2016
STATE & LOCAL
PRIMARIES
VOTING GUIDE
COMPILED BY:
MVBC FAMILY LIFE COMMITTEE
REPUBLICANS
US SENATE
Paul Wright
Retired NC Superior Court Judge
wrightforUSSenate.com
ABORTION
Supports an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution declaring that all humans
are to be treated as persons, including babies at conception in the womb
DEBT
Nothing Found
ISRAEL
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Fully supports the Marriage Amendment
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
The Senate must do its part to halt the current policy of deChristianization of the
American nation, especially by the Federal Judiciary.
Richard Burr
US Senate 2005-Present
Chair Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
ABORTION
Voted for:
prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion
barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions
banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life
Rescinding funds for Planned Parenthood for 1 year
Pain capable unborn child Protection Act
DEBT
Supports a balanced budget amendment
ISRAEL
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Supports a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
Believes that marriage is a function of state law
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing Found
(US SENATE – R Contin.)
Larry Holmquist
2014 campaign manager for a N C District 6 U.S. House candidate.
1999 – 2001 owner direct-mail advertising franchise
Holmquist4senate.com
ABORTION
Will make the defunding of Planned Parenthood a top priority
Will do all possible to advance pro-life legislation and policies
DEBT
Will never vote to increase the debt ceiling
ISRAEL
Will always stand in solidarity with Israel, and insist that the United States support our longtime ally militarily and economically.
MARRIAGE
Nothing Found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing Found
Greg Brannon
Physician
Gregbrannon.nationbuilder.com
ABORTION
Believes that life begins at conception, and it is unconscionable that
government sanctions the taking of the lives of the helpless and innocent.
Will always vote against government funding of abortion and will fight to
protect life at all stages
Supports a Sanctity of Life constitutional amendment to ban abortion rights, with no
exceptions.
DEBT
Committed to balancing the budget
ISRAEL
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Believes marriage is between one man and one woman
Will do everything I can to stop bureaucrats and unelected judges from imposing their
definition of marriage on the people of North Carolina.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing Found
US HOUSE DISTRIC 5 - R
Pattie Curran
Served in the Army National Guard
Founder and President of Shwachman-Diamond America, a non-profit
Pattiecurran.com
ABORTION
Believes life begins at conception and should be protected from the moment of
conception to natural death.
Will support bills such as the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Supports legislation that ends government funding of abortion.
Supports a Sanctity of Life Amendment, which would establish in law, as a
scientific statement, that life begins at conception.
DEBT
We must require a balanced budget
ISRAEL
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Nothing Found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Government does not have the right to force individuals, churches, or church
organizations violate their religious beliefs. Period.
Virginia Fox
US House of Representatives 2005- Present
virginiafoxx.com
ABORTION
We should continue to promote policies in Washington that protect life at all
stages. Serves as a member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. Supported “No
Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”, “Abortion Provider Prohibition Act”, “Pain
Capable Unborn Child Protection Act”
Voted to allow state to opt out of Medicaid Funding of Abortion Providers
DEBT
Must continue to cut wasteful federal spending
ISRAEL
Committed to the unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of
Israel
MARRIAGE
Voted to constitutionally define marriage as one-man-one-woman
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Co-sponsored recognizing Christianity's importance to western civilization as one of the
great religions of the world;
GOVERNOR -R
Robert Brawley
Retired NC Army National Guard
Nc House 2012 – 2015
robertbrawleync.com
ABORTION
Co-sponsored a bill that: amends requirements for health care professionals providing
abortions and limits the applicability of foreign law.
Prohibits performing or attempting to perform a sex-selective abortion
Requires a physician performing an abortion to be physically present during the
entire abortion procedure
Prohibits health plans offered on the health care exchange operating in North
Carolina from providing abortion coverage
DEBT
Supports amending the U.S. Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget
MARRIAGE
Nothing Found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing Found
Pat McCrory
Governor 2013 - Present
patmccrory.com
ABORTION
Signed a bill that would put in place a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion
DEBT
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Nothing Found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Vetoed bill exempting county magistrates and court clerks from issuing marriage licenses
if the marriages conflict with their religious views.
