Candidate, North Carolina State House of Representatives, District 117, 2018

No caucus information on file.

Former Criminal Justice Instructor, North Carolina Department of Justice

Assistant Attorney General, North Carolina Department of Justice, 2008-2014

Law Clerk, Miller, Marshall Roth, 2006-2008

Public Defender, Kent County Office of the Defender, 1989-2004

Research Attorney, Michigan Court of Appeals, 1987-1989

Member, North Carolina Bar, 2007-present

Member, Michigan Bar Association, 1986-present

Sewing Instructor, 4-H

Tutor, African American Children’s Reading Project

Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity

Volunteer, Hospice

Member, Justice Initiative of Henderson County on Immigration

Member, New Fletcher Library Partners Board

Awards:

Democrat of the Year in Henderson County 2017
Listen B. Ramsey Award NC District 11 2018

Current Car:

2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Father's Name:

James R. Kemp deceased

Father's Occupation:

Home builder and carpenter

Favorite Actor/Actress:

Meryl Streep

Favorite Athlete:

Colin Kaepernick

Favorite Author:

Marge Piercy

Favorite Book:

The Longings of Women

Favorite Color:

Red

Favorite Food:

anything vegetarian

Favorite Movie:

Thelma and Louise

Favorite Musician:

BB King

Favorite President and Why:

Jimmy Carter
He was the first president that I voted for. He is a moral and good man who did the right thing, not necessarily the political thing.

Favorite Quote:

One person can make a difference, and everyone should try. JFK

Favorite Sport:

Soccer

Favorite TV Shows:

News

Favorite Type of Music:

Blues

Favorite Vacation Spot:

Outer Banks in North Carolina

Favorite Websites:

Fivethirtyeight, New York Times, ACLU of North Carolina, NAACP, SPLC

First Car:

Datsun B210

First Job:

I was a caretaker for stroke victim. I started when I was 15 until I was almost 18.

Hobbies or Special Talents:

Gardening, quilting and teaching sewing to 4H kids.

Mother's Name:

Fern Walker Kemp

Mother's Occupation:

Homemaker

Name one thing you would most like to do before you die:

See a red-headed grand daughter be born

Names of Grandchildren:

Isaiah Martin, Jacob Martin and James Martin

Number of Grandchildren:

3 Grandsons

Person Most Want to Meet (Dead or Alive):

Michelle Obama

Personal Hero and Why:

My father. He was born a son of a share cropper and when his father died when he was 12, he quit school to help support his family. He joined the Navy in WWII and then moved from Missouri to Michigan to work a union job. He started his own business building houses after building his first house when he was 22 and raised 7 children, three of whom have doctorate degrees. He was intelligent and intellectually curious. He was honest and known for that in our home town. He never quit and he never complained.

Pets (include names):

None, but I have had numerous cats throughout my life. My last cat was named Lucy.

Priority Issues:

Healthcare for all
Education from Pre K though career training or college.
Ending gerrymandering
Infrastructure including broadband wifi

Publications:

The New York Times, Local newspapers, Sojourners magazine, The Nation magazine

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I never wanted to run, but could not stay quiet and sitting with the current situation in NC and the country. I am afraid that we are sliding into fascism. Income inequality and the state of education in NC also pushed me into the race. The GOP in NC has worked hard to make the GOP-controlled legislature the only branch of government. They have been elected based on illegal, gerrymandered maps and they have done whatever they can to illegally suppress the vote of anyone who does not vote for their party. Our Democracy is disappearing.