“Much of the social history of the Western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good.” - Thomas Sowell

We have watched over the last two years as one of the best economies in memory has been ruined before our eyes. We went from rising wages and “now hiring'' signs in every store window, to signs which read “closed for business” and headlines of record breaking prices for gas, groceries and other basic commodities. “Let them eat cake,” is not a sufficient response from our elected officials.

While Republicans have done a great deal over the last decade in improving North Carolina's economy, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Locally, our infrastructure is in poor shape. Some areas of our county are dealing with water and sewage systems which are sixty to eighty years old; throughout Cabarrus, we are at our limit in regards to water capacity and we need to resolve this issue if we want to see continued growth and the rip roaring economy we all desire.

We need to ensure that businesses, large and small, have the tools they need not just to survive, but to thrive in North Carolina. We should be seeking input from employers to determine which regulations are placing too great a burden on local industries, and repeal them. We need a tax code which doesn’t punish success. We need to allow entrepreneurs and sole proprietors the option to purchase group health insurance plans, allowing them to reinvest their savings elsewhere.

I am a proud fiscal conservative, I believe in limited government and unlimited freedom. If elected, I will fight every day to uphold and defend the North Carolina Constitution and the principles of free enterprise which allowed our nation to go from untamed wilderness to the most powerful economy the world has ever seen in under 200 years.

We need to defend our police, not defund them…

We are fortunate to have some of the best law enforcement professionals in the state of North Carolina, we need to ensure they have the tools they need to continue to keep our community safe. One major issue facing our law enforcement officers locally are politically motivated unfunded mandates,

Many departments simply cannot afford the burden of unfunded mandates, regardless of the intentions behind them. We should ensure that if we are requiring new reporting or training metrics on local law enforcement, that these measures are fully funded instead of passing the buck on local governments. One of the first bills I plan to introduce, if elected, is a bill requiring that any new regulations or requirements on local law enforcement agencies are fully funded by the state.

A major complaint by local law enforcement professionals, is a lack of accountability for those who file false complaints against law enforcement officers. Currently in the state of North Carolina, there are no repercussions for people who knowingly file false complaints against police officers, potentially ruining their career out of spite.

I think this is unacceptable. Obviously, we want to hold our law enforcement to a high standard and hold them accountable when they do something wrong, but we should also expect a basic standard of decency and accountability from members of our community as well.

If elected, I would sponsor legislation similar to what we have seen in states such as Wisconsin ( ex. WI Stat § 946.66 (2014) ) which penalizes those who knowingly make a false complaint against the conduct of a law enforcement officer.

My grandparents fled Communist China seeking freedom and opportunity

As an Asian-American (my mother being a Chinese immigrant) the current dialogue in the country regarding race is very important to me. We must however, avoid the pitfalls of ideologically bankrupt ideologies which divide our society. “Critical Race Theory'' is not about creating equality of opportunity, it is about creating equality of outcomes. This is antithetical to our way of life in America. My grandparents fled Communist China seeking freedom and opportunity; they didn’t move to America just to work hard and have the same result as those who refused to work.

Critical Race Theory is being used to foster socialist and communistic ideas under the guise of sensitivity and equity. We should not be teaching our children that America is evil, we should teach them that America is blessed. America is truly the land of opportunity, my grandparents and my mother are clear examples of that. Coming from being on meat rations every month with a handful of meat to go around in a family of four under the communists, to living in America and working their way into the middle class. 

We should not promote ideas that suggest that anyone in our free society should live with guilt by default, based on the color of their skin or the nation that they come from. As your representative I will fight this poison with passion and with every tool available to me.

As the daughter of immigrants, I firmly believe that our state should never support Critical Race Theory being taught in our schools, brought into our public institutions, funded by our taxpayer dollars, or any other mechanism that the government has control over.

While we cannot prevent private entities from engaging in this sort of divisive rhetoric, we as leaders must encourage all citizens to avoid this sort of destructive ideology. I would further demand that the state not do any business with any company that is forcing this ideology upon their employees. 

