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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • EdS, East Carolina University, 1983
  • MA, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1976
  • BS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1961

Professional Experience

  • EdS, East Carolina University, 1983
  • MA, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1976
  • BS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1961
  • Education Consultant
  • Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1990-1996
  • Assistant Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1985-1990
  • Principal, Sampson County Schools, 1976-1985
  • General Science/Social Studies Teacher, Sampson County Schools, 1961-1976

Political Experience

  • EdS, East Carolina University, 1983
  • MA, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1976
  • BS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1961
  • Education Consultant
  • Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1990-1996
  • Assistant Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1985-1990
  • Principal, Sampson County Schools, 1976-1985
  • General Science/Social Studies Teacher, Sampson County Schools, 1961-1976
  • Former Democratic Whip, North Carolina State House of Representatives
  • Representative, North Carolina State House of Representatives, 2000-2019
  • Commissioner, Sampson County Board of Commissioners, 1990-2000

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Agriculture Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Appropriations Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Commerce and Job Development Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Ethics Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Pensions and Retirement Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Redistricting Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Vice Chair, State Personnel Committee, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Subcommittee on Appropriations, Education, North Carolina State House of Representatives

Former Member, Joint Forum, North Carolina League of Municipalities and County Commission, 1998-2000

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • EdS, East Carolina University, 1983
  • MA, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1976
  • BS, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1961
  • Education Consultant
  • Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1990-1996
  • Assistant Superintendent, Sampson County Schools, 1985-1990
  • Principal, Sampson County Schools, 1976-1985
  • General Science/Social Studies Teacher, Sampson County Schools, 1961-1976
  • Former Democratic Whip, North Carolina State House of Representatives
  • Representative, North Carolina State House of Representatives, 2000-2019
  • Commissioner, Sampson County Board of Commissioners, 1990-2000
  • Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 1970-present
  • Member, Duplin-Sampson Mental Health Board
  • Member, Executive Board, KEMBA
  • Treasurer, Kenansville Eastern Missionary Baptist Association
  • Member, Lions International
  • Former Chair, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
  • Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • Member, National Association of Counties
  • Member, National Education Association
  • Member, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
  • Member, North Carolina Association of Educators
  • Member, Retired School Personnel
  • Co-Host, The College Board Hearing on Financial Aid, 2002
  • Trustee, Sampson Community College, 1982-1990
  • Trustee, J. C. Holiday Library, Clinton, 1976-1982
Policy Positions

North Carolina State Legislative Election 2010 Political Courage Test

Abortion and Reproductive

1. Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
- No Answer

2. Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
- Yes

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

7. Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
- Yes

8. Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- a) BothMy position on abortion is dependent on the situation - There is not an absolute. It depends on the circumstances.

Budget, Spending, and Tax

State Spending

Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Maintain Status

4. Health care
- Slightly Increase

5. Law enforcement
- Greatly Increase

6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Maintain Status

7. Welfare
- Maintain Status

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes

Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

4. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

6. Sales taxes
- Maintain Status

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Maintain Status

8. Income taxes (middle-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Slightly Increase

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing North Carolina's budget.

1. Tapping into North Carolina's "rainy day" fund
- No

2. Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders
- Yes

3. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

4. Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees
- No

5. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

6. Privatizing certain government services
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?

1. Individual
- No

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- No

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- No

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime and Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?
- No Answer

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No Answer

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No Answer

6. Do you support increased inspection and oversight of dog breeding facilities?
- Yes

7. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- c) ?d) ?e) ?We need a clear definition of a minor and whether a person's mental age is considered as well as chronological age,

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- No

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- a) ?Regulations on the private sector should only be done when in the best interest of the public. This is a situational determination.

Education

1. Do you support national education standards?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?
- No

3. Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
- No Answer

4. Do you support a statewide ban on corporal punishment in public schools?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from North Carolina high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- c) ? Some consideration for merit should be included in a salary schedulee) ?g) ? Yes, if allowed to complete the k-12 curriculum.If citizenship or documentation is questionable, students be denied entrance into any public school system

Environment and Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- Yes

3. Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for improvements to North Carolina's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

5. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- No

6. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
- Yes

7. Do you support the development of wind farms in coastal areas?
- Yes

8. Do you support the development of wind farms along mountain ridges?
- Yes

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
- No

4. Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- Yes

4. Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
- No Answer

5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

6. Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in North Carolina?
- No

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- d) ?

Social

1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
- Yes

2. Should North Carolina allow same-sex couples to form civil unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support state funding for stem cell research?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research?
- No

5. Do you support the state's use of affirmative action?
- Yes

6. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in North Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

7. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in North Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- d) ?f) ?g) ?I believe sex & gender are already included in any anti-discrimination law. There is not a need for a breakdown of discriminatory items. Embryonic stem cells that are stored (frozen) should be used rather than destroyed.

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- No Answer