Democrat Ya Liu, candidate for NC House District 21, answers our questions
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Candidates for House District 21
The candidates in the 2024 election for N.C. House District 21 are incumbent Democratic Rep. Ya Liu and Republican Mary Miskimon.
To help inform voters about the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The News & Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Ya Liu
District/seat: House District 21
County or counties represented: Wake
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 44
Campaign website: yaliu4nc.com
Current occupation: Small business owner
Professional experience: I bring a wealth of knowledge and a diverse background in academia, nonprofits as well as public and private sectors to my work. I earned two doctoral degrees in sociology and law, published numerous articles in public health and geriatric research, and worked as a faculty member at Duke Law for nearly a decade. I advocated for solar infrastructure in both public facilities and private developments when I served on the Cary Town Council.
Education: Ph.D in Sociology and J.D.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: I served on the Cary Town Council before I joined the state legislature. I am proud to bring the local government perspective to our decision-making process in the General Assembly.
What would be your top priority if elected?
The rising cost of living and inflation are the biggest challenges facing North Carolinians in 2024. Voters can count on me to support increasing the minimum wage, offering tax credits to small businesses, increasing teacher pay and benefits, and making home ownership more accessible for residents of North Carolina.
By percentage, what raises should state employees, school staff and teachers receive in the next state budget?
I supported Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget which would have increased salaries by 8.5% (for teachers). We need to restore master’s pay to educators in our state and restore retiree medical benefits.
What legislation would you support to improve Triangle transportation, housing or infrastructure? Please be specific.
I would support legislation that would fund multi-mode transportation, housing and infrastructure. As the region continues to grow, pressure on our roads, schools and housing demand will continue to grow. It takes the partnership between our public and private sectors to address these challenges.
Do you think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program? Why or why not?
I do not think the legislature should fund about $500 million for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship program because our public schools are still not adequately funded. We have a constitutional obligation in North Carolina to adequately fund our public schools and provide equal opportunities to all students.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?
I am proud to have contributed to several bipartisan pieces of legislation, including the Homeowner Association (HOA) Reform Bill (House Bill 542), the AAPI History Bill (House Bill 619), and the Wake County Leadership Academy Bill (House Bill 900).
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