I am a firm supporter of Pro-life policies

As women, we often have to face difficulties that our male counterparts will never be able to imagine. The question of bringing an unexpected child into the world is one of those struggles for some women. I value every baby's life and will work to make sure that every woman and child, born or unborn, is taken care of.

My paternal great grandmother had a child out of wedlock at the age of 16 and was disowned by her family during the Great Depression. She chose to have the child, but was only able to get back on her feet because of charitable institutions, like the Salvation Army, who took her in, found her stable employment and got her on the path to self reliance.

I am a firm advocate for nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and legislation which encourages and helps provide the best support, education, and counseling to women who face the challenge of carrying an unexpected pregnancy to term. We also must work to improve our foster care system so that there is no longer this narrative among the younger generation that it would be “better” to abort their child than to allow them to grow up in the system.

Unless and until Roe v. Wade is overturned, many legislative proposals which conservatives bring forward will simply be thrown out in the courts. We must work on ways to reduce abortions, focus on ways to simplify the adoption process, make it easier for struggling single mothers to keep their children, make sure young people understand the emotional and physical trauma associated with an abortion along with what other options they have that wouldn’t result in a loss of life. 

The Constitution of the United States enumerates the rights of its citizens, rights granted by God, which shall not be infringed by the whims of politicians.  

Our right to bear arms has been under heavy fire over the last several decades. As a constitutional conservative, I believe that it is imperative to defend our God given rights. A well-armed citizenry provides for safer communities, reduces crime rates, and is a check on governmental overreach. We have seen just recently in Venezuela and Hong Kong how easy it is for tyrannical regimes to trample the rights of its citizens. With my family, living under communist rule this is a lived experience, not something that they read in a textbook. They learned first hand how not having the right to bear arms, or for that matter, the right to freedom of speech can leave a nation begging for freedom. 

There are currently training and financial barriers to obtaining a concealed carry permit in North Carolina. These financial and training barriers disproportionately affect lower income North Carolinians and make the prospect of defending their home or themselves more difficult. As a young woman, I believed that it was crucial I take the necessary steps to protect myself and obtain my concealed carry permit. The time and financial burden which I had to sacrifice to be able to “legally” exercise my human right to carry a firearm (delaying my ability to defend myself) has emboldened my belief that North Carolina needs to pass Constitutional Carry legislation.

Governor Cooper and many democrats want to place further burdens on the people of North Carolina by passing legislation that not only makes it more difficult to purchase firearms, but also criminalizes the possession of common firearms by existing gun owners. Democrats want to make it more difficult to carry a concealed weapon in North Carolina, I simply believe that this is wrong. 

As your representative, I will fight against legislation that would further increase bureaucratic red tape to exercise our second amendment rights.

I pledge to work towards the development of ”Constitutional Carry” legislation, and do everything in my power to defend the castle doctrine in North Carolina. 

North Carolina is home to more than 736,000 Veterans, including my fiance Ben, who served in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Divison. Veterans represent nearly 10 percent of the state’s total population. Few understand the cost of freedom like our nation's veterans and we owe them a tremendous debt.

If elected, one of the first bills I would introduce would be what I call the North Carolina Veteran Education in Tech/Trades (NCVETT) Act. 

NCVETT would allow any Veteran - who has been a resident of North Carolina for no less than one year , regardless of the status of GI Bill Benefits, to attend any state recognized tech or trade certification program at no cost. These high paying, rapidly expanding sectors of our economy can benefit from the incredible work ethic and adaptability of our veterans; while our veterans benefit from expanded options in education.

   Did you know that between 1985 and 2011 the average tuition nationwide increased by almost 500 percent? That’s more than four times the rate of inflation.

I began my journey into public service because I saw problems that needed to be addressed regarding the cost of Higher Education. I saw how student loans and inflated tuition costs impacted my friends growing up. In 2016, we allowed Bernie Sanders to own the narrative on Higher Education Reform, peddling the pipe dream of “Free Tuition.” By and large, Republicans seemed unwilling to offer conservative solutions to the college debt crisis.

We allowed Sanders to own this space where he seemed to be the only person who cared about the issue so many young people faced. Ultimately, we are in this mess because the government got involved in higher education by instituting financial aid. This initiative has artificially inflated the market so much, that the cost of tuition, even when adjusted for inflation, has more than quadrupled. 

