Our Children Deserve a Quality Public Education.

“Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries, and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”

— North Carolina State Constitution Article IX

Our State Constitution Preserves Public Education as a Right to Our Citizens

• NC is ranked 48th in funding level for public education.
• NC is ranked 49th in funding effort for public education.
• There are 1,541,722 public school students in NC (2022).
• There are 142,151 private school students in NC (2021).
• State legislators passed private school voucher extensions with HB10 by overriding the Governor’s veto.
• Private school students make up just over 9% of all school students in NC.

I support the free market. If you want to send your child to private school, you should pay for it. Public tax dollars should not fund private schools when our public school children need resources.

Sources:

WUNC Education Funding Report
NCES North Carolina Education Statistics

My Experience

I have had the privilege of working with students in our communities for the past seven years in both academic and athletic settings. Over the past few years, I have helped students produce a documentary with local military veterans, develop scale models of antiquity, explore primary sources, and write analytical reports that challenge them to think critically and grow academically.

I have relied on grants from retired teachers, worked alongside administrators and fellow educators, and spent my own money to provide students with additional resources and tools they need to succeed. I am happy to do it because I care deeply about their future and my daughters’ future in public education.

I question the motivation of our state legislature when it comes to public school funding. Why are they not devoting appropriate resources to our public schools when our schools are responsible for producing the next generation of civic, social, and economic leaders in our communities?

Our Healthcare System Must Prioritize Our People Over Profit.

Our elected officials should prioritize the health and safety of our citizens.

• North Carolina’s overall life expectancy average is 76.6, lower than the national average of 78.4.
• Western North Carolina has some of the highest levels of death for adults ages 35–64.
• We must prioritize widening our healthcare delivery systems, expanding NC Medicaid, and developing our future healthcare workforce to take on the challenges of tomorrow.

Sources:

WNC Health Policy Report

NC Institute of Medicine Health Data Map

North Carolina Health Data Book

Household Finance Issues We All Face

Emergency Expenses

In a survey conducted by the WNC Health Network, respondents reported that they did not have cash on hand to cover a $400 emergency expense. 23% of respondents from Cherokee County, 28% from Clay County, 20% from Graham County, and 27% from Macon County reported that they did not have enough money for an unexpected $400 emergency expense.

Source:
NC Housing Finance Agency Survey

Housing Costs

31% of respondents from Cherokee County, 30% from Clay County, 27% from Graham County, and 32% from Macon County reported that they were “Always, Usually, or Sometimes” worried about paying their rent or mortgage in the last year.

Source:
NC Housing Finance Agency Survey

Grocery Costs

We are all feeling the squeeze at the supermarket. According to ConsumerAffairs, North Carolina experienced a 3.5% rise in grocery prices over the last year. Supply chain issues, higher transportation costs, limited store options, tariffs, and economic inequality all contribute to rising grocery prices. When families are forced to spend a larger portion of their income on groceries, it becomes increasingly difficult to get ahead financially.
Source:
ConsumerAffairs Grocery Cost Report