Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp today released a statement today on his bid for the North Carolina State House of Representatives District 27 seat currently held by Democrat Michael Wray.
The statement has only been edited for style:
We deserve better representation in both Northampton and Halifax County and so today, I announce my intention to seek the Republican nomination for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 27.
I was raised a conservative with deep Christian and moral values.
Truthfulness is a powerful virtue and we should be held accountable and judged by our actions. We must deliver on our commitments, showing others that we can be trusted to do what we say we'll do.
You are only as good as your word and you must take full ownership and responsibility.
As your representative, I will make decisions based on what's morally right and best for all the citizens of our district.
House District 27 was established in 2004.
In the past 16 years there has been decline in both Halifax and Northampton counties. Improvement is much needed in the education of our children, also our infrastructure and better jobs.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce annually ranks the state's 100 counties based on economic well-being and assigns each a tier designation.
The 40-most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1 and Halifax and Northampton counties are among this group.
We hear this all the time, but what are we going to do about it? When elected, my main goal as your representative will be to improve our designation.
Our education system is the source to fill our jobs and we must find ways to work with educators to improve the test scores in our school districts.
Educating our children is essential for our future.
More emphasis needs to be placed on the core subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic.
The majority of those who do receive college degrees are not returning to live and work in our counties.
We need to create the kind of jobs that will bring them back to our counties. We need to also develop and invest more in trade school programs.
Over the years I have fostered good working relationships with the school districts in Halifax County.
When elected, I will establish that same kind of relationship in Northampton County.
Infrastructure are the basic systems that undergird the structure of the economy.
Examples of infrastructure include transportation facilities, telecommunications networks, and water supplies.
We need well-paying, blue collar manufacturing jobs.
Too many of our citizens are working for only a minimum wage.
A family should be able to earn a decent wage and provide an acceptable standard of living.
If we are to increase our economic development in District 27, we must explore every avenue possible to attract people and encourage businesses to locate here.
Family is and will always be important to me.
Many of you know my wife of 35 years, Karen. We have a son, Wes, Ill, who is a lawyer living and working in Asheville.
Karen retired from Halifax County and now works for Vidant North in Roanoke Rapids. We reside in Roanoke Rapids and are proud to call the Roanoke Valley home.
I am pro-life. Abortion is wrong and should not be used solely for birth control. I will always support the sanctity of life and our family values.
My entire life has been dedicated to law enforcement and I have always been a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
I am a proud member of the NRA. I have sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution and the laws of North Carolina.
I believe it is a
person's right to keep and bear arms. I have streamlined the process to allow for law-abiding citizens to apply for and receive permits to purchase and carry concealed weapons.
It is also important for individuals to openly carry firearms for their protection if they wish to do so.
As a pro-law enforcement supporter, our court system needs to take a stronger look at the process of setting bonds for the release of defendants awaiting trial.
A bond is used to assure a person's appearance in court, not for punishment.
However, it seems lately that there is no value for human life.
Certain crimes shouldn't have a bond for release. There have been individuals charged with murder, awaiting trial only to be released to commit murder again.
As your representative, I will pass laws that will take and keep the criminals off our streets.
In my years of service, I have always concentrated on working for the victims and families of crimes by providing resources and outlets for victim services.
In my 36 years of service, I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly.
None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes but as long as we learn from the mistake, it has served its purpose.
Why have I served? It's the self-satisfaction of helping people. I have always championed for the good guy and have zero tolerance for corruption.
My name is Wes Tripp and I am your pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, law and order/first responder·candidate for Northampton and Halifax counties.
