Zack Hawkins, candidate for NC House District 31
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Candidates for NC House District 31
Libertarian Sean Haugh is running against Democratic incumbent Zack Hawkins. District 31 covers Durham County. Get to know the candidates with our NC 2022 Voter Guide.
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Name: Zack Hawkins
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 43
Campaign website: https://zackhawkinsnc.com
Occupation: Director of Development, Student Affairs at UNC Chapel Hill
Education: BS, Biology at Elizabeth City State University; Masters, Biology at North Carolina Central University
Have you run for elected office before? State Representative, House District 31 (Elected in 2018, 2020)
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Zack expanded Medicaid Innovation Waivers so citizens on the autism spectrum can access services. Zack was the only Democrat to testify in the trial that won fair electoral representation for NC. Zack passed a bill that gave NC’s HBCUs funding to defend against cyber threats. Zack expanded the Teaching Fellows Program to support aspiring teachers with scholarships.
What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?
Zack believes that everyone should be able to see a doctor when they need one, and Medicaid expansion is a necessary step. Zack also believes strongly that education is the key to strengthening communities, creating new jobs, and helping people to live better lives. Finally, Zack envisions a thriving Durham, with jobs that pay a living wage for all citizens, housing and food security, and affordable child care to support working families.
At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?
Zack also believes strongly that education is the key to strengthening communities, creating new jobs, and helping people to live better lives. This starts with public education. To ensure that our children receive an education that prepares them to succeed, North Carolina needs to be a top-10 state in teacher pay. The budget surplus can make this happen. As a former public school teacher, Zack believes in building a strong and reliable pipeline from K-12 to higher education to job creation.
Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?
Yes.
What has the legislature gotten right, and what has it gotten wrong, about public education in North Carolina?
The legislature has failed North Carolina students by relentlessly pushing school choice programs and the privatization of education. This movement takes funding away from public schools that could improve educational opportunities for all North Carolina students. However, the legislature has recently taken some steps in the right direction by expanding the Teaching Fellows program, providing teacher and principal pay incentives, and beginning to fund school psychologists.
Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?
The current state law banning abortion after 20 weeks should remain.
Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.
In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court held that women reserve a right to privacy and autonomy over their own medical decisions. However, as the highest court in the land no longer respects the medical autonomy and privacy of the American people, state legislatures are now the last line of defense to protect free choice. I’m committed to defending the autonomy of women in North Carolina to make their own medical decisions, and I will continue to fight for the right to choose in the state legislature.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
Yes.
What, if anything, should the legislature do to shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?
North Carolina teachers should focus on teaching history and biology to every student. Through the study of fundamental subjects, students will learn all they need to know, unbiased. An education grounded in these subjects will give students in North Carolina the critical thinking skills to navigate the complex issues and debates facing society today.
Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?
Yes.
