2024 Nonpartisan Voter Guide Nash County North Carolina

The Governor manages the state’s operations, appoints agency heads, recruits new jobs, and can veto legislation.

REPUBLICAN

Current occupation: Lieutenant Governor

• Supports lower taxes and also tax subsidies for private K-12 schools.
• Opposes gun control.
• Would block right to abortion in most cases.
• Opposes action on climate change as “junk science” & calls the civil rights movement “crap.”
• Would “crack down on illegal immigration and make our country safer.”
• As Lt. Gov., fought “indoctrination” in schools.

Website: markrobinsonfornc.com

DEMOCRAT

Current occupation: Attorney General

• Supports more funds for teachers, public schools and child care centers.
• Would invest in “a clean energy economy” to create jobs and address global warming.
• Supports access to abortion & contraceptives.
• Supports an independent redistricting commission to protect voting rights.
• As Attorney General, sued scammers and makers of addictive drugs.

Website: joshstein.org

Due to space limits, this guide does not profile other candidates for Governor with under 5% of support, based on nonpartisan polling at the time of publication.  However, you can read about all the candidates at ncvoter.org/guide.

Candidates in each contest are listed in the order that they appear on your ballot.

Think Your 1 Vote Doesn’t Matter? In 2020, a top state official won by less than 1 vote per city in N.C. What you do matters! 

The N.C. Supreme Court is not well known, but citizens elect its 7 Justices and its rulings affect everything: voting rights, fair prices, parental rights, racial bias, water quality, your privacy, and more. You can choose 1 Justice this year.

REPUBLICAN

Current occupation: NC Court of Appeals Judge

• Former Wake Co. prosecutor and judge advocate general (JAG) officer in the Army National Guard.
• Says he is “an originalist and a textualist.” He “believes the words of the Constitution mean what they say,” and he values “the rule of law.”
• Says in his experience “the law is applied the same to all citizens.”

Endorsed by: More than three dozen sheriffs; N.C. Republican Party

Website: jeffersongriffin.com

DEMOCRAT

Current occupation: NC Supreme Court Judge

• Former civil rights and voting rights attorney.
• Says courts should protect the “right to privacy [and] access to medical care.”  
• Says she’s committed to “equal justice under   the law” because she has seen the justice system hold people back rather than give them “access to equity and fairness.”

Endorsed by: Sierra Club; N.C. Young Democrats 

Website: riggsforourcourts.com

In addition to President, you can choose legislators to represent your concerns in Congress and the N.C. General Assembly. Vote for 1 candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, 1 for N.C. Senate, and 1 for N.C. House based on your Districts. District lines are new this year; find yours at ncvoter.org/distr. 

DEMOCRAT

• Says: “Building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.”
• Supports affordable child care and health care, paid family leave, and the right to an abortion.
• Wants new gun control and voting rights laws.
• Would fight price gouging by corporations.
• Supported the bipartisan immigration reform bill opposed by Trump.

Website: kamalaharris.com

REPUBLICAN

• Says: “My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!”
• Plans to replace Obamacare with insurance markets.
• Will combat fraud with new limits on access to voting.
• Wants to “certify teachers who embrace patriotic values,” end teaching about racism, and let parents elect principals.

Website: donaldjtrump.com

Several other presidential candidates from other political parties are on the ballot; they are profiled at ncvoter.org/guide.

Members of Congress adopt the federal budget and laws affecting all aspects of local, national, and global affairs. They are elected by District and serve 2- year terms. North Carolina has 14 Congressional Districts. Nash County is in the 1st District.

DEMOCRAT

• Will work to boost access   to quality healthcare and affordable housing.
• Supports investing in job creation, high-speed inter-net, and public education.
• Says climate change will especially harm lower-income families.

Website: votedondavis.com

LIBERTARIAN

• Priorities: Reduce the national debt and eliminate federal taxes.
• Opposes gun control.
• Supports public   schools but opposes U.S. Department of Education.

Web: facebook.com/tombaileyforushouse

REPUBLICAN

• Would reduce regulation & boost free-market capitalism.
• Would “stop the siege by millions of illegal immigrants” by building the border wall.
• Opposes a woman’s right to abortion and supports gun owners’ rights.

Website: lauriebuckhoutforcongress.com

The N.C. General Assembly has 50 Senators and 120 Representatives serving 2-year terms. They adopt the state budget and laws affecting a wide range of topics. As in Congress, candidates have different views on how to represent the public interest on everything from abortion to tax fairness. See ncvoter.org/guide for more about the candidates in your District.

DEMOCRAT

• Director of Military Studies at N.C. Wesleyan U.
• Supports changes to address oversized classes and underpaid teachers.
• Would improve law enforcement with community policing, officer accountability, and crime prevention initiatives.
• Supports initiatives to boost affordable housing and economic growth.

