NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 061
The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House of Representatives consists of 120 members who serve a term of two years. Each member represents an average of 87,116 residents *, as of the 2020 Census . The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the Senate President pro-tem. The Speaker is elected by the members from their membership for a two-year term. The Speaker’s duties include maintaining order in the House and appointing members to the House standing committees.The North Carolina General Assembly, of which the House is a part, is to convene a new regular session every two years, and the dates for these sessions are set by law. The NC legislature makes decisions on the budget: taxes, tax credits, economic development, education funding, Pre-K, the courts, Medicaid, etc. It also passes laws that set environmental standards such as water and air quality, tax rates, tax credits, criminal justice. Legislators in both chambers serve two-year terms without term limits. Sessions begin at noon on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January.* https://ballotpedia.org/Population_represented_by_state_legislators
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Mary Price (Pricey) Harrison
(DEM)
What experience and skills make you the best candidate for this office? (Max. 750 characters)
What do you see as your most important priority if you are elected? (Max. 750 characters)
What are your views and priorities on how education policy and funding issues should be addressed in the coming year? (Max. 750 characters)
What role do you believe tax policy should play in supporting North Carolina’s economy and addressing the needs of its residents? (Max 750 characters)
What changes to the laws in our state would you promote to improve safety in our communities? (Max. 750 characters)
Additional Comments (Max. 1000 characters)
Current Occupation
retired attorney
Campaign Phone
919-740-4785
I have served in the NC House since 2004 and have developed relationships on both sides of the aisle that have enabled me to influence legislation by either improving the bill or simply stopping the worst policies from coming to the floor for a vote.
I have served on numerous boards and commissions that have informed my own policy priorities, especially in the areas of climate change and the environment, energy policy, and democracy/election law, and social justice.
My first priority will continue to be working to fix our Democracy and protect voting rights. I will work to roll back the bad election laws that have been enacted over the past decade, including transferring control of the NC Board of Elections back to the Governor’s office where it belongs. I will also advocate for fair maps and re-introduce legislation to create an independent redistricting commission. I also support campaign finance reforms, including getting dark money out of politics. If we fix our democracy we will have a legislature that represents NC values and we will be able to enact policies consistent with those values.
I support a complete rollback of laws that provide taxpayer funds for private schools and would like the legislature to pass a moratorium on taxpayer funded private school vouchers going forward. Lawmakers should listen to input from experts and education professionals and fully implement the Leandro Plan.
I also support bringing charter schools under the management of local school boards and reinstating a cap on the number of charter schools permitted to operate. These schools should also be held accountable for both their fiscal health and the academic outcomes for their students, as well as adhering to policies relating to equality and non discrimination.
Taxes are the primary source of revenue for the state. Current law has the corporate tax rate set to be 0% by 2030. Prior to the passage of this tax plan, North Carolina’s corporate income tax rate was 2.5%, which was already the lowest in the country among states that collect corporate income taxes. Combined with the attempt to cap personal income taxes at 3.5% and limit the amount of property tax income local governments can collect, the impact will be that many needs go unmet. Public schools, public safety, infrastructure, and more are all dependent on ongoing revenue streams to keep our state moving forward. Tax policy should reflect the needs of all citizens rather than cater to corporate interests and the wealthiest among us.
I will continue to file and support common sense gun safety laws, including red flag laws, gun safety locks, required training, and permitting. I also support significant increased funding for mental health services and in-patient treatment options for those in need. I have long supported hate crime laws. I have worked hard to help immigrant and refugee communities, and have fought efforts to force state agencies to cooperate with ICE.
I also believe that healthy communities are safer communities. When people have sufficient resources to meet their needs, crime is reduced and communities are able to grow and thrive together.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Guilford County for 22 years. I remain committed to focus on what’s best for its citizens as well as the state of North Carolina. I have been troubled by the continued rollbacks of policies protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of North Carolinians and will continue to work for policies that advance those causes. I have tried to avoid partisanship during my career and hope to continue to reach across the aisle to make NC the best it can be.
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