The North Carolina State Senate is the upper body of the North Carolina Legislature and consists of 50 members who serve a term of two years. Each member represents an average of 190,710 residents, as of the 2010 Census. The Senate elects officers from their membership including the President Pro Tempore.The North Carolina General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part, is to convene a new regular session every two years. 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.
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Position/philosophy statement
I believe education is the greatest equalizer and the foundation for every facet of life from, public safety, to health outcomes, and innovation.
Current Occupation
Pastor
I am consistently ranked among the most effective Democrats in the Senate and have secured critical investments in affordable housing in Forsyth County, our schools, public water infrastructure, highways, and small businesses. Electing leaders who remain steadfast in the face of adversity and overly partisan environments while maintaining our community's values is imperative. My ability to secure agreement in the super-minority shows my unique approach to public service. I will enter any room, have every conversation, and fight for my district and county. My district knows this, and they can continue to expect that from me.
My policy priorities are rooted in community needs/feedback. I am working diligently to secure legislation that will address the shortage of housing, the quality and access to daycare, and the rising costs of raising a family, doing business in North Carolina, or attending college or university. In the General Assembly, I focus on tax relief, increasing education spending, and streamlining processes for families and businesses. We can make the biggest impact by passing a budget or mini budget when we return to session. That budget proposal will need to include funding for Medicaid, for NCDOT to fully fund our projects, increased teacher pay for new/veteran educators, a robust COLA, and increased funding for the DMV and the Sec. State Office
North Carolina is failing to meet its requirements under the state constitution. We need to fully fund the remedial plan known as Leandro. In the Senate, I am fighting for Leandro, increased teacher pay and support, protecting the state health plan, and the creation of the Nursing Scholars Program at WSSU. We need to double our efforts to reduce classroom sizes and address the ever-growing list of deferred maintenance at our community colleges and universities. I will continue to fight for expanded funding to support our educators' professional development and to increase the number of school social workers and psychologists.
Over the last decade, the GOP majority has shifted the tax burden to the middle class and working poor. This is bad policy. I support a fair tax structure that reduces taxes on our most vulnerable and ensures the mega-rich pay their fair share. I also believe we can better support small and medium-sized businesses by expanding tax credits to help them grow amid unprecedented inflation and rising health insurance costs. Many are looking at the General Assembly for property tax relief, and I expect legislation to be filed either in the Short Session or Long Session. That legislation must consider local funding for our schools and public health departments, parks & rec, and emergency management, among other things.
We need to close the gun show loophole, implement red flag laws, and restore the pistol purchase permit. We need robust education standards for North Carolinians who wish to own firearms. We also need to invest in gun locks, mental health support, and policies that strengthen families & communities. We are seeing an uptick in street racing and street takeovers, which endanger lives and destroy public & private property. I want to make sure local law enforcement has the support and tools they need to protect the public. Another concerning trend coming from the Trump Admin is the proposed changes to vaccine schedules. Many of us remember when contracting Polio was a death sentence. A robust public health system is essential to public safety.
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