Nate Blanton, candidate for NC House of Representatives District 33
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Candidates for NC House District 33
Democrats Rosa Gill and Nate Blanton are running for the nomination for North Carolina House of Representatives in District 33 in Wake County. The winner will face Republican Stephanie Dingee and Libertarian Chris Costello in November’s general election. Gill is the incumbent.
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Name: Nate Blanton
Political Party: Democratic
Age on election night: 43
Website: https://www.natefornc.com
Occupation: Radiation Protection Senior Scientist
Education: B.S. Political Science & minor in Nuclear Engineering
Have you run for elected office before? No
Civic involvement: Wake Country 16-05 Democratic Precinct chair
School test scores dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should North Carolina do to improve student performance?
Educator pay needs to be addressed. Students are taught by teachers, and until we treat our teaching professionals as professionals, with the associated compensation a professional requires, we will never have the education system we want.
What do you want to happen in North Carolina if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
The choice to terminate a pregnancy is not one that should be made by politicians in Raleigh or elsewhere. It is a decision that should be made by the people involved and their health care providers. Abortion should be protected in North Carolina with that principle in mind.
What should North Carolina do to reduce violent crime?
The real answer is a long-term solution: education and economic possibilities. Decriminalization of recreational drugs is something else that needs to be looked at. Many are introduced into the world of violence because of arrests for nonviolent offenses.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
Absolutely. The fact is many of our fellow residents currently use this product and prohibition has accomplished very little other than burdening police and missing out on tax revenues.
What should the state’s minimum wage be? What policies would you support to help struggling North Carolinians?
Somewhere in the $12 to $18 per hour range. That said, the problem with a fixed minimum wage is that it constantly allows these sorts of fights. We need to tie the wage to inflation such that it is out of the hands of politicians to be used as a cudgel in partisan fights.
Should North Carolina expand Medicaid, and how?
Yes, and it should do so via the legislature.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party? Why?
The Second Amendment. I feel the Democratic Party has lost many of its working-class voters because it has doubled down on an issue that many feel is important to them. Law-abiding gun owners should not feel persecuted because they wish to own a firearm, for whatever lawful reason they choose.
What are your top three issues?
Climate change; pollution; abolition of the NC ABC.
This story was originally published April 22, 2022 at 7:06 AM.