SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Democrat Charles Graham is running against incumbent Republican David Rouzer for U.S. House District 7. The district represents over 740,000 residents in a seven-county region, including Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Pender and Robeson counties.
Port City Daily has sent a questionnaire to every candidate appearing on ballots in the tri-county region, ahead of the Nov. 8, 2022, election.
PCD asked candidates to address issues pertinent to the region.
Graham’s stances on issues are discussed below. All answers are included in full; the candidate’s opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily. Responses are edited for grammar, spelling and clarity.
The paywall is dropped on candidate questionnaires to help voters make informed decisions ahead of Election Day.
To prepare, here are a few dates for readers to keep in mind:
- Absentee ballots will be available Sept. 9 and have a Nov. 1 deadline.
- Registration to vote will open until Oct. 14; afterward, according to the state board of elections, same-day registration only will be available during one-stop early voting.
- Early voting begins Oct. 20 and remains open through Nov. 5 (3:30 p.m.).
- Election Day polls open Nov. 8, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Locations to vote early in New Hanover County include CFCC Health Sciences and Learning Center (415 2nd. St.), Carolina Beach Municipal Building (1121 Lake Park Blvd.), CFCC North Campus (4500 Blue Clay Rd.), Northeast Library/Board of Elections (1241-A Military Cutoff Rd.), and the Senior Center (2222 S. College Rd.).
Brunswick County locations for early voting include the government center (25 Referendum Dr., Bolivia), Leland Cultural Arts Center (1212 Magnolia Village Way), Brunswick Center at Southport (1513 N. Howe St., #1), Brunswick Center at Shallotte (3620 Express Dr.), and Southwest Brunswick Branch Library (9400 Ocean Hwy W.).
In Pender county, locations for early voting include Pender County Cooperative Ext., 801 S. Walker St., Burgaw; Pender County Annex Building, 15060 US Hwy 17, Hampstead; and Atkinson School Gym, 200 N. Town Hall Ave., Atkinson.
Once early voting closes — see hours here — voters will need to go to the location listed on their voter registration card.
To see a sample ballot for the upcoming election, fill in voter registration info here.
Port City Daily: Name three projects that you would advocate for funding and why.
Charles Graham (CG): The first investment that I would support is a “Rural Broadband project.” In the NC House, I have supported efforts that have allocated over a billion dollars in spending to increase broadband connectivity in our rural communities across the state; however, there is still more work to be done. Children should not have to work on their school projects in the McDonald’s parking lot because their homes are not serviced by affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet connections. I fully support “last-mile” initiatives to expand broadband to the entirety of our communities. Broadband is an essential tool to run a business, attend school, and even to just be a part of society in today’s time, everyone deserves access.
Secondly, I would push for continued investment in infrastructure. The pandemic and ongoing supply chain issues have shown the need to have a secure infrastructure that includes a robust supply chain, and revitalized bridges, roads, and more. Investment in infrastructure puts people to work, increases public safety, and offers better economic opportunity moving forward.
Finally, I would support an investment into affordable housing. On the campaign trail, I consistently hear the concern of people being pushed out of their homes, rent skyrocketing, and the worry that many young families will never be able to afford a home. We need to see a meaningful compromise that works to build quality, affordable housing for folks of all walks of life. Our communities’ continued growth will be stronger and more equitable if we can do that.
PCD: In addition, are there any policy issues you want to see brought forth that haven’t received deserved attention?
CG: I would like for there to be additional attention brought to lowering costs for working families. Far too many individuals are pointing fingers and assigning blame, instead of finding solutions to help our working class.
Additionally, we need a continued push for conservation on the coast. Tourism and recreation bring in an immense amount of money to our district and we need to safeguard that from unjust development.
PCD: How do you propose the government further assist with fighting inflation and its ramifications — rising cost of rent, groceries, utilities, prescription drugs, gas — on working families?
