2024 voter guide: Research candidates on Union County primary ballots
Early voting started Feb. 15 for North Carolina’s primary elections in Union County, with federal, state and local positions on the ballot.
In addition to top-of-the ballot races such as president and governor, voters will pick their political parties’ nominees in races for school board, the state legislature and Congress.
In North Carolina, registered Democrats can vote only in Democratic primaries and registered Republicans in Republican primaries. Unaffiliated voters can choose to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary, but they may only vote in one party’s primary race.
Early primary voting runs through March 2, and Election Day is March 5.
Check your registration, see your sample ballot and find where to vote at vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup.
In preparation for the election, The Charlotte Observer sent surveys to candidates asking questions about their backgrounds and platforms. Questionnaires below include congressional and state legislature seats as well as local elections for county commissioner and school board. They have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.
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North Carolina Congressional Districts
N.C. 8th Congressional District
Voters can choose one of six candidates in the Republican primary for the 8th District. There is only one Democrat running. Allan Baucom, John Bradford and Don Brown have not responded to the questionnaire.
Mark Harris
District: 08
Political party: Republican
Age as of March 5, 2024: 57
Campaign website: MarkHarrisforCongress.org
Current occupation: Pastor
Professional experience: I’ve held multiple pastoral roles across NC and Georgia. Most recently I was the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Charlotte before my current role as Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist in Mooresville. Elected President of the North Carolina Baptist Convention from 2011-2013.
Education: Appalachian State University (BA), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, DMin)
What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement?: 2016 and 2018 9th Congressional District, 2014 US Senate
What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it? We need to act swiftly to secure our southern border. As of November, 119,000 immigrants are here in Charlotte awaiting their hearing. We have to stop tinkering with small changes on immigration reform and finally get serious about border security. Close the border and enforce the laws we have on the books.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? None.
What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money? Our national debt must be addressed. We should eliminate Dept of Energy, Dept of Education and Dept of Commerce and send those tax dollars back to the states.
Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts? I do not support automatically raising the debt ceiling. At a time when most Americans are struggling to balance their home budgets, we must get serious in Washington and balance our budget.
What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion? The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision has handed the issue of abortion to the states. I support Senator Graham’s Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act.
What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support? President Trump made 472 administrative changes to the US immigration system that were rolled back by the Biden Administration. Since Biden took office a record 7.2 million illegal immigrants have crossed our border -- and that includes 1.4 million “gotaways” that vanished into our country. We must first secure the border and enforce laws that are on the books.
What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime? Progressive district attorneys are failing to pursue criminals. I support laws that allow state attorney general’s office shared authority to pursue criminals where a DA fails to act.
Chris Maples
District: 8
Political party: Republican
Age as of March 5, 2024: 53
Campaign website: MaplesForCongress.com
Current occupation: Entrepreneur; Director of External Affairs, UNC Pembroke (on leave of absence for campaign)
Professional experience: U.S. Navy Veteran; Former District Director for Congressman Dan Bishop and Congressman Richard Hudson; Public School Teacher; Legislative Liaison
Education: Bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2002 and 2010, respectively.
What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? U.S. Navy Veteran; Former District Director for Congressman Dan Bishop and Congressman Richard Hudson.
What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it? Immigration and the lack of border security. I will vote to reinstate “Remain in Mexico” policy and end the “Catch and Release” policies of the Biden Administration. I will designate drug cartels as “International Terrorist Organizations,” and begin construction to complete the border wall.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? I disagree that the U.S. should devise a quota system for determining who can immigrate to the U.S. I will encourage everyone to return to immigration policy inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. “Give of tired, your poor, your downtrodden, yearning to breathe free.” Some of America’s greatest accomplishments were done by the descendants of poor immigrants wishing to better their lives and the lives of their children.
What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money? This list is too extensive to put into words. But I would begin by reducing funding and eventually eliminate agencies like the Department of Education. Education is a local issue and the federal government should stay out of it.
Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts? No! The U.S. should adopt a balanced budget amendment and end deficit spending immediately.
What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion? The Tenth Amendment requires all issues not iterated in the Constitution should be left to the states. Abortion is exactly this type of issue and should be addressed by state legislators. I would support NO legislation granting or extending rights to abortion.
