Michael Greer O’Shea, candidate for NC House District 117
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Candidates for NC House District 117
Democrat Michael Greer O’Shea is running against Republican Jennifer Capps Balkcom. There is no incumbent in this race. District 117 covers Henderson County. Get to know the candidates with our NC 2022 Voter Guide.
Name: Michael Greer O’Shea
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 35
Campaign website: voteoshea.com
Occupation: Music producer
Education: Philosophy Degree from Western Carolina University
Have you run for elected office before? I ran for US Congress in the NC-11 district in 2020
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I was the first millennial to be on the Democratic party primary ballot for the NC-11 congressional district.
What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?
1) Expand Medicaid.
2) Fund public education. I will vote to increase pay for educators and expand funding to support public education.
3) Stop extremist bills like a total abortion ban from passing against the will of the majority of North Carolinians.
At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?
We absolutely must support public education and ensure that we are giving our future generations all the opportunities we can possibly give them.
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?
I am a product of North Carolina public schools/universities from a time when we were a shining example for public education in this country. After a decade of GOP control, our public education system is crumbling and my own wife has left the profession. We have failed our educators by politicizing their jobs and playing political games with the pay and funding and we are thus failing our children.
Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?
There should be fewer restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks.
Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.
No one wants to be in a position of having to make that decision, but the truth is that you cannot ban abortion, just safe abortion and this is often a lifesaving medical procedure. We are all pro-life, but the opposite of pro-choice is pro-control and your healthcare decisions should be made between you and your doctor and politicians do not belong in your doctor’s office.
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?
The point of education is to prepare our children for life in the real world. If reality offends you, that’s a personal problem. Our educators are highly-trained professionals — let them do their jobs.
Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?
Yes.
