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Erin Paré, candidate for NC House District 37

Name: Erin Paré

Political party: Republican

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 44

Campaign website: erinfornc.com

Occupation: Small business owner

Education: M.A. International Commerce and Policy, George Mason University; B.A. Government and International Politics, George Mason University

Have you run for elected office before? I was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2020 to represent District 37

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Founder and Director of a local nonprofit in youth music education; former PTA president and board member at Holly Ridge Elementary School; former vice-chair of the Holly Springs Board of Adjustment; member, Holly Springs Rotary Club; former Sunday School teacher at Sunrise United Methodist Church; member of Triangle Community Church; former board member of the Wake County Republican Women’s Club

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

Economy/Inflation: I will continue to support low taxes, smart regulatory reform, a cost-wise approach to state spending and prudent savings. Safe and strong schools: I am a champion of law enforcement and school resource officers. I support investing in our schools and parental school choice. Transportation and infrastructure: I returned $32 million in taxpayer dollars to District 37 for traffic and safety and $2 million for increased clean water capacity. I will continue to fight for District 37 needs in the General Assembly.

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

We should allow taxpayers to keep as much of their hard-earned money as possible and take a cost-wise approach to state spending. In recessionary times, the creation of an Inflationary Reserve was the right and responsible thing to do. I support balancing additional tax cuts with investments in school security, transportation and infrastructure, and continued broadband expansion to benefit education and economic growth. We need to raise teacher pay and be the top in the Southeast for teachers.

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?

As a mom of two in the Wake County Public School System and past PTA president, I voted for the budget, which dedicates nearly 60% to education, including teacher pay raises, school resource officers, school construction, early learning and a supplemental teacher pay fund for rural school districts. My bill, HB309, raised pay for noncertified school staff. The legislature should invest in hands-on workforce readiness programs, mental health resources, and fully fund our schools with an eye on how money is spent, not just how much money is spent.

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.

I am pro-life, and there are two very special people in my life who are why I am pro-life. State government should adopt laws which prioritize the protection of innocent human life, and demonstrate compassion and respect for a woman’s need for bodily autonomy. Abortion law should include exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. I do not support an outright ban on abortion. Unrestricted late-term abortion, when a fetus can feel pain and has developed organs, should not be legal.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Undecided.

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

The legislature has a duty to enact laws that protect children and ensure age-inappropriate material is not taught in NC schools. Such legislation should promote parental involvement in a child’s education, especially regarding topics such as sexuality and gender. NC curriculum should be fact-based accounts of history and taught without political bias.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.