Milton F. (Toby) Fitch, candidate for NC Senate District 4

Name: Milton F. (Toby) Fitch

Political party: Democrat

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 76

Campaign website: https://fitchforsenate.com/

Occupation: Attorney and retired Superior Court Judge

Education: North Carolina Central University (BS, JD)

Have you run for elected office before? Served in NC House 1985-2001. Superior Court Judge 2001-2018. NC Senate 2018-Present

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Superior Court Judge, former Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina, former House majority leader, longtime civil rights attorney.

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

Cost of living, better education for our children, and creating new job opportunities. As senator, you have my word that I will fight to make sure that no family is forced to choose between paying the bills and putting food on their table.

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

While I fully support the need for a rainy day fund, I believe that the state government should prioritize correcting the budget shortfall we have with our education system. Teachers are leaving this state, and better funding could correct that urgent problem.

Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?

Yes.

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

While I appreciate the efforts of last year’s budget to address teacher pay, it is not enough. We need to take extra steps to support our teachers. They have weathered several difficult years of instruction and deserve to be treated better. I would like to see the legislature address the shortfall laid out in the Leandro decision.

Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?

The current state law banning abortion after 20 weeks should remain.

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

Abortion is a private matter to be decided between a woman and her healthcare provider.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Yes.

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

The job of the legislature is to make sure that our school system is well funded so that kids have a quality and reliable education that prepares them for their future and for the workforce. Anything else is a distraction. The State Board of Education clearly defines the Standard Course of Study that all educators must follow, the legislature needs to focus on our job, which is to fund schools.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.