Website: votejamesmercer.com

REPUBLICAN

• Now in N.C. Senate.
• Supports plans to “drive down corporate tax rates [and] control government spending.”
• Would address barriers to healthcare, including costly regulations and malpractice insurance.
• Supports local choices for parents and students, including charter schools and public grants to attend private academies.

Website: lisabarnesfornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Now in the N.C. House; pastor.
• Will promote prosperity with policies that incentivize careers, education, and generational wealth.
• Says: “Students are leaving school with no marketable skills. However, promoting trade skills in our K-12 system is [a] victory for all.”
• Opposes “communist co-opters” who say voter ID law harms minorities.

Website: fontenotforhouse.com

DEMOCRAT

• Barton College staff; Army National Guard captain.
• Supports better funding of public schools; opposes giving wealthy families tax funds for sending their children to private schools.
• Supports expanding affordable housing options.
• Wants to improve rural healthcare access and   also protect “a woman’s right to reproductive freedom.”

Website: pittmanfornc.com

LIBERTARIAN

• High school history teacher.
• Advocates “people, not politics.” Specific policy plans are not apparent on his Facebook page.

Web: facebook.com/TaylorforNCHouse

DEMOCRAT

• Inter-Faith Food Shuttle executive staff.
• Supports labor unions & investing in small businesses.
• Would protect reproductive rights and voting rights.
• Will tackle climate change as a major “national threat.”

Website: lorenzawilkinsfornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Now in N.C. House; VP of tech & security company.
• Supports tax cuts and less regulation of businesses.
• Says he’s “100% pro-life” and against abortion.

Website: allenchesser.com

The County Commission adopts the budget for schools & other agencies, and it oversees land use, affordable housing, the health department, recreation, and many other vital services. This year, voters elect 3 of the 7 members on the Commission, depending on the District where you live. Visit ncvoter.org/guide for the candidates on your ballot.

DEMOCRAT

This candidate is unopposed.

REPUBLICAN

• Now owns HS Howell Farms; former corporate career in home improvement industry.
• Says his priorities are “Agriculture, First Responders, Smart Growth, and Transparency.”
• Wants funding for sheriff & ambulance services.

Website: votefreddyhowell.com

DEMOCRAT

• Owner of Second Wind Computers; former N.C. Highway Patrol officer.
• Says his priorities are “Public Safety, Educational Excellence, and Environmental Sustainability.”
• Supports more resources for law enforcement.

Web: facebook.com/carnell.taylor.129

REPUBLICAN

• Now a Commissioner; works at Leggett Farms.
• Will continue to prioritize keeping county taxes low while “making sure that Nash County thrives and local needs [are] met.”
• Believes in “Conservative values” for governing.
• Supports agriculture & the farming community.

  Web: facebook.com/sueleggettnashcounty

DEMOCRAT

• Retired from military career and former Rocky Mount Fire Chief.
• Wants new infrastructure to address rapid growth in Southern Nash County.
• Would emphasize workforce readiness, equity, and education, including better pay for teachers.

Website: coreycmercer.com

The Board of Education hires the School Superintendent and oversees finances, pupil placement, school policies, and curriculum choices. Because of a new law, the number of Board members is being reduced from 11 to 7 this year. Schools in the Edgecombe County part of Rocky Mount will be under the Edgecombe Co. Board of Education.

Nash Co. Board of Education members are elected by District on a nonpartisan basis. The District boundaries are all new; the District lines are the same as those for the 7 members of the Nash Co. Board of Commissioners. Vote for 1 candidate in your District. Find your District and the candidates on your own ballot at ncvoter.org/guide.

This candidate is unopposed.

This candidate is unopposed.

• Current Board of Education member. Retired N.C. Highway Patrol Lieutenant and now Assistant Chief  of Police of RDU International Airport.
• Priorities: school safety, community engagement,   and technology. Wants “schools so good that people will move here” to help their children prosper.

Website: none

• Current Board of Education member. Previously worked at Southern Nash High School, which he   also attended as a student.
• Originally from Spring Hope, where he still lives.
• No policy positions posted.

 Web: facebook.com/franklin.lamm

• Current Board of Education member. CEO and Founder of PTL Family and Workforce Services. Previously worked as industrial engineer and as director of operations at Roanoke Schools.
• Priorities: increase supplementary pay for teachers; navigate “demerger” with Edgecombe schools; create high-performing schools.

Website: none

No website or information provided assistant.

Current Board of Education member. Now fire marshall; formerly an adjunct professor.

