Laura Budd, candidate for NC House District 103
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Candidates for NC House District 103
Republican Bill Brawley is running against Democrat Laura Budd. There is no incumbent in this race. District 103 covers Mecklenburg County. Get to know the candidates with our NC 2022 Voter Guide.
Name: Laura Budd
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 45
Campaign website: www.electlaurabudd.com
Occupation: Attorney
Education: B.A., Ohio University, 1999; J.D., Wake Forest Law, 2002
Have you run for elected office before? No
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Currently, I serve as the president of the Matthews Athletic Recreation Association, vice-president of Piedmont Gymnastics Association and am a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar, the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and Women in the Profession for the North Carolina Bar Association. I am also a Boy Scout Leader. Previously, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Peace & Justice Immigration Clinic and Matthews Free Medical Clinic and been a longtime volunteer with Room in the Inn.
What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?
Prioritizing funding for our public schools is the top priority along with expanding and improving access to health care, including Medicaid expansion and ensuring women’s reproductive health care remains a woman’s choice, and working to ensure the necessary investments are made in the local infrastructure and economy.
At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?
A reserve fund is necessary, but a $6.5 billion surplus is overkill considering the state of the public school system, and the economy. A significant portion should be used to bring North Carolina into compliance with its constitutional obligations on public education. Additionally, efforts should be made to lower the costs of living including reinstating the Child Tax Credit, increasing child care subsidies and investing in community initiatives that improve North Carolinians’ quality of life.
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 expansion of internet access and reduction in K-2 classroom sizes were positive steps but are not enough to undo the underfunding of education over the last decade. We can substantially improve the quality of teachers’ lives and students’ educations by increasing teacher pay, eliminating the unnecessary and overly burdensome training and administrative tasks teachers are required to complete, putting teaching assistants back in classrooms and investing in equipment, technology, and buildings.
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.
North Carolina should codify Roe v. Wade, affirming a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions without the interference of the government. The decision whether to bear a child is between the woman, her doctor, and if she is religious, her God. To limit a woman’s autonomy and control of her body is to treat her as less than a full citizen entitled to all the protections of the Constitution.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
Yes.
What, if anything, should the legislature to do shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?
Students should begin to learn and understand the political, economic, and social ramifications of these concepts with an age-appropriate and evidence-based curriculum that begins early and continues throughout high school. The curriculum should be developed by educators not legislators, and based upon facts, not religious or political ideology.
Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?
Yes.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Laura Budd, candidate for NC House District 103."
