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The Cherokee Scout is interviewing all local candidates in this year’s elections, which will start with the primary Tuesday, March 3.
Up this week are the Republican Party candidates for N.C. Senate District 50, placed in alphabetical order. The winner of this primary will run against Democratic Party candidate Victoria Fox and Libertarian candidate Clifton Ingram Jr. in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Sarah Conway
Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Sarah Conway practiced diagnostic radiology for more than 20 years. Having vacationed in North Carolina since childhood, she eventually moved to Highlands, where she lives today. Though she has never run for elected office before, Conway has held various leadership roles throughout her professional career.
“Leadership experience can come from various professional backgrounds, not necessarily just political experience,” she said. “I have always been known as the type of person who can bring people together and find common ground.
“My view of state government is that we need a new model to include the citizen statesman or stateswoman. More individuals should run and contribute their talents and common sense for the common good, then they may pass the torch to the next individual. This is how we all contribute our voices to state government. We need fresh ideas and perspectives from individuals who are not politicians.”
Conway is also “a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment,” and she’s in favor of “keeping taxes low.” She said she’s running for state Senate to improve the lives of western North Carolinians.
“We have much work to do regarding health care, education and the economy,” she said. “Western North Carolina needs access to reasonably priced health care.
“I favor the idea of association plans, where groups may pool together to bring down premiums. If we were to amend North Carolina insurance codes to allow for small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and be treated as a large-group insurance plan, there would be more flexibility to offer consumers a lower-cost health benefit plan that still includes consumer protections. More small employer groups could pool together and form their own plans.”
Conway also feels western North Carolina needs more medical doctors.
“This is a big concern to people in my district, especially in light of aging Baby Boomers,” she said. “In Jackson and Macon counties, people tell me all the time about how difficult it is to find excellent medical doctors in our area.”
Conway identified the opioid epidemic as her district’s biggest challenge. Her drug prevention plan includes an educational template which can be used in schools by children as young as age 8.
“Young students need to understand the health hazards and ramifications of becoming addicted to these agents,” she said. “Also, I would like to address mental health by having a mental health mobile unit, which would travel to all seven of my counties and provide much-needed mental health services to individuals who may not have access.”
Conway also wants to reduce the size of state government and cut spending to essential needs. When asked if there were specific programs or areas of spending that she proposes to cut, she replied, “Programs which are proven to not help North Carolinians – but rather, help a select few become rich on the taxpayer dime – should be up for consideration. Every public servant should be mindful about spending taxpayer dollars.”
Conway is also a strong proponent of term limits for elected officials. If elected, she hopes to convince fellow lawmakers that it’s of “critical importance to pass the torch” to the next person, as opposed to staying in office for multiple decades.
“We need a constant influx of fresh ideas,” she said. “Most people I have spoken to prefer that the members of the legislature serve for approximately six years, with a maximum of eight years of service.”
Kevin Corbin
Now in his second term in the N.C. House of Representatives, Kevin Corbin of Franklin has served the public as an elected official in various roles over the last 30 years.
“I would be very happy and content to stay in the House. But with my experience, western North Carolina can have a senator that can hit the ground running; and that is important to our district,” he said. “I already represent Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties.
“I work hard for my constituents and have had about a 95 percent success rate in helping them with problems that arise with divisions of state government. That is my primary goal and objective.”
As a pro-public school legislator and vocal proponent of pay increases for teachers, Corbin said he would continue fighting for educators in North Carolina.
“I have voted every year in committee to raise teacher pay,” he said. “I think our schools in western North Carolina do a great job, and we need to adequately fund them.
“This year, I was able to get in the budget an additional $11 million for Cherokee County, $10 million for Clay, $10 million for Graham and $11 million for Macon. The governor vetoed the budget, so those funds are being held up. Hopefully we can remedy that when we go back in session on April 28.”
Corbin identified education, physical and mental health care, high-speed internet access and job growth as some of the most essential needs of North Carolinians. He also believes it’s important to protect the Second Amendment, and said the “sanctity of life from conception to natural death.”
He also wants taxes to remain low for state residents.
“In the three and a half years I have served [in the House], we have cut taxes for individuals and corporations, as well as raised the standard deduction on income taxes to $20,000 for a couple,” Corbin said. “That means all couples filing jointly pay $0 income tax on their first $20,000. Even with all these changes, we have had a budget surplus every year.”
While Corbin has sponsored legislation to fight the opioid epidemic, he believes more can be done to combat drug addiction.
“Addiction is a powerful enemy, and we must stop it at all costs,” he said. “A 100 percent success rate is probably unrealistic because addiction has always existed and likely always will. However, we can minimize it and continue to fight it to save precious lives.”
Corbin also wants to increase health-care options in western North Carolina.
“I would like to see health care even more accessible,” he said. “We need to continue to work with local health-care providers to improve primary health care for all citizens of western North Carolina. This does not include Medicaid or Medicare for all. That model does not work.
“However, what does work is a plan with a premium requirement, work requirement when able, responsibility to get you primary care – which keeps health-care costs down – and a system which requires the providers to contribute a minimal amount. There is legislation introduced that follows this model for the uninsured North Carolinians, and I am co-sponsor of that legislation.”
Corbin also plans to continue working with state and national leaders to minimize illegal immigration and compel local law enforcement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
“Illegal immigration continues to be a problem in western North Carolina as well as the entire nation,” he said.
When asked whether he supports term limits in state and federal government, Corbin said he would support – and even sponsor – legislation to further that goal.
“I am definitely for term limits,” he said. “Where you get a lot of difference of opinion is how long.”