Position Statements
Education
Hugh served on Burke County’s School Board for 8 years some years ago. During that time, he successfully led the fight for reduced-class size in the first, second and third grades so as to have a ratio in those grades of one teacher for every fifteen students. He also was a consistent advocate for introduction of computer technology into our schools with the result that Burke County had extensive technology in its schools earlier than in most counties across North Carolina. For all 8 years he was a regular visitor and observer in all our schools so that he might be better informed in the performance of his job. He has been a trustee at WPCC for four years and was just reappointed to a second four-year term. He will be a strong advocate for a quality education for all ages and will be an energetic advocate in Raleigh. Hugh will work hard for the necessary funding for worker re-training for employees struggling because of lost employment---a critical aspect of improving Burke County’s job/economic situation. As a legislator in Raleigh he’ll fight the present policies in Raleigh that have produced a statewide drop out rate of over 30% of entering 9
th graders who don’t graduate from high school four years later.
Jobs/Economy
Hugh pledges to work hard to protect the jobs of the thousands of state employees in Burke County and to see that they are a priority when the General Assembly meets to discuss funding of their compensation and other benefits. Hugh wants to help our county gain new employers that it needs, while at the same time promoting state-level policies that build up and support existing businesses and industry. In the process, Burke County’s small businesses can count on Hugh to work for equitable treatment for them. He believes state taxes should be reduced to make North Carolina even more attractive as a state for business and employment growth. As a result, the state can actually gain new revenues through growth to pay our state employees fairly and fund education, roads and other infrastructure needs.
State Employees
Hugh will be an energetic spokesman for fair and equitable treatment in setting compensation, benefits and working conditions of state employees. He’ll demand that the new error-prone Beacon payment system be promptly corrected or, if not, replaced. Before new budgetary commitments are made, the state should recognize a moral obligation to first consider its financial responsibilities to its existing employees. Such responsibilities should include immediate attention to the overwhelming deficit in the state health plan. It means full repayment of funds diverted from the state employees’ and teachers’ retirement trust fund by the present Raleigh leadership. He’ll be a constant champion for new leadership and oversight by the legislature to enhance our state institutions and correct problems caused by failed mental health reforms, by inadequate staffing and funding, and by poor management from Raleigh. Hugh will work tirelessly for proper maintenance and to address unmet construction and renovation needs at state facilities in Burke County.
Illegal Immigration
While welcoming and respecting all who come here legally, Hugh believes we must draw the line and not encourage those who break the law to come here. Much of our problem with illegal immigration stems from failure of our national government to enforce existing laws and, in particular, the failure to secure our borders. Still, North Carolina can take steps to diminish the attractiveness of our state as a haven for those here illegally. Hugh will be an advocate to tighten our driver’s licensing procedures, and will push for penalties on employers who knowingly employ illegals. He will support denial of benefits to those who are here illegally, with an exception for true emergency medical conditions. Of course, our law enforcement officers should afford anyone protection from physical abuse, harm and violence. Hugh supports making English our official state language. He supports passage of legislation that would require proof of citizenship in order to vote.
Protecting Burke County’s Environmental Assets
Hugh understands the critical importance of protecting Burke County’s waters, land and wildlife. Hugh knows that we must preserve our unique natural resources for our present citizens while ensuring that these resources remain an attraction for those who come to Burke County for recreation, as tourists or as new residents. Hugh opposed the IBT (which involved the taking of water from the Catawba River to give to Concord/Kannapolis). He will work to enact stronger protections for those whose water resources would be diverted for use by others outside the Catawba River basin. He will work to enhance and sustain access to Lake James for all citizens and to adequately fund maintenance, protection and appropriate growth of our state parks and conservation areas.
Advocacy for Burke County’s Families and Values
Hugh will support pro-life policies to protect the lives of the unborn, including eliminating partial birth abortion. Hugh will support a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Hugh supports voluntary prayer and recitation of the pledge to the American flag in our schools and public places.
Second Amendment
Hugh will fight to protect the right to keep and bear arms and supports the recent U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that the right is an individual right guaranteed each citizen by our national constitution.
Health Care
Hugh supports an effort to find reforms to better enable North Carolina families and individuals to meet their health insurance needs. He’ll fight to reduce fraud and waste. He will make a top priority of his service in Raleigh an effort to develop policies to reduce the cost of healthcare coverage to make it more affordable both for those presently insured and those who might be insured were coverage more affordable. Finding ways for small employers to afford coverage for their employees is an important goal. In Burke County especially, safeguarding the stability and solvency of the State Health Plan and making dependent and family coverage more affordable should likewise be a top priority.
Private Property Rights
Hugh supports an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution to protect North Carolinians’ private property rights as a response to the adverse U.S. Supreme Court decision that said that governments could condemn one person’s property and take it for use by another person because the government preferred the other person’s proposed use. Hugh believes the government should be prohibited from using its powers of condemnation in such way. Condemnation should be limited to taking property with proper compensation only for a legitimate government use, not for private use by some other citizen or business.