CG: I believe it is time that we reign in corporate greed. Now more than ever, we are seeing record profits and higher costs on everything. Families have been forced to decide between putting food on the table and paying the bills, that’s unacceptable. If people are working 40 hours a week, they should be able to live a normal life.
Locally, we have an immense affordable housing crisis that needs to be fixed. It’s time we invest in the working class, not just corporations. Congress has the ability to reign in the costs of prescription medication and to ease the burden of inflation on working families. We need a congressman who is willing to come to the table and find common ground. Right now, that’s not happening and southeastern NC is suffering.
PCD: Where do you stand on women’s reproductive health rights and would you support legislation to further restrict abortions?
CG: I believe that abortion is a private decision between a woman and her medical professionals. It should be safe and legal.
PCD: Healthcare costs in America have skyrocketed in recent years; what do you propose should be done to help address its impact?
CG: We need to expand access to healthcare through provisions like Medicaid expansion for those in the coverage gap; we need to reign in high costs of prescription medication and work to make preventative care accessible to all.
PCD: What needs to be done to address PFAS that continue to poison drinking water in communities nationwide, including in North Carolina? Do you support further restrictions on emissions and legislation to hold corporations accountable?
CG: It’s time we hold polluters accountable. Corporations like Chemours have made lasting damage to our communities that we are only now beginning to see. In the NC legislature, I have always been fair to businesses, in the past the NC Chamber of Commerce has even named me a “jobs champion.” Still, we cannot give corporations a free pass.
We can have corporate growth while protecting the health and integrity of our communities. In Washington, I would fight for better protections for our water and environment.
PCD: In terms of energy conservation, do you support offshore drilling and/or cleaner options (offshore wind development, more electric vehicles) — or both? What solutions do you offer to combat climate change?
CG: I do not support offshore drilling in any form. We have seen oil spills across the country over the years. Every time it happens, it causes lasting permanent damage to the coastline.
I would support offshore wind development and other forms of clean energy if we study their impact on the community first. Climate change is an impact our communities feel every year, from flooding to more frequent hurricanes. This is not a partisan issue; this is a commonsense issue.
PCD: School safety and the second amendment are often in the national conversation and heightened earlier in the spring due to the Uvalde shooting. What do you propose national leaders do to help strengthen school safety — does it include more restrictive measures on gun ownership? Explain.
CG: Let me start by saying that in the legislature, I have a track record of respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. My heart breaks every time that tragedy strikes our nation with mass shootings. I believe we need to invest in safer school infrastructure, additional SROs, and we need to work on common sense solutions to gun violence.
No child should have to go to school fearful of a shooting.
PCD: When it comes to infrastructure needs in the nation, what do you consider are the top priorities and how will you advocate for the needs specifically related to your district?
CG: The top infrastructure needs in the nation are the expansion of broadband access, the need to revitalize existing infrastructure, and access to affordable housing. In Raleigh, I fought to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars to help the infrastructure and organizations in my district. In Washington, I will do the same. A better infrastructure means a better quality of life, access to better jobs, and more opportunities for everyone in the community.
PCD: Are you in support of term limits in office? Explain.
CG: I support term limits. Still, we need to make sure that term limits will not offer additional influence for monied interests. Our government is best when it is representative of the people of this great nation.
PCD: Do you think more money should be put toward defense and military protections? Explain.
CG: I believe that we must continue to fully fund our defense and military. This does not mean increasing the amount spent, but it does mean we must recognize the instability around the world today.
Let us make meaningful investments that limit the waste of government spending, invest in taking care of our troops and veterans while abroad and at home, and best prepare America to protect its interests in the future.
PCD: What has Congress done right and wrong over the last decade?
CG: I think that most people would agree that Congress has been out of touch with the needs of the working class. Federal minimum wage has been stagnant, while costs continue to rise.
The people of this country have weathered immense economic strain and still Congress spends more time fighting each other instead of fighting for solutions. Things in Washington have only gotten more divisive. Still, there are a few successes to point to. The bipartisan infrastructure bill and the American Rescue Plan were both great pieces of legislation which helped our nation.
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