Former House District 27 representative Michael H. Wray is seeking to regain his seat and is running against incumbent Rodney D. Pierce.
The following are his answers to candidate questions submitted by rrspin.com:
Occupation: Small business owner, Independent Insurance agent, farm manager
Education: Attended Atlantic Christian College, Now Barton College
Civic, church, and fraternal organizations: Victory Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids, former member of the Gaston Lions Club, former member of the Gaston Volunteer Fire Department, former member of the Northampton Rotary Club
Party affiliation: Democrat
Why have you decided to run for this office or seek re-election? What are your qualifications to hold this position?
Growing up in Northampton County, my parents taught me the values of faith, family and giving back to the community. I have served as a town commissioner in Gaston. I have served on the Governor’s Economic Development Commission. I have served 20 years in the North Carolina House. I have the background, the experience and the leadership to serve Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
What are the biggest problems facing the state and how do you plan to address them? Please elaborate.
First and foremost, the biggest issue facing our state and our district at this time is the future of Medicaid Expansion. The threat of federal budget cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will have a profound impact on our region and the entire state.
I was proud to work with Governor Cooper as a primary sponsor for Medicaid Expansion, getting the legislation passed in 2023. This legislation provided nearly 20,000 patients in our district with affordable healthcare insurance coverage. It was a major boost to our doctors and hospitals as well.
It’s imperative that we protect Medicaid Expansion for our working families and our healthcare providers in this region.
The General Assembly’s failure to pass a budget is another issue that needs to be addressed. We need leadership that can bring people together — that can work across party lines and get things done. Our teachers, our state employees, our State Troopers and our Correction Officers deserve a pay raise. Their salary schedules need to be increased so the state can be competitive when recruiting and retaining teachers and state employees.
Rural economic development is another major issue. Throughout my tenure, I worked to bring home state funds to help our district with job creation and economic development projects. I will continue those efforts if I am re-elected to the NC House.
Who did you support in the last governor’s race? Please elaborate.
I support Governor Josh Stein. I gave him a major contribution. I have a great deal of respect for the governor. I have a working relationship with the governor and his staff.
The governor knows that I am my own man — that I will always put the people of Halifax, Northampton, and Warren counties first — not party politics. I will not cower to the party elites in Raleigh and I will not be hostage to the political bosses. I am going to stand on my own two feet and fight for the people here at home.
What are the biggest problems facing House District 27 and how do you plan to address them? Please elaborate.
Economic prosperity and job creation for rural North Carolina is one of the biggest issues facing our district. We are all tier one, low-wealth counties, so it’s imperative that our state representative in Raleigh is fighting for funding to help our county governments, our cities and towns and our local community organizations.
During my 20 years in the NC House, I brought home more than $200 million in state funds for our district. These monies paid for a new courthouse in Jackson, major building renovations in Halifax County, funds for the EMS First Responders in Warren County. The monies helped several local fire departments purchase new fire trucks and much needed equipment. They funded improvements to local water-sewer systems and kept a nursing home open in Northampton County.
These are monies that went to vital projects and helped our local community. I will continue to fight for our district and make sure we get state funding for critical projects like workforce development at our community colleges.
For Mr. Pierce and Mr. Wray: Please elaborate only on the accomplishments you made in your very first term in office.
In my first term, I delivered more than $11 million in funding for NC CAR in Northampton County. I worked on the property transfer of the Warren County National Guard Armory from the state government to the county government. I secured DOT funding for two turn-lane projects at the Warren County high-tech high school. I worked with the House Leadership to create the critical needs fund for low-wealth counties. I worked with Governor Easley and the DOT to oppose Toll Roads on I-95. This was all in my first term of office. Here’s a complete list of projects funded during my first term from the office of Legislative Fiscal Research:
Mediation Fund, serves low-income legal services in Vance and Warren Counties — $134,031
Northampton Recreation & Cultural Arts Center — $20,000
Northampton Education Foundation — $5,000
Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, building a community center — $100,000
Warrenton National Guard Armory — $50,000
Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Association — $7,500
Warren County Rescue Squad — $5,000
Vance County Public School Fund — $5,000
Henderson-Vance Clean-up Funds, “Friends of Clean-Up Henderson” — $100,000
Henderson- Vance Downtown Development Commission — $5,000
Vance County Visitor Center Museum — $100,000
Each year, the Halifax County Intergovernmental Association, with input from the municipalities, develops a list of legislative goals. Have you reviewed those goals? Which goals seem most important to you, and which seem most achievable?
