E.C. Sykes, candidate for NC Senate District 18

Name: E.C. Sykes

Political party: Republican

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 62

Campaign website: ECforNC.com

Occupation: General partner, Aslan Ventures

Education: BSEE (NCSU), MSM (NCSU)

Have you run for elected office before? 2020 — NC Secretary of State

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: (1) NC NFIB Leadership Council - standing for small NC companies, (2) NC Values board member - standing for traditional NC Values, (3) NCSU Advisory Board - ECE - Electrical and Computer Engineering, (4) Foster parents

What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?

(1) Limited government. Our government has grown too large and inefficient. We should focus on taking out the waste and reducing its size and cost.

(2) Reduced taxes — funded by the smaller and more efficient government.

(3) Better schools. Our children are suffering from a system that has reduced its focus on teaching the basics.

At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?

Increased investments in N.C. infrastructure are critical to continuing our economic growth. The legislature’s implementation of a reduced tax structure and cost controls fostered the financial strength N.C. currently enjoys. I support continuing the strategy by further reducing taxes to help the hard-working families and preserving the emergency reserves.

Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?

Undecided.

What has the legislature gotten right, and what has it gotten wrong, about public education in North Carolina?

Expanding Opportunity Scholarships to enable lower income parents to make the best choices for their children. We need to do a better job of incentivizing and rewarding our best teachers.

Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?

Abortion should be banned starting at some point during the first trimester.

Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.

Restrictions on abortion should include exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. No penalties on the mother and continue with the existing penalties for providers who are habitual offenders.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Undecided.

What, if anything, should the legislature to do shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?

The public school system is not the place to be teaching through the prism of Critical Race Theory. Kindergarten through 3rd grade is not the place to be teaching sex ed. There are biological differences between boys and girls and this needs to be recognized in sports.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.