Issue Position: Creating Jobs and Growing Our Economy

Issue Position

While we can all be proud of the economic successes our state has had such as technology centers like the RTP, many of our fellow North Carolinians are struggling. Our unemployment rate remains above 6% and many are still recovering from the recent recession. Rebuilding our economy and enabling more North Carolinians to realize their dreams through opportunity and hard work will require investment in education, supporting small business development, putting additional focus on the needs of rural counties and recruiting companies of all kinds to North Carolina that provide good paying jobs for our skilled workers.

I am a firm advocate of fiscal stewardship. As a local government official, I demand accountability for every one of our taxpayers' dollars. However, we cannot blindly cut our way to prosperity. The recent cuts to public schools, community colleges and universities dismantle our legacy as a leader in education, threaten our competitive future and deter investment by businesses seeking to locate here. Restoring and growing our economy will require strategic investments in education and job training, support for businesses of all sizes, and providing the quality of life that employers and employees have come to expect. Great schools, safe communities, and a skilled workforce will attract investors, promote innovation, and drive our state's economy into the future.

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