Sarah Crawford, candidate for NC House District 66

Name: Sarah Crawford

Political party: Democrat

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 41

Campaign website: www.sarahfornc.com

Occupation: CEO, Tammy Lynn Center

Education: NC State University

Have you run for elected office before? Yes, NC Senate District 18 (2020 elected)

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I serve on the Ministry Leadership Team at my church, the Board of Advisors for the NCSU School of Public and International Affairs, and am a former board member of a nonprofit that serves victims of domestic violence. I also serve as CEO of TLC (founded as Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.)

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

My top priorities are healthcare, public education and a strong economy. Access to affordable, equitable healthcare starts by expanding Medicaid. Investing in public education is crucial for our children; this includes Pre-K, K-12 and higher education. Recruiting new companies and supporting our small businesses is key to our economy. Providing universal broadband will enable each of these areas to grow stronger with access to telehealth, online educational resources and telecommuting options.

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

We should be using the surplus to invest in critical infrastructure, including reducing healthcare costs, investing in public education, supporting broadband and investing in the workforce. We can also consider creative tax breaks for hard working families to offset rising property taxes, keeping our seniors and other vulnerable populations in their homes. The last thing we should be doing is giving out corporate tax breaks while our low and moderate income families struggle to make ends meet.

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?

NC’s legislators have shirked their constitutionally mandated responsibility to invest in public education and ensure a sound, basic public education for all North Carolina children. I will work to ensure that all public educators and school personnel receive raises and increase per-pupil spending. We must restore advanced degree pay and end pay for performance based on test scores. Additionally, the school voucher program pulls much needed resources from public schools without accountability.

Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?

There should be no restrictions on abortion.

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

During my time at the General Assembly, I have consistently voted to advance unbiased, high-quality healthcare for women including access to safe, legal abortion. North Carolina Republicans have sponsored many bills that would limit a woman’s constitutional right to choose and I have voted against all that have come before the Senate.

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 number one role that the General Assembly plays in public education is providing a sound, basic education for all students in North Carolina. Decisions regarding curriculum, content, materials and books should be left to the professional educators with appropriate parental involvement.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.