I have not received those goals at this time. I have worked with the Halifax County Intergovernmental Association in the past on major issues like paying off the public debt for the Roanoke Rapids Theatre and funding for workforce development programs at the community college. I will continue to do so if re-elected.
Please elaborate on what you would bring to the table should you be elected to this office.
I know how the State Legislature works. I know you have to be there to get things done. You have to create friendships and alliances that will make sure our district gets the state funding it needs to support important programs back here at home. That’s what I bring to the table. I am more about results than a bunch of political rhetoric. I am not going to apologize for standing up and fighting for our district. I am going to put the people first.
What are your plans for addressing the state’s mental health problems?
We have a mental health crisis in our state. Patients and families that need access to mental healthcare and drug rehab can’t get it. When they go to the local resources they are often put on a waiting list or told there aren’t any providers who can take care of them.
We need an overhaul of our state’s mental healthcare delivery system. We need more resources and providers in rural areas. We need to make sure that those who need help get it.
I will work in the halls of the State Legislature and on the floor of the House to reform our mental health delivery system – making it more patient focused and driven by positive outcomes.
The issue of casinos — specifically for the Carolina Crossroads Music and Entertainment District — came to a halt after much fanfare. Is this an issue you would be willing to reopen? What is the current status of this matter in the General Assembly, and what is your opinion on it?
The fact is the needs of our state are outpacing our revenues. With the Republicans in power, they are not going to increase the state’s income taxes so they have worked to expand the state base, but even with that revenues are tight.
I support using gaming and expanded lottery games to increase revenue. I could support having the lottery oversee video lottery games like they are doing in Virginia. I would support a casino on I-95 in Halifax County.
I think we must be creative and we must be competitive. We are seeing expanded gambling casinos in Virginia (like the casino that just opened in Petersburg) and I believe we need to keep our revenue here in North Carolina.
Providing mom and pops with video gaming opportunities that are managed by the State Lottery can generate up to a billion dollars a year. That’s money that can go to education and our mental health reforms.
Finally, I think the State Legislature needs to have more oversight of the NC Education Lottery. Increased sales and lower payments to our schools is not acceptable.
Do you support the deployment of federal troops to metropolitan areas of North Carolina? Why or why not? Do you feel local law enforcement is capable of handling these issues?
I do not support the federalization of NC National Guard troops or the deployment of federal troops in any area of North Carolina for the sole purpose of police action. I believe it is a violation of our Constitution to use military forces for police actions. I believe the power of law enforcement should be respected and that military forces be used very limited for domestic issues.
I do believe that it is important for our sheriffs to cooperate with ICE when detainees are screened as they are entering a county’s detention center. After the person is arrested, the sheriff runs a background check during the intake process. If that person comes back with a want and warrant, then they should notify ICE for further actions.
Would you support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state? Please elaborate.
I support the legalization of medical marijuana and the de-criminalization of recreational marijuana. I think there are healthcare benefits to using medical marijuana and I think there is no way to effectively police recreational marijuana so we should look at legalizing, taxing and controlling recreational marijuana.
Please provide a summation or address any issues you feel were not covered in these questions.
This election is about results. If you want a candidate who is focused on rhetoric then I’m not your choice.
I will go to Raleigh and fight for our district, our people. I will work across party lines to make sure we get the state funds our district needs. I will focus on putting the people of Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties first.