What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support? Reinstate “Remain in Mexico,” end “Catch and Release,” declare all drug cartels as “International Terrorist Organizations,” and complete the construction of the wall along the southern border.
What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime? End “Gun Free Zones,” allow teachers to be trained and armed in the classrooms, and encourage gun safety training in high schools.
Leigh Brown
District: 8
Political party: Republican
Age as of March 5, 2024: 49
Campaign website: www.leighbrownforcongress.com
Current occupation: Broker/Owner - Community One Real Estate® and motivational speaker
Professional experience: Small Business owner, real estate broker, author, and public speaker
Education: BSBA Business Administration and Management - UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement?: I ran for NC House in 2014 and for US Congress in 2019. I served as VP for the National Association of Realtors in 2021 and was state president of the North Carolina Realtors in 2023. I’ve been appointed to the NC Housing Finance Agency board by Senate Pro Tem Berger since 2018.
What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it? The open border crisis. The economic burden of what the elites have decided to spend on illegal aliens is MORE than what is being spent on our own veterans. In addition, we have a fentanyl crisis, with this drug coming over the border from foreign adversaries. We have a human trafficking crisis, with women and children being sold into modern-day slavery through the cartels. The border must be closed immediately, any illegal must be deported and we must enforce the laws on the books.
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue? I disagree on the level of spending that is being approved in DC-and it has happened under both Republicans and Democrats. I would not vote yes on every continuing resolution or on foreign wars. I would speak for my constituents who should be the top priority of their own government. Our elected officials are saying yes to avoid tough decisions. In that vein, I’ll also press for term limits to stop the perpetual re-election cycle that keeps good officials from speaking painful truths.
What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money? Let’s start with over $100B in spending for Ukraine with zero accountability and then look at the open funding of so many other foreign entities. We should not be funding illegal aliens’ lifestyles when they cross into this country-cash payments, free cell phones, free housing, free medical care, free schooling, free meals…yet the US citizens are being destroyed by inflation. This must stop. We’re in a financial storm and that means we are past due time to grow up and deal with it.
Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts? No. Spending should be cut and the Fed needs to be audited. We have far too many federal employees and the government is a consumer of resources, not a producer. Return the resources to those who produce, and we’ll all benefit.
What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion? I support life.
What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support? End chain migration, end the anchor baby problem. Fully fund the border wall and empower our border agents to enforce existing law. Add more judges to process those who are legally following the process and can enhance our country.
What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime? End the power of big pharma in DC. The root cause of many crimes is likely associated with the mass usage of SSRI medications -- a fact which has not been acknowledged and must be for the sake of our future. Any violent crime should, of course, be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Our safety crisis will not end until we put victims ahead of criminals.
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North Carolina House of Representatives
N.C. House District 55 (GOP)
Voters will be able to pick one of three candidates in the GOP primary for District 55. Incumbent Mark Brody, who’s serving his sixth term, and Republican challenger Arthur McDonald didn’t respond to the Observer’s questionnaire. There is no Democratic primary.
On his website, Brody says he’s a Christian, conservative Republican. He touts an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and endorsements from N.C. Right to Life and the conservative N.C. Value Coalition.
Richard Miller
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024 : 61
Campaign website and/or social media links: richardmiller4nc.com
Current occupation: Business owner
Have you run for elected office before? No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
I have supported various nonprofit organizations.
What are, in your view, the most important issues facing House District 55, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected?
Lack of growth. Bolstering the job market with the possibility of partnering with state economic development programs, business tax incentives, research initiatives, and parks. These resources can offer invaluable support in cultivating a business-friendly environment for the community and assist them in flourishing. By leveraging these tools, we can bring more opportunities and prosperity. Let us collaborate to make your area a more appealing destination for businesses and job seekers alike.
Local leaders are considering asking the legislature for assistance in addressing crime, particularly youth crime and recidivism. What can, and what should, the legislature do on public safety?
