Beth’s responses to the Greater Wilmington Business Journal’s candidate survey
Recently a proposal to bring a deepwater port to this district did not receive state funds for a feasibility study. Does a deepwater port warrant further study? Would you advocate towards funds for such a study?
The property purchased by the State Ports is a potential strategic site for a deepwater port that will require a feasibility study in the future. The schedule for the study will depend on its importance and priority in the overall state budget.
The film industry has struggled to gain statewide support. What is the future of the North Carolina film industry? Do you think more incentives for the film industry will help to save local jobs?
The future of the North Carolina film industry will continue to be extremely competitive. I am more in favor of tax structure reform that will benefit all of our private sector businesses, rather than more incentives. The film industry’s infrastructure already in place in Wilmington, as well as the talent of the film industry professionals here, will continue to attract the business. Incentives will always help the film industry, provide the opportunity for local employment and support ancillary business, just as they would for any business. Our State needs to prioritize what is in the best interest of all Citizens and business owners in North Carolina, not just one sector.
What needs to be done to improve the unemployment rate in the 18th District? What can be done on a state level to drive more businesses to this district?
The 18th District (and all of New Hanover County) has many built-in advantages: our climate, our beaches, river and waterways, our quality of life, and our proximity to I-40. If our state’s leadership will strive to make North Carolina a more business-friendly State, New Hanover County will benefit as a result. To achieve this, and to attract business to New Hanover County, we need to reduce taxes on our businesses, scale back unnecessary, burdensome regulations, support worker retraining programs at our State’s Community Colleges, and offer the best public education system.
For example, in the N.C. House District 18, there are three magnet schools of choice, with a diverse population that draws students from families throughout the County. One of the keys to providing every student with a quality education is to ensure proven, dedicated teachers are paid what they are worth. To make that happen, we need to shift funding and put it in the classroom, where it belongs. The New Hanover County Schools are already making progress, as indicated by their test scores, and we must help our schools continue to move in the right direction.
As your State Representative, I will support and work for continued improvement in our Public Schools in the 18th House District, as well as across the County, by ensuring adequate funding for each and every child in the classroom, so that parents, when making choices for the education of their children, will know that every child will receive a quality education in our Public School system.
As your State Representative, I will be 100% committed to the priority of recruiting jobs to Wilmington and all of New Hanover County- nowhere else- and am 100% committed to serving all of the Citizens of the 18th House District.
