Voter Guide Harnett County NC Election 2022

REPUBLICAN

Background: Sheriff Wayne Coats has served in the Harnett County Sheriff’s office for 25 years; he is a former deputy and became sheriff in 2016. He began his law enforcement career with the Dunn Police Dept. in 1974 and later joined the Sheriff’s office.

Coats did not respond to the candidate survey. He also declined to answer questions from WRAL News in 2021 after the Sheriff Department’s insurance company agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit  that alleged a pattern of excessive force by a group of deputies. Sheriff Coats, who was one of those named in the suit, referred to a brief statement in which he said, “This settlement is not in any way an admission of guilt to any actions of the deputies. Although I was not the sheriff at the time of the incidents, I still support the men that were involved and I believe they acted appropriately.” Several deputies named in the lawsuit were promoted,   according to WRAL.

Website: facebook.com/sheriffwaynecoats

DEMOCRAT

Background: 44 years Law Enforcement experience. Retired Military Police/NC State Trooper, academy instructor, weight enforcement officer, traffic accident investigator, drug suppression team investigator, and personal security for dignitaries and US Presidents.

Describe your top 2 or 3 priorities if elected: I will restore Safety and Trust to Harnett County by: 1) Working to obtain body cameras, establishing sensitivity training, and enacting a mental illness crisis plan, to minimize use of force incidents; and 2) Implementing a jail reform plan and revising the school resource officer program.

How would you enhance community accountability?  I will establish community policing, put policies and procedures in place to share information to the public without compromising a case, and get federal assistance for a sustainable mental health program. I will do this while providing Strong Leadership, Training, Transparency and Accountability.

Website: ElectReggieWatson.com

DEMOCRAT

Background: I’ve served our state for nearly 30 years as a public defender, judge and Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, where I’ve worked to uphold the Constitution, protect our rights, and keep communities safe – no matter the politics.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities: North Carolina’s next Senator must fight to lower costs for our communities, provide access to good paying jobs, and grow our economy – from capping the cost of insulin to $35/month, growing manufacturing and industry jobs across our state, to ensuring access to affordable child care.

Describe how you would address one specific issue – Price increases/inflation: There’s no doubt we need to lower costs. I would hold corporations like Big Oil accountable for flagrantly price-gouging and putting their shareholders above the interests of working North Carolinians. We also must continue to grow a Made-In-America economy, so events abroad don’t raise prices here.

Website: CheriBeasley.com

LIBERTARIAN

Background: I am an anti-war combat veteran and an expert in the technology sector. I’ve worked for   various departments of the federal government including deployments to Afghanistan. I have a masters in cyber security and am a huge advocate for blockchain.

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities: Veteran affairs, Cyber Security, Personal liberty.

Describe how you would address one specific issue – Gun regulation: I am opposed to any gun laws. Under the US Constitution, the people have the right to arm themselves against anything that may attack their home. There are no conditions to the Constitution.

Website: ShannonBray.us 

REPUBLICAN

Ted Budd did not respond to our survey.

GREEN

Background: Disabled Marine Corps combat veteran

Please describe your top 2 or 3 priorities: My priority is North Carolina’s working families. This means healthcare through Medicare for All, education available without cost at all levels, affordable housing, debt cancellation, and paying workers fair and just wages that are adjusted annually for inflation. We must end the war on drugs.

Describe how you would address one specific issue – Price increases/inflation: Adjust the minimum wage to reflect inflation and update it every year. Provide healthcare and education to all, and forgive medical and student debt to cut household costs. Begin a Green New Deal to end fossil fuel dependence, provide clean, renewable energy and create millions of high-paying jobs.

Website: MatthewHohForSenate.org

Parts of Harnett County are in two U.S. House Districts.  Find your District at ncvoter.org/distr

DEMOCRAT

Background: Son of Retired Army Pilot and Schoolteacher; Lt. Col., US Air Force (Ret.); 20 years at Ft. Bragg, training soldiers; 5-term Senator; Proud, Common Sense Democrat; Husband, Father, Leader, Servant, Christian.

Describe your top priorities: Protect democracy. Protect women’s rights. Reduce mass shootings and gun deaths. When guns have more rights than women and Congressmen participate in insurrections without consequence, our way of life is in jeopardy. This has to change.

How would you address one specific issue – Gun regulation: I’m a gun owner. The idea that Democrats want to take guns from law-abiding citizens is fear mongering. But we should take assault rifles out of teenagers’ hands.

Website: BenClarkNC.com

REPUBLICAN

Candidate did not respond to our survey.

REPUBLICAN

Candidate did not respond to our survey.

DEMOCRAT

Background: I’m a husband and father of 2. Two terms in the State Senate. Worked for Pres. Obama during the fight to deliver affordable healthcare, and VP Al Gore before him.

Describe your top priorities: Working for two White Houses and in the NC Senate, I’ve learned to build coalitions to get results for working people. I’m running for Congress to reach across the aisle and lower the cost of healthcare, build a strong economy, and protect reproductive rights.

How would you address one specific issue – Price increases/inflation: The rising cost of living has been hitting working families hard in NC13. In Congress, I’ll crack down on price gouging, support investments that bolster our supply chains and transportation routes, invest in the Manufacturing USA program, and prepare our workforce for the next generation of jobs.

Website: WileyNickelForCongress.com