SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Eric Terashima is seeking to serve Brunswick County in the N.C. House of Representatives District 17. The Democratic candidate must earn more votes than Edward McKeithan in the primaries to advance to the general election. He would then face incumbent Rep. Frank Iler.
Port City Daily has sent a questionnaire to every candidate appearing on ballots in the tri-county region, even those unopposed. For federal and state offices, we asked candidates to address issues pertinent to the Cape Fear: PFAS, offshore wind, affordable housing and more.
The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions.
As a reminder, the early voting period runs from Apr. 28 to May 14. The voter registration deadline is Apr. 22. Voters may partake in same-day registration throughout the two-week early voting period (check if your registration is active at your current address).
Primary Election Day is May 17. Voters will choose which candidates from their registered party they want to move forward in the formal election. Those who are registered as unaffiliated can choose which party’s primary they want to vote in.
Moffitt’s stances on issues are discussed below. All answers are included in full and the candidate’s opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily. Responses are edited only for grammar, spelling and clarity.
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Port City Daily (PCD): Name three projects that you would advocate for funding and why.
Eric Terashima (ET): Replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is important as the main artery that connects New Havover and Brunswick Counties. Teacher pay needs to be significantly increased so that the salaries are competitive to attract and retain high quality teachers. Medicaid coverage needs to be expanded to provide healthcare coverage to more people.
PCD: Do you support the state’s progression toward offshore wind development? Clean energy tax breaks? Explain.
ET: Yes, the state should develop more offshore wind to create more jobs, and to help clean the atmosphere. Yes, clean energy tax breaks should continue to incentivize people to invest in solar energy and clean running vehicles.
PCD: What are the main priorities to address infrastructure needs in North Carolina?
ET: Repair and replace bridges because they are inherently dangerous. More roads need to be widened with overpasses installed to reduce traffic.
PCD: How would you propose all North Carolinians have access to affordable healthcare?
ET: Access to affordable insurance needs to be expanded to include all North Carolinians.
PCD: Are there any actions you support to make North Carolina a more equitable state and provide opportunities to historically marginalized populations?
ET: Criminal justice codes need to be changed to reduce the prison population, and stop the disenfranchisement of people getting out of the jail system.
PCD: Coming out of 2021, wherein NC garnered over $400 million from film projects, should North Carolina take steps to strengthen the industry, such as improving grants?
ET: Yes, movie industry grants should continue to foster a better relationship with the industry.
PCD: How far should the state go to attract companies and promote economic development?
ET: Promoting economic development and creating more good paying jobs should be one of the state’s highest priorities.
PCD: What needs to be done to address PFAs in North Carolinians’ drinking water?
ET: More testing of PFAs needs to be conducted to clearly understand the threat and especially of long term exposure. Cleaning of PFAs needs to be more stringent as well as holding companies accountable for putting PFAs in our water.
PCD: How does the state need to improve its flood resilience plan to prevent disaster scenarios, like Hurricane Florence’s aftermath?
ET: Improving the roads for better trafficability, and improve the power grid for better resilience.
PCD: What are the top issues in our K-12 schools right now and how would you work to address it?
ET: New teacher applications have been declining and teacher attrition has been increasing. Significantly increase teacher pay. Hire additional support personnel such as psychologists and social workers. Increase infrastructure to help reduce class sizes.
PCD: What resources do we need in place to continue to fight Covid-19? How should NC prepare for a future pandemic?
ET: The current resources to fight Covid-19 are sufficient. NC should prepare for a future pandemic by developing a playbook, and prepare a stockpile of PPE.
PCD: Where do you stand on the decriminalization of marijuana? Explain.
ET: Marijuana should be decriminalized for medical use. When North Carolinians are ready for recreational use and expungement of criminal records, that should be voted by referendum.
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