Provide law enforcement with the resources to investigate crimes, make arrests, and secure convictions. We need to ensure that our communities are safe and protected. We can work together to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the tools and support they need to do their jobs effectively and safely for our community.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
Being a small business owner separates me from my opponent. Also, communication, leadership, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, financial management, conflict resolution, decision-making, and collaboration.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party on local or state issues?
No
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
Owning and operating a successful business for over 20 years.
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N.C. House District 69 (GOP)
The 69th District election features two Republicans — incumbent Larry “Dean” Arp and Clint Cannaday. Neither candidate responded to the Observer’s survey. There is no Democratic primary.
Arp is an engineer who’s serving his sixth term in the N.C. House, where he’s senior chairman of the appropriations committee.
On his Facebook page, Cannaday said he was raised in Charlotte and Mint Hill and moved to Union County seven years ago. Cannaday said he supports the Second Amendment, wants limited government interference in people’s lives and plans to advocate for health care accessibility. Cannaday says he wants to balance environmental protection with economic growth.
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Union County commissioner (GOP)
Voters can choose up to two of the five candidates on the ballot. Christina B. Helms and Gary Sides didn’t respond to the Observer’s questionnaire. There is no Democratic primary.
Anne M. Simpson
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 59
Campaign website and/or social media links: simpson4waxhaw.com
Current occupation: Contractor
Have you run for elected office before?
Waxhaw Commissioner
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
HOA committees
Waxhaw Organizational Advisory Board
Downtown Waxhaw Association board member
Waxhaw Commissioner
What are the three most important issues in Union County today?
Law enforcement
Infrastructure
Financial sustainability and schools
Union County has been the beneficiary of rapid population and business growth. What’s your view about how it’s changed the area for the better or worse?
It’s not about better or worse; it’s about facing reality and planning for growth as over 100,000 people move to Charlotte each year due to its desirability and quality of life. That drew me and my family to Union County over 14 years ago. As a mom, I cannot stop or freeze my kids at a certain age or time, but must prepare and plan for their future needs. The same must be done for Union County residents.
What’s one idea you’ve got to make county government work better for Union County residents and visitors?
Building relationships with the local municipalities, state representatives, North Carolina Department of Transportation, school board, community leaders, and the public to identify common goals and solve the problems Union County is facing. The county must address infrastructure, sewer, and school overcrowding without burdening our citizens with higher taxes.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on the ballot?
Serving as Waxhaw Commissioner, I have faced similar challenges at the Union County level. From under-compensated law enforcement officers, improving commercial to residential tax base, collaboration with multiple jurisdictional agencies to improve pedestrian safety along Cuthbertson Road and deliver over $30 million in capital improvements with the Pedestrian Plaza, Downtown Park, Recreation Barn, and Town Campus.
Parker Mills
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 62
Campaign website and/or social media links: electparkermills.com
Current occupation: Dry cleaner owner
Have you run for elected office before?
Elected in 1990 to a four-year term to the Union County Board of Commissioners and again in 2006 to the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Past board member of Union County Community Arts Council
Past board member of Central Carolina Council of Boy Scouts of America
Former chairman of Friends is Scouting Fundraising Campaign
Former board member of Museum of the Waxhaws
Former board member of Health Quest
Former board member of Union Academy Foundation
Former board member of National Wild Turkey Federation
Former chairman of Friends of NRA
Former board member of Union County United Way
What are the three most important issues in Union County today?
Enhancing the EMS service in Union County, changing the contract so Union County’s new $300 million plant can sell water to the City of Monroe and controlling the rapid residential growth while expanding our commercial growth.
Union County has been the beneficiary of rapid population and business growth. What’s your view about how it’s changed the area for the better or worse?
Union County is a wonderful place to live and work. The area has changed a lot over the years. And the proximity to Charlotte has caused much of this. We just need to control and manage the growth and preserve our rural character. Growth has its challenges, but I believe growth is better than no growth, which causes a slow death.
What’s one idea you’ve got to make county government work better for Union County residents and visitors?
The main concern to me is to look at the EMS system and get it back under the control of the county If a new contract can’t be worked out that keeps ambulances manned, staffed, and ready to respond. Too often, we have an emergency call, and “no ambulance available“ is the response, and an ambulance out of Mecklenburg County is dispatched. This affects everyone In Union County.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on the ballot?