Charles Moss
Evangelist radio preacher
Nothing Found
STATE SENATE DISTRIC 45 -R
Deanna Ballard
Director of Office of the Pres/CEO, Samaritan's Purse
Ballardfornc.com
ABORTION
Supports protection of unborn from moment of conception
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Nothing found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Will fiercely protect the rights and freedom of law-abiding citizens, challenging those
who target churches and organizations because of their faith
Ken Boham
President, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Nothing found
STATE HOUSE DISTRIC 93 - R
Jonathan Jordan
Incumbent
Jordan4nchouse.com
ABORTION
Voted to pass a bill that prohibits health plans offered through the state Health
Insurance Exchange from providing coverage for abortion services,
Voted in favor of and co sponsor of HB730 (to allow conscience and refusal clauses for
health care professionals concerning recommending abortion and prohibiting
insurance coverage for abortion services).
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Declared his firm support for Amendment One, which bans same sex marriage.
(High Country Press)
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
Lew Hendricks
Retired U.S. Army
Small Business Consultant
hendricks4nchouse.com
Nothing found
NC ATTORNEY GENERAL -R
Buck Newton
Attorney
NC State Senator 2010-Present
Chairs the Judiciary I Committee
Chairs the Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety
bucknewton.com
ABORTION
Rated 0% by Planned Parenthood of Central NC
DEBT
Nothing Found
MARRIAGE
Nothing Found
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Sponsored the bill allowing Magistrates to recuse themselves from performing marriage
ceremonies that conflict with their religious beliefs
(source: bucknewton.com, ballotpedia.org, votesmart.org)
Jim O’Neill
District Attorney for Forsyth County 2009-Present
Jim4ag.com
Nothing Found
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE -R
Steve Troxler
Comm of Agriculture 2005 - Present
stevetroxler.com
Nothing Found
Andy Stevens
US Army
electandystevens.com
Nothing Found
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE -R
Mike Causey
Serves on three boards: Guilford County Agriculture Advisory Board; Guilford Co.
Environmental Review Board; Public Officers and Employee Liability Insurance
Commission under NCDOI.
Ncspin.com/mike-causey
Nothing Found
Ron Pierce
Retired US Army
Owner Clear Choice Construction CO
Piercecampaign.com
Nothing Found
Joe McLaughlin
Financial & Investment Advisor
Onslow County Commissioner
Joe4nc.com
Nothing Found
SECRETARY OF STATE -R
A.J. Daoud
NCGOP 6 th District Chairman
funeral home business-owner in Pilot Mountain
Ajdaoud.com
Nothing Found
Michael LaPaglia
GEO LaPaglia & Associates 2008 - Present
Lapaglia-for-nc.com
Nothing Found
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSRTUCTION -R
Mark Johnson
Member at-large of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education
Lawyer
Remarkableschools.com
Nothing Found
Rosemary Stein
Pediatric Medical Practice, Alamance Co.
Member, Board of NC Smart Start Foundation
NC Supt. Graduation Task Force
Member, National Governors Assoc. Early Literacy Committee
drrosemarystein.org
Nothing Found
J. Wesley Sills
Social Studies teacher 2012-present
Jwesleysills.org
Nothing Found
DEMOCRATS
US SENATE
Deborah Ross
Former NC House (2003-2013)
Former ACLU attorney (managed ACLU of NC, 7 years)
Deborahross.com
ABORTION
Abortion is a Woman’s Unrestricted Right
Endorsed by Emily’s List
(source: The Charlotte Observer, 1-14-16)
ISRAEL
Nothing found
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Voted “no” on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as one man and one
woman
(Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2011-2012 N.C. legislative records , Sep 12, 2011)
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
(US SENATE –D Contin.)
