Senior Issues

Currently fifteen percent of North Carolina's District 67 population is over the age of sixty. The first Baby Boomers are now joining the senior ranks, and more people are retiring to our state. If these trends continue, North Carolina's senior population will explode over the next decade.

We have an excellent Senior Center facility in Albemarle, however, with the rapid population growth in the western part of the county, another facility may be needed in the near future.

We do not have an adult day care facility . With good adult day care, family members of frail elders could continue to work while caring for their loved ones at home. These elders would have a safe environment in which to live, and one in which to socialize and stay active during daytime hours.

We do not have affordable independent senior living facilities. Such facilities could meet the basic living requirements of those seniors who could no longer maintain a separate household.

We need to expand safe transportation options, such as SCUSA, for seniors who cannot or should not drive, as well as food service programs. Home delivered meals are essential for homebound adults to meet their basic nutritional needs. However, current services fall short of volunteer drivers and funding leaving seniors at the mercy of a waiting list.

Another short coming in our district is the lack of essential services for the elderly such as chore workers, home health care services and legal assistance.

Education

First and foremost I would like to say that I believe in the North Carolina public school system. Both my children attended public school from grades K-12, and graduated with honors from North Stanly High School, one as  a valedictorian. They both were accepted in and graduated from the colleges of their choice. I believe that the education they received in the public school system played a large role in their success in life.

Working as a primary care physician I am in daily contact with teachers and other school personnel. What I am hearing from teachers is that  they want to be able to spend more time and energy with their students and less on paper work. Teachers want to be acknowledged for the important work they do molding our younger generation. They want: (a) pay that is competitive with other professionals, (b) supportive administration, (c) an environment that is safe and conducive to learning, and (d) adequate manpower and supplies to be able to perform their jobs effectively. It is a shame that the average school teacher  spends hundreds of dollars annually out of his or her pocket for classroom supplies.

Teachers are telling me these factors are very much lacking because non-teachers are in many instances making the policies that govern the teaching profession and work environment.

I understand these concerns all too well, since health care providers are struggling with very similar issues. Important decisions regarding the treatment I am able to provide my patients depends upon decisions made by non medical persons who do not have to look daily in the face of the consequences of their decision.

Teachers tell me they are struggling under policies where they feel that they are being compensated based on their students' achievement, and unrealistic documentation expectations. Health care insurers are promising a similar system where health care providers are reimbursed according to outcomes. This sounds good on paper.  However, the “product”, whether it be student achievement, or a patient's health is much more dependent on personal or parental choices than anything a doctor can do in his or her office or what a teacher can do in the classroom.

We doctors are also laboring under a system of extremely high societal expectations along with diminishing resources. If elected I look forward to learning more about the concerns of public education in North Carolina so that I can help improve the systems for delivery of  both education and health care in our great state. Any investment in our children's education is an investment in our future.

Marriage

I support whatever it takes  to affirm that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Even if it takes a constitutional amendment, I am for it. I am for covenant marriage and family values.

Healthcare

I have been a healthcare provider in this country since 1975, and in private practice in Stanly county since 1981. I have seen monumental changes in the practice of medicine since that time. Technology for the good, but delivery and expense for the bad. We work daily in a broken and fragmented system that is frustrating to both patient and healthcare provider alike.

Our present healthcare system is the most expensive in the world, and yet it is just not effective. We have the best technology, the best providers, and the best hospitals, but our healthcare delivery system is failing  us. Our current system is based on denials, obstacles, hurdles, and cost cutting at any price. And still premiums are escalating at an unsustainable rate. Copays and deductibles are also going up at the same time benefits are going down. Nearly one third of your monthly health insurance premium is paid to management (or should I say mismanagement?) Although universal healthcare is not a popular concept, I would like to see that everyone has accessible and affordable healthcare. What is ailing our businesses and economy is healthcare insurance costs.

Secure North Carolina

As a state we have limitations on what we can do to stop the flood of illegal immigration, but we can take measures to minimize the influx into North Carolina, by enforcing existing laws. Employing illegal aliens for cheap labor is exploitation. Drivers licenses should only be issued to those with legal status. Citizens falsifying documents and passing bad checks are prosecuted. Why not illegals? We need effective deportation procedures that can be implemented immediately for those illegal immigrants who break the law.

Faith and Elected Officials

It may be considered to be political suicide to confess that I am guided by my Christian faith. I affirm that faith in God promotes humility, justice, good stewardship of resources and the environment. I make no apology for being a public servant who is guided by my faith in God. I draw on that faith in the every day practice of caring for people's health. I will continue to live by the same principles while serving my elected office.

Sanctity of Life

I am for life. My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been rock solid and clear. I believe that life begins at conception and any attempt to end it unnaturally is murder. Our state must do whatever it takes to protect the life of people from the womb to the tomb. If we value the family, we have no trouble choosing life.

Jobs and the Economy

A healthy economy is a very vital part of our government and community welfare. We must do everything possible to attract new industries that provide well paying jobs. We in NC district 67 are blessed by natural resources such as an abundance of lakes and rivers, open land, and a hard working workforce. We also have an excellent community college that can train workers for the specific needs of new industries. I would like to work to prioritize our district in updating our infrastructure such as improving our highways, schools, water and sewer services in order to attract and support new industries.