I am a businessman and have owned and operated Mills Cleaners for over 40 years. I know how to make a decision and move the county forward, and I can adapt if necessary to get the job done. Making budgets and sound financial decisions is part of what my job as a small business owner has taught me.
Edwin Elam
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024: 64
Campaign website and/or social media links: www.facebook.com
Current occupation: Business owner
Have you run for elected office before?
Ran for Waxhaw Mayor in 2019 and Union County Commissioner in 2022
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Board Chairman, Union County Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Committees, Board Member Union County Crime Stoppers, Monroe Rotary Club, Board Member Monroe Civitans, Waxhaw Lions Club, Union County Litter Busters, Community Outreach Director at Historic Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church. Head of the Financial Literacy Department at Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church. Ordained Elder at HEMBC focusing on public theology.
What are the three most important issues in Union County today?
Tackling the realism of Union County’s water and sewer issues. Managed growth while creating a better relationship with all Union County stakeholders. I want to help solve real Union County issues without politicizing everything we do.
Union County has been the beneficiary of rapid population and business growth. What’s your view about how it’s changed the area for the better or worse?
Everything can be managed better if we all come together to tackle real issues. People have migrated here due to issues no one could have calculated 40 years ago. What we have to do is all make a stand to work together. There is nowhere people can run anymore, and we must have all stakeholders become involved for a better future and legacy for those who will come after.
What’s one idea you’ve got to make county government work better for Union County residents and visitors?
We must build on the hand we have been dealt -- promote our rich and even challenged history, and create real information clearinghouses that help small minority and women-owned businesses thrive. We have to inform, train, and find better systems to help citizens as a top priority. They pay the bills and should not be an afterthought in this community.
What separates you from your opponents and makes you the best choice on the ballot?
I am the best candidate for the Union County Commissioner job in 2024. I touch more people in diverse settings and listen to their needs. I am involved in all of Union County to help people. I know Union County issues because I take the time to attend the meetings up to the minute. I do not have to learn this job on the people’s dime. I am ready today, and everyone knows I’m paying attention to the issues.
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Union County BOE (GOP)
Voters can select up to two of the four Republican candidates for school board. Sarah May, Todd F. Price and Travis Cook didn’t respond to the Observer’s survey. May and Price are both incumbents on the board. Price was first appointed to the board in 2019. May was first appointed to the board in 2020.
Linda O. Robinson
Age as of Nov. 5, 2024
62
Campaign website or social media page: facebook.com/robinson4boe
Occupation
Retired school teacher
Education
B.S. in Mathematics, National Board Certification, MAEd with a Concentration in Curriculum and Instruction
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
President of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 535, chaplain and trustee for VFW Auxiliary Post 2423
What are the most important issues in Union County Schools today, and how would you address them?
One issue is the student exodus to private, charter, and homeschooling options. While I uphold parents’ right to choose, my focus is on retaining students in public schools. Engaging with parents over the past year revealed insights into actions the school board can take such as expanding programs offered and working with specific schools to address parent, teacher and administration relationships. Additionally, addressing the strain on teachers caused by fluctuating resources.
What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the school board?
Our students, teachers and tutors have worked hard since testing resumed after the pandemic. Each year our test scores have risen. However, with the covid funds ending we now need to get creative. Ideas such as reaching out to businesses to see if they will allow their employees to tutor or involving honor society students to tutor younger students. These ideas are already being implemented in some schools, but they need to be expanded upon.
What’s your opinion on school book bans or decisions to limit the audience for particular titles. And how would you approach the problem if a parent brought a book to your attention?
It is the parents right to choose what their child is exposed to. The media centers should contain materials that complement, enrich or extend the curriculum being taught in the classroom. UCPS has a procedure set up to address the issue. The schools have advisory committees made up of the media specialist, teachers and parents who review books. If a parent brought a book to my attention, I would follow the procedure already in place.
What separates you from you opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?
I have both the education and the experience needed to serve on the Union County School Board. My education consists of a B.S. in Mathematics, National Board Certification and a Masters in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction. I taught for 33 years in the NC public schools and had the additional responsibility my last few years as the testing coordinator. There is not another person on the present board with my experience and education.
