Wesley Harris, candidate for NC House District 105

Name: Wesley Harris

Political party: Democrat

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 36

Campaign website: www.harrisfornc.com

Occupation: Economist

Education: PhD in Economics, Clemson University ‘14, BA in Economics - UNC-Chapel Hill ‘09

Have you run for elected office before? Yes, I am currently serving my second term in the NC House representing District 105

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Member of the Charlotte Economics Club, former steering committee member for Arts and Science Council Young Donors Society

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

The three issues most important to my district are ensuring we have the necessary investments in quality education, smart infrastructure, and affordable health care. We are a growing district so I am working hard in Raleigh to make sure that we are making forward-looking investments so that we can not only continue to grow, but our communities are able to handle that growth so everyone is able to prosper.

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

We need to be using our budget surplus to do everything we can to help lower costs across the state. That means making strong investments in infrastructure to help ease congestion, expanding Medicaid so we can lower health care costs across the board, and invest in our local supply chains, so we can make more things close to home and limit the impact global forces have on necessities we rely on.

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?

Our recent investments in public education are nowhere near what they need to be. We have a public education crisis in North Carolina. We are losing teachers, having a hard time attracting new teachers and many schools do not have adequate facilities to prepare our children to be successful in today’s globalized world. We need a strong commitment to invest in our students and invest in our teachers so we can home-grow our talent and have an economy that works for everyone.

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 decision to have an abortion is a personal decision that should be made by a woman, her family, and her doctor. There is no place for the government to get between an individual and their healthcare decisions. Abortions should be safe and legal in North Carolina.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Yes.

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

Curricula should be determined by parents, teachers, and local school boards working together to do what is best for their community. The state legislature should not be in the business of dictating what can and cannot be taught in our schools.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.