. I shut down my practice for the two months leading up to the 2024 election to dedicate myself to help turn out the vote mostly by canvassing and making phone calls including curing ballots. I understood that democracy was on the line and acted on it. I have proposed legislation that support our shared values.

It’s been my experience in talking to some of our elected officials they either don’t understand how the county party helps them or how the two should work together to meet our stated goals and values. I want to build that bridge with party leadership in the House and Senate.

Hypothetically, suppose the state economy booms in the next two years, to the extent that you as a lowly freshman legislator are given five million dollars ($5 million) in economic incentive money which must be spent on ONE project in your district. Where do you invest that money and why?

The first place to consider investing five million dollars is education. For example, five million dollars would easily pay for an extra teacher at every Middle School and High School in Wake County with money left over.

I am a proponent of public transportation because it helps small business and creates jobs. And while five-million dollars doesn’t pay for a public train system, it could help get us closer to getting one especially as the city of Raleigh and Wake County grow.

This is one where asking people who could use five-million dollars to close a gap to funding a project, whether it’s city or at the county level, would be best. Those with that need would probably step forward.