Priorities: good financial management for school construction and better paid teachers; put SROs and detection scanners in all schools for safety.

Web: facebook.com/ChrisBissette4

This candidate is unopposed.

• Current Board of Education member. Now Director of College and Career Readiness at Edgecombe Community College.
• Serves as VP of Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership (STEP); its mission is to facilitate lifelong learning and workforce development for residents.

Website: none

• Current Board of Education member. Past President of N.C. School Boards Association, now on its Board of Directors.
• Serves on Safer Schools Task Force and as an Advisor to the Public School Forum. Also serves as an Advisor to State Board of Education.

Website: none

• Current Board of Education member. N.C. Probation Revocation Hearing Officer.
• Priority 1: seek grants and other resources to “continue to make progress on ensuring the safety of our students.”
• Priority 2: continue the demerger process with Edgecombe County schools to “get our system out of low performing status” and retain “our most qualified teachers.”

Website: none

• Current Board of Education member. Director     of Operations at The Impact Academy. Previously was a health, safety, and environmental instructor at Edgecombe Community College and a history teacher at Rocky Mount High School and Rocky Mount Prep.
• Priorities: academic excellence; accountability of practices; and alignment of the curriculum with the development of students as future leaders and workers.

Web: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562643735639

• Nash County Register of Deeds: Sandra Dawes Davis (Democrat), unopposed
• Superior Court Judge, District 8A, Seat 1:  Tim Wilson (Democrat), unopposed
• District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 3:  William Solomon Jr. (Democrat), unopposed
• District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 4:  Matthew P. Sperati (Democrat) versus Jennifer K. Bennington (Republican)
• District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 5:  Ed Brown (Democrat), unopposed
• District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 6:  William C. Farris (Democrat), unopposed
• District Court Judge, District 8, Seat 7:  Alicia Slaughter (Democrat), unopposed
• Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor:  Timothy Mills II versus Robert Covington

The Governor appoints leaders of some agencies (e.g., health and commerce), but voters elect 8 officials to lead other departments, plus the Lt. Governor. Here are the major-party candidates for those positions.

Candidates are in order as they appear on the ballot 

*A third party candidate for this office is profiled at ncvoter.org/guide

The Lt. Governor presides over the N.C. Senate and sits on the N.C. Board of Education and other boards.

DEMOCRAT

• Supports investing in public school teachers rather than giving tax money to private academies.
• Emphasizes “standing with rural NC” for economic opportunity, broadband, and affordable housing.
• Supports access to abortion and healthcare.
• Promotes job training and housing for veterans.

Website: rachelhunt.com

REPUBLICAN

• Supports placing “armed school resource officers in each and every K-12 school.” Opposes gun control.
• Give companies tax breaks for apprenticeship jobs.
• For “Heartbeat” law to ban abortion after 6 weeks.
• Wants to integrate community college with universities to promote trades and practical skills.

Website: halweathermanfornc.com

The AG leads the Dept. of Justice, which protects consumers, defends state agencies, and advises local law enforcement.

DEMOCRAT

• Supports criminal justice reform: stop racial bias in sentencing, reduce incarceration for non-violent offenses, and improve reentry programs. Also supports public access to police camera videos.
• Supports gun control: require universal back-ground checks and enact “red flag” protective laws.
• Supports expanding voting rights, independent redistricting, and ending secret money in politics.

Website: jeffjacksonnc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Says: “Crime and lawlessness is out of control in our state and I believe restoring a culture of law and order is the most important job of the next AG.”
• Says he’s now “one of the toughest and most outspoken conservatives in Congress.” 
• Supports stronger measures to stop voter fraud and “ballot-box stuffing.” Opposes independent redistricting commission to draw impartial political districts. 

Website: votedanbishop.com

The Superintendent heads the Dept. of Public Instruction, which implements Board of Education policies and state law.

DEMOCRAT

• Experience: Led Guilford County School System.
• Top goals: “Prepare each student for their next phase in life.” “Enhance parent and community support” and a “safe, secure learning environment.”
• Supports more funds for pre-K schools, rural youth apprenticeships, and an 8.5% raise for teachers.
• Opposes “taxpayer-funded private school vouchers for the very wealthy.”

Website: mogreenfornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Experience: Homeschool teacher and nurse.
• Supports an “independent audit of the public school system” and will challenge “indoctrination centers.”
• Believes school funding must be “fueled by a fiscally conservative, free-market, competitive environment.”
• Opposes teaching students about race and racism.
• Opposes COVID mandates; says “teachers unions forced school closures.”

Website: morrow4nc.com

The Secretary of State manages the registration of businesses, charities, and lobbyists and maintains N.C.’s official records.