The cost of textbooks has increased by nearly 1000% in real dollars over the last 50 years. This led me to have a conversation with my father about how it seemed like “someone” needed to do “something,” my father looked at me and asked-a life changing question: “Catherine, instead of complaining about it, why don’t you do something about it?” From that moment on I knew it was time for me to get off of the sidelines and take the initiative to try and be that “someone” who did “something” to make positive change. 

So, being 18 and not fully appreciating the political situation surrounding the issue, I had to determine where to start in the political process - because I was on a mission to make a change. I dove head first into politics, got extremely active with my county GOP and ended up meeting my future State House Representative at the polls. Through this conversation she ended up writing her first house bill as a freshman legislator on the idea that I had for higher education reform. Her idea in Texas is similar to what NC has done already, which is capping upon entry for a four year degree so that they cannot increase the cost while students are enrolled in a four year degree program. This changed my life, because for the first time, I felt like you didn’t have to be “someone” to make positive change, you could be anyone. I had found the purpose that I had been searching for.

I am also a strong advocate for School Choice, coming from a homeschooled background I have seen the opportunities and challenges which a “non-traditional” education can provide. Additionally, School Choice has been shown to increase student and parental satisfaction, provides for the ability to tailor an education to a child's needs and interests, and provides greater opportunities for low income families. 

Another substantial issue that must be addressed is the administrative bloat within our education system. Across our nation we have seen a 702% increase in non-teaching and school administrative positions within our public schools and universities, despite only having an 96% increase in overall student population. We need to make sure that Federal and State funding for our education system is going to our actual educators, and not towards administrators who simply serve bureaucratic roles and create red tape for students and parents. 

The pandemic has effected every aspect of our lives

From losing friends and loved ones, lost careers and businesses, the pandemic has been one of the most impactful events of the 21st century. Stopping the Covid pandemic is a priority for all of us, but we must ensure our civil liberties remain intact during this difficult time. Let me be clear: I support voluntary vaccinations, I myself have been vaccinated. I believe, and the data shows, that the vaccine is the best tool we have to bring a swift end to the pandemic. That being said, I do not support mandatory vaccinations.

I am the only Republican in the race who has taken a stand against mask mandates

I stand against mandatory vaccinations and mandatory masking - with the exception of sensitive medical environments - because I trust North Carolinians to make the best choices for their own health and welfare. I do not support the idea of vaccine passports. Our right to privacy is sacred and I endeavor to protect it, regardless of political and social pressure. If private businesses choose to have internal policies regarding these issues, that is their prerogative; it is not, however, the role of government to regulate the personal health decisions and behaviors of it's citizens.

I support increasing research and expanding tests, treatments and vaccinations to those who need them - regardless of socioeconomic status. While I am open to creative strategies and suggestions to reduce the pandemic's effects, I will not do so at the expense of personal freedoms and constitutional liberties.

Human Trafficking is an international crisis that needs our attention at the local and state level.

Human Trafficking is an international issue that needs Local and State action. In America, on a dollar-to-dollar basis, human trafficking is far worse than overseas. Despite the fact that North Carolina’s human trafficking laws offer some of the nations strictest criminal penalties, we still rank 11th in the nation for human trafficking. Additional legislative work needs to be done is to eliminate the sources of human trafficking, create a civil course of action for victims to recover damages from the individuals who financially benefitted from trafficking activity, and expand the resources available for victims. 

In 2018, I helped in organizing a summit to stop human trafficking in North Carolina and raise awareness about this crucial, yet often overlooked issue. Participants from all backgrounds, including over a dozen organizations who work on the issue within the state, came together in an emotional and constructive event to discuss this important crisis. The Summit resulted in bi-partisan discussions, leading to legislation in the General Assembly the following session. All men, women, and children should be able to live without fear; they deserve to have the freedom to live their lives as they choose - full of the opportunities that our great state has to offer!

We are working to release further sections on issues facing our community, so check back soon! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to my campaign by using the “contact” link at the top of the page. Thanks!

-Catherine Whiteford, Candidate for NC House