Kevin Griffin
President/CEO of AVANT Group, a staffing company
gowithgriffin.org
Nothing found
Chris Rey
Mayor of Spring Lake, 3rd term
chrisrey.com
Nothing found
Ernest Reeves
Retired US Army Captain
Business Owner & Entrepreneur
ernestreeves.com
Nothing found
GOVERNOR - D
Roy Cooper
Current NC Attorney General
Former member NC House and NC Senate
Roy Cooper.com
ABORTION
Pro-choice has supported NC law when different than his views.
(Huffington Post, April, 2. 2015)
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Supports same-sex marriage
Opposed new law that lets magistrates and court clerks to opt-out of performing samesex marriages
Refused to defend NC’s same-sex ban in court
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
Ken Spaulding
Land Development lawyer
Six years in NC House
Kenspaulding.com
Nothing found
LT GOVERNOR -D
Linda Coleman
State Employee for 30 years
Former Director of the Office of State Personnel under Gov. Beverly Purdue
Former State Representative, 3 terms (2004-2010)
Lindafornc.com
ABORTION
Pro-choice
Ronald Newton
Tax attorney and Owner/CEO of “State of the Art Tax & Financial Services”
thepublicservant2016.com
ABORTION
Pro-choice
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Supports same-sex marriage
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
Robert Earl Wilson
Former NC Assistant Secretary of State
robertwilson4ltgov.com
Nothing found
Holly Jones
Buncombe County Commissioner, elected 2008
Hollyjones.org
ABORTION
advocates for a progressive agenda
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Supports same-sex marriage
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
STATE HOUSE DISTRIC 93 -D
Sue Counts
Retired in 2008 as Watauga County Extension Director for the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
Suecountsfornchouse.com
ABORTION
Endorsed by “Lillian’s List of NC” which helps elect pro-choice progressive women who
are running for election to the North Carolina General Assembly and statewide offices
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Endorsed by “Equality NC” which is dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) North Carolinians.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
Ronnie Marsh
Retired Boone Fire Marshall
Nothing found
ATTORNEY GENERAL -D
Josh Stein
North Carolina State Senate 2008-Present
Currently serves as Minority Whip
Joshstein.org
ABORTION
Voted against: prohibiting health insurance plans offered through an exchange
from including coverage for abortion services
Voted against prohibits any individual from performing or attempting to perform a sexselective abortion
Voted against requiring a physician performing an abortion to be physically present
during the entire abortion procedure
Voted against requiring an abortion clinic to have standards “similar” to those for the
licensure of ambulatory surgical centers
Voted against requiring an abortion clinic to establish a transfer agreement with a
Hospital (votesmart.org)
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Endorsed by Equity North Carolina PAC which is dedicated to securing equal rights and
justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) North Carolinians.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Voted against the Bill allowing officials to not perform marriage duties that contradict
their faith.
(ATTORNEY GENERAL –D contin.)
Marcus Williams
Lawyer
Williamshouseusa.com
Nothing found
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR –D
Charles Meeker
Mayor of Raleigh 2001 to 2011
Raleigh City Council for eight years.
Practiced law since 1975
Charlesmeeker.org
Nothing found
Mazie Ferguson
Former president of the Greensboro-area’s Pulpit Forum ministerial alliance
Attorney
N.C. Missionary Baptist pastor.
Founding pastor of Liberation Baptist Church
Nothing found
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSRTUCTION - D
June Atkinson
Supt. of Public Instruction since 2005
ABORTION
Nothing found
DEBT
Nothing found
MARRIAGE
Endorsed by “Equality NC” in 2014 which is dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) North Carolinians.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Nothing found
Henry Pankey
Retired teacher, Priciple
henryjpankey.com
Nothing found
TREASURER - D
Ron Elmer
CPA
elmerfortreasurer.com
Nothing found
Dan Blue III
Former investment banker with Bear, Stearns & CO
2004 Founded Pharmaceutical Inc (bought)
2009 Practice of law in the area of corporate debt financing and bond counsel for debt
issuances
Nothing found