DEMOCRAT

• Has served as N.C. Secretary of State since 1997.
• Says: “I’ve worked to cut red tape for entrepreneurs starting companies, prosecute criminals who masquerade as charities, and crack down on financial fraud.”
• Supports modernizing notary and other services.

Website: elainemarshall.com

REPUBLICAN

• Serves on the Gaston Co. Board of Commission- ers; was previously Town of Stanley mayor.
• Would “promote innovation and small business growth” and “protect consumers from fraud and identity theft.”

Website: electchadbrown.com

The Treasurer oversees state investments, local government borrowing, and the state employee health & retirement plans.

DEMOCRAT

• Plans to “protect our strong bond rating” and “expand our investment capacity” by moving more funds “sitting in cash” into higher-yield investments.
• Says: “The Treasurer’s office shouldn’t be a play-ground for partisan games.”

Website: harrisfornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Top priority: ”Remedy the chronic underperformance of the Retirement System” caused by “an irrational love of risk-free fixed income investments.”
• Would give a “fiduciary board of professionals,” not just the Treasurer, authority for investment decisions.

Website: bradbriner.com

The State Auditor reviews the financial management of agencies and programs that receive public funds.

DEMOCRAT

• Current Auditor; former Wake Co. Commissioner.
• Says she is “committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars as the NC Auditor, leveraging her expertise, integrity, and unwavering dedication to equitable policies for the betterment of N.C.”

Website: jessicafornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Former prosecutor and UNC-CH Trustees Board chair.
• Says: “Led fight at UNC to eliminate woke diversity” and has “expertise to root out government corruption.”
• Would expose waste in government, “scrub voter rolls,” and examine efficiencies at DMV and schools.

Website: auditordave.com

The Commissioner leads the Labor Department, which inspects workplaces and enforces laws about worker health & safety.

REPUBLICAN

• Says: “Will fight for free enterprise, fair competition, and cutting government red tape.”
• Will protect workers who refuse orders to receive a COVID vaccine; opposes new heat stress regulations.
• Supports “accountability by keeping the commissioner’s picture on elevator certificates.”

Website: lukefarleync.com

DEMOCRAT

• Says: “CNBC ranked NC as #1 state to do business [but] Oxfam ranked NC as worst state to be a worker. This is unacceptable. Our workers deserve better.”
• Will ensure workers “work in a safe environment.”
• Will be a “whole worker” advocate for fair pay, job rights, training, and affordable health care & housing.

Website: votebraxton.com

The Commissioner leads the Dept. of Agriculture, which has the double role of promoting farm products and food safety.

DEMOCRAT

• Current farm and food systems manager.
• Says Ag Dept. should promote high-value crops, like berries, fruits, hemp, etc.; canneries; farms in Appalachia; processing facilities for nuts.
• Supports innovating financing for farmers, co-ops, and profit-sharing models to boost rural jobs.

Website: taberfornc.com

REPUBLICAN

• Served as Commissioner of Agriculture since 2005.
• Has focused on “developing new markets for N.C. farm products, preserving working farms and protecting the state’s food supply.”
• Promotes meat production and the “Got To Be NC” ag marketing programs, which he says are successful.

Website: stevetroxler.com

The Commissioner regulates insurance rates & practices, licenses building inspectors, and trains firefighters & rescue squads.

DEMOCRAT

• Current state Senator and attorney.
• Says: “My mission has always been to stand up against corruption, corporate greed, and bad government.”
• Would “force insurance companies to justify their rates at public hearings,” which doesn’t happen now.

Website: natashamarcus.com

REPUBLICAN

• Served as Insurance Commissioner since 2017.
• Would abolish Rate Bureau role in setting insurance rates because it “kills free enterprise.”
• Has added fraud inspectors, added consumer services, and cleared backlog of fire dept. inspections.

Website: mikecauseync.com

Court of Appeals judges hear appeals of criminal and civil cases from local courts; 3 of the Court’s 15 seats are open in 2024.

REPUBLICAN

Attorney and former state legislator, prosecutor, and judge advocate in the Army National Guard.

Website: jointom.com

DEMOCRAT

Current Court of Appeals judge; former Superior Court judge and attorney in private practice.

Website: judgecarolynthompson.com

DEMOCRAT

Attorney with over a decade of experience in trial and appellate  court litigation.

Website: eldredforjudge.com

REPUBLICAN

Current Court of Appeals judge; previously practiced law for 26 years in family firm.

Website: reelectjudgezachary.com

REPUBLICAN

Current District Court judge in Rockingham and Caswell counties and former district attorney.

Website: chrisfreemanforjudge.com

DEMOCRAT

Buncombe Co. Commissioner with mediation and appellate law practice; former public defender.

Website: martinforjudge.com