Platform

Affordable Health Care for families planning a budget and businesses paying premiums. We simply can't have thriving businesses, strong communities and effective education when our basic health needs aren't being met. Yet, millions in North Carolina don’t have even the most basic health care coverage. When they need care, all of us pay the price, in the form of higher health care costs, and higher health insurance premiums. As your representative, I will build coalitions across party lines and look outside of government for creative solutions to solve North Carolina’s health crisis. There is no reason we can’t find a solution to this problem and make North Carolina a better place.

21st Century Education that effectively prepares our children for today’s economy and provides support for continued education at all levels. Our education system is designed for a 20th century economy that relies on agriculture and manufacturing. We must be prepared to educate our children to compete in a global economy. This means not only high standards for reading, writing and arithmetic, but fostering creativity and entrepreneurship in children in every grade. We must also offer quality apprenticeship programs for students to learn trades and skills before they graduate from high school. But most importantly, it means recruiting and retaining high quality teachers, and paying them a wage that reflects their importance.

Economic strength for small and large businesses to support existing, growing businesses and actively recruit new industry. We must support our small businesses and help them grow, while requiring our large companies to create high quality jobs that pay a living wage and provide comprehensive health care benefits.

Vibrant, livable communities that provide the highest possible quality of life for ourselves, our children and our parents. A vibrant community is one in which you want to raise your children. A place you want to grow old. A place you can afford to live and work and play in. It’s what’s responsible for our explosive growth and it’s the cornerstone of our future.

Illegal Immigration is a serious issue. While America is the land of oportunity, those opportunities are not realized by those who come here illegally. Those people are often become victims to those that know they will not report violence or mistreatment.  While the issue of how to secure the nation's borders is a Federal issue, we can set a strong example in North Carolina.  I believe that if a company in North Carolina is found to knowing hire ilegal immigrants, they should immediately lose all State contracts.  This will ensure that the companies that follow the law are the ones rewarded.

People, not Partisanship Without working together our state will never move forward. My strongest commitment will be to good ideas, positive leadership and workable solutions - not to a political party or special interests.