Platform

I'm running to represent District 34 because we don't have to settle.

The platform below represents the issues that matter most to me — and what I'll tackle in office.

Healthcare Access

Access to healthcare shouldn't depend on your bank account. Too many people in North Carolina delay care because they are worried about the cost. They wait until a problem becomes urgent, then end up in an emergency room with bills they cannot manage. This hurts families and it drives up costs for everyone.

I have spent more than two decades working inside this system. I helped build a free clinic from the ground up and now work statewide with clinics that care for uninsured and underinsured people every day. I've seen what works and what does not.

WHAT I'LL FOCUS ON:

Strengthening and expanding community-based clinics that provide primary and preventative care
Supporting policies that help people access care earlier, before problems become crises
Reducing cost shifting that pushes medical debt onto families and hospitals
Investing in healthcare solutions that lower long-term costs instead of creating new ones

Healthcare should relieve pressure on families, not create financial ruin.

Education

North Carolina's teachers and students can't afford another term of gridlock in Raleigh. I will build a bipartisan coalition to support our schools and ensure every student gets a quality education. Teacher pay isn't a partisan issue — rural red districts and urban blue districts alike are losing teachers to other states. Running a community health clinic taught me how to bring business leaders, healthcare employers, economic development groups, and parents to the same table to get things done. Families deserve options when it comes to education, but public schools remain the backbone of our communities — educating every child who walks through the door, regardless of income, ability, or circumstance.

WHAT I'LL FOCUS ON:

Teacher Pay

NC ranks 43rd in average teacher salary ($60,323) and 38th in starting pay ($44,952) — about $13,000 below the national average. Every neighboring state pays new teachers more.
In the short term, we should match neighboring states' starting pay and make sure our salaries match the cost of living.
In the long term, we should aim to reach the national average and create a teacher pay structure that rewards experience and advanced degrees.

School Funding

NC ranks last in the nation for funding effort, spending ~$5,600 less per student than the national average
Repeated General Assembly budget failures have hurt schools, teachers, and families
I support phased, sustained increases in per-pupil funding that prioritize public investment over corporate tax cuts.

Accountability for Taxpayer Funds

I oppose diverting public funds to private schools not held to public accountability standards. We need to know that our public taxpayer funds are being spent effectively and for the benefit of our students.
The Opportunity Scholarship expansion without income caps has sent hundreds of millions to families who could already afford private tuition, taking money away from teacher pay and school safety.
I support restoring income caps and redirecting savings to the public funding formula.
Public schools serve the vast majority of NC kids, accept every student, and anchor communities, and we need to ensure these are a quality option for students who do not have others.
I support public charters that meet the same accountability standards as public schools; oppose for-profit models; and support expansion only where it fills a genuine need without draining traditional public schools.

Supporting teachers and public schools is one of the most effective ways to strengthen communities -- and ensure success for our future generations.

Affordability and Economic Development

Across North Carolina, families are feeling squeezed. Housing costs continue to rise. Childcare is expensive. Healthcare and insurance costs strain budgets. Nearly all of us are working hard and still struggling to stay afloat.

Affordability is not about getting ahead. It's about being able to stay where you are, plan for the future, and handle unexpected costs without everything falling apart.

WHAT I'LL FOCUS ON:

Addressing the root drivers of cost, not just short-term fixes
Supporting policies that promote housing stability and predictability
Making sure public systems work so families are not forced to pay privately to fill gaps
Protecting working families from unnecessary financial strain created by poor planning

People should be able to afford to live in the communities they serve and help sustain.

IV. Government should work, and work well.

Most people aren't asking the government to solve everything. They want it to do its job, use common sense, and not make life harder than it already is.

Too often, politicians lose focus. Leaders get pulled toward lobbyists, party pressure, and political tests that have little to do with the people back home.

WHAT I'LL FOCUS ON:

Treating taxpayer dollars with care and respect
Making decisions based on evidence and real-world experience
Prioritizing preparation, follow-through, and accountability
Staying focused on service rather than noise or spectacles

Competent government builds trust and makes everyday life more stable.

V. Freedom and dignity for women

Some healthcare decisions are deeply personal. They are complex, often difficult, and cannot be reduced to one-size-fits-all laws.

Women deserve privacy, trust, and respect when making healthcare decisions. Those decisions belong with women, their doctors, and the people they trust.

WHAT I'LL FOCUS ON:

Protecting medical decision-making from political interference
Preserving access to timely and safe healthcare
Respecting the complexity of real medical situations
Keeping government out of decisions it cannot fully understand

Trusting women isn't extreme. It's responsible.