Democrat Matthew Wood, candidate for NC House District 26, answers our questions
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Candidates for NC House District 26
The candidates for North Carolina state House District 26 in Johnston County are incumbent Republican Rep. Donna McDowell White, Democrat Matthew Wood and Libertarian Kevin Terrett.
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Name: Matthew Wood
District/seat: House District 26
County or counties represented: Johnston
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 54
Campaign website: mattwoodnc26.wixsite.com/mattwoodnc26
Current occupation: Transamerica Agent
Professional experience: Medicare, Health Insurance Management, Actor/MC
Education: BA PoliSci/Theater
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Chief Judge Board of Elections, 1st Vice Chair Democratic Party JoCo, Financial Literacy
What would be your top priority if elected?
Funding schools/kids nutrition. Follow Leandro ruling.
By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget?
10% education. I have no problem with an across the board pay increase to state employees, but I would stop at the top level administrators at universities and other agencies who get paid aplenty.
What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific.
We need light rail (and) the likes of the metro in DC as soon as possible.
Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not?
Absolutely not and the idea of calling it an opportunity scholarship when these four private schools are not opening educational centers around the whole state, and therefore it’s not an opportunity available to everyone. There needs to be a moratorium on vouchers immediately so there can be a continuity and curriculum and proper accountability for public dollars that are going into the coffers of companies that often times aren’t even located in North Carolina.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?
I think the decriminalization of the recreational use of marijuana would be very helpful to the citizenry as far as taxation on the proper regulation of something that is used by a wide variety of people in large numbers. It would also relieve the burden of those who inhabit our jails for the minor offense of peddling something that is one molecule away from something else that’s being sold at our vape stores, and I defy you to tell me the difference.
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