Yahoo Movies Val Applewhite, candidate for NC Senate District 19
Name: Val Applewhite
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 61
Campaign website: www.valapplewhiteNCSenate.com
Occupation: Real estate
Education: MS in Political Science and Bachelor in Business Administration
Have you run for elected office before? Three term Fayetteville City Council member
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: NC Disciplinary Hearing Commission (DHC) public member, Board of Trustees Fayetteville State University
What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?
Medicaid Expansion/mental health, investment in school infrastructure/teacher pay, environment/clean water. These are long-standing issues not just in Senate District 19, but across North Carolina. I would work to build consensus to include these issues in the state budget. It is also critically important to engage county and local elected officials, our business community, non-profits and a cross section of the district to identify solutions and best practices to remedy these problems.
At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?
Compliance with the North Carolina State Constitution to provide a sound, basic education for all children (Leandro case), Medicaid expansion and affordable housing.
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?
It is difficult to discuss what the legislature has gotten right when it has failed to comply with the North Carolina State Constitution, lags most of the country in per pupil spending and teacher pay and has neglected failing infrastructure.
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.
The issue of women’s reproductive health is personal and one of choice. My position is that all decisions should be made by a woman with the advice of qualified medical professionals. I don’t believe it would be my role, or the role of any legislator to make medical decisions for women or assign arbitrary restrictions on the availability of — or access to — abortion in North Carolina; I will oppose any legislation that attempts to do so.
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 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction with the input of local education agencies, educators and parents are best suited to shape curriculum and address these issues.
Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?
Yes.
