Issues

The Trump Administrations' policies of cutting taxes, reducing regulations and bringing jobs back to our shores are working. Combined with improved trade deals and energy independence, our economy will continue to set records.

My view: Unemployment has been reduced to new levels. There is no better way to lift all of society than by providing good jobs to citizens. A job allows a person to gain economic freedom, independence, and self worth. It is better than any government program.  

North Carolina is a beautiful state. While we have many serious challenges, including coal ash leaks and cancer clusters, I do not believe draconian laws that will destroy our economy will ultimately benefit us. A poor country cannot afford to worry about the environment. I oppose the Green New Deal, which  promises a massive economic transformation that would touch every corner of society. It is as much about solving "inequality" as it is about the environment. 

My view: I love the outdoors, and I would rather be hiking than doing many other things. I am very concerned about the environment. It is one of our fundamental responsibilities to improve, maintain and preserve it. 

I support the Second Amendment.

My view: As Gubernatorial candidate Dan Forest points out, "The Second Amendment secures all the rights enshrined in our Constitution." 

I understand the deep sorrow and anxiety of people who are concerned about gun violence, but disarming law-abiding citizens is not the answer. 

I personally own a firearm that I purchased after obtaining a permit from the county sheriffs office. I shoot occasionally at local ranges. 

An immigration policy based on merit would be the ideal. I support a robust guest worker program that is unrelated to immigration. Those seeking political asylum should be considered on a case by case basis. Refugees should be housed as close to their home country as possible until it is safe for them to return. Our borders must be secured. Build the wall. 

My view: Undocumented visitors are at the mercy of evil people who prey on them. They live in constant fear of being caught. This is no way to live, and it is not compassionate to let people come here under those circumstances. A strong guest worker program would solve many of these issues. Lots of countries, like Saudi Arabia, for example, have thousands of guest workers in their country. They are legal and are not in constant fear of detection or exploitation. They are also not automatically in line to become citizens. They cannot vote. Let's bring these people out of the shadows. I welcome your ideas as well. 

I believe free market private health insurance would help the most people have the best coverage at the lowest cost. However there must also be a way to address the problem of pre-existing conditions. Obamacare works for some people. We need a system that works for everyone.

My experience: Our family did not benefit from Obamacare, nor did anyone I know. None of us qualified for subsidies, even though some of the people had very low incomes. Therefore one person paid the $500 penalty and had no coverage. My husband and I would have had a payment of over $3,000 a month with Obamacare. That is more than most house payments. President Trump was able to change some of the laws, and by Executive Order mandated that private companies could offer plans across state lines. That, in combination with very favorable legislation by the N.C. General Assembly, resulted in our being able to purchase a much better plan for about $500 a month. However this is without pre-existing conditions. Unfortunately many states blocked these plans from being sold in their states. 

There is no more important role of government than national defense. Congress recently approved funds to rebuild our military. A strong U.S. military makes the world a safer place. It allows us to use restraint when possible, always knowing that we can back it up with force as a last resort.

My experience: I come from a strong military family. Although I myself did not serve (unless you count being queen of the military ball in high school), several of my family members have.

My father, B. L. Yeager, served in the army as a member of the honor guard. He participated in ceremonies with dignitaries.

My father was the first cousin of General Chuck Yeager, the former USAF officer attributed with being the first pilot to break the sound barrier.

It was always interesting for us to drive over the Yeager Bridge when passing through Charleston on family vacations, and to pass the sign for the Yeager airport.

I have a deep respect for our military and for our veterans. 

I would strongly caution against using the public-private partnership funding model to repair and rebuild our nation's infrastructure. It uses a lengthy contract to benefit a private (sometimes foreign) company and the investors, consultants and politicians who support them. P3's take control of assets already paid for by taxpayers for terms of sometimes 50 years or more. We are losing control of our roads, bridges, airports and water systems, etc. without a shot being fired.

My experience: I watched as politicians worked to push this plan through in our community "no matter what". Governor McCrory wanted toll lanes more than he wanted to be Governor. Senator Tillis evidently wants toll lanes more that he wants to be a Senator. Let's help him with that. Please vote for Sharon Y. Hudson on March 3. To find out more visit www.WidenI77.net

 I am pro-life. I agree with President Trump, it is our duty "to defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential."

My experience: I served as an  office volunteer for a pro-life group in Matthews. I participated in the Charlotte pro-life rallies for several years. I volunteered on a crisis pregnancy center prayer hotline. I lead a pro-life Sunday school small group at Calvary Church.

I support strong public schools, charter schools, private schools, and home schooling. As a parent we used all of these means of educating our children depending on the need at the time. I believe parents are the best ones to decide how their children should be educated.

My experience: I am certified to teach 9-12 grade English.

I student taught and substitute taught in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system.

I substitute taught at Christ Covenant Day School.

I taught a three-year-old Sunday school class at Calvary Church.

I was the lead teacher for a four-year-old class at Calvary Preschool. I home-schooled one of my children for kindergarten, and another for fifth grade.

I worked as a tutor for the verbal section for students preparing to take the S.A.T. exam.

I trained to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at the International House in Charlotte.

I tutored several hispanic adults, and even developed my own curriculum. 

Reducing our national debt is an issue important to all Americans. To accomplish this we must increase revenue and cut spending.

The best way to increase revenue (income tax) is to continue to grow the economy. I believe a combination of low interest rates, low tax rates, and cutting unnecessary and burdensome regulation, as has been done by the Trump Administration, is the best way to achieve economic growth.

In addition, America is now energy independent and is in a position to sell oil instead of importing it. Saudi Arabia used oil sales to reduce their national debt dramatically. We should do the same. To make any real progress in debt reduction we must also maintain strict spending limits, and reduce our spending where possible.

People are naturally wary of politicians who get into office and then are almost impossible to defeat at the ballot box. For this reason I pledge to serve no more than two terms as a U.S. Senator should I be elected.

I oppose laws that remove the religious exemption for childhood vaccines in order for children to attend public school.