Johnston County Candidates Connection 2024
The Johnston County Candidates Connection is a virtual, candidate forum coordinated by the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce to make it convenient and easy for our members and candidates to connect.
We asked the candidates to respond to four questions that were developed by the Chamber's legislative affairs committee. All candidates were invited to participate in this forum. Some candidates declined the opportunity others chose not to respond.*
We asked the candidates to respond to four questions that were developed by the Chamber's legislative affairs committee. All candidates were invited to participate in this forum. Some candidates declined the opportunity others chose not to respond.*
Click on any of the races below to view the candidate questions and their responses.
*The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan organization focused on fostering economic growth and prosperity in our community. We will work with all elected officials in our community to reach these goals. However, in order to maintain our not for profit status we do not endorse candidates, nor do we accept advertisements for political candidates. All candidates were invited to participate in this online forum. Some candidates declined the opportunity or chose not to respond.
Maureen McGuinness, President & CEO for the Triangle East Chamber
Johnston County Board of Education
1/
Please introduce yourself and state the reason why you are seeking this position and why you think you are prepared to serve if elected.
April Lee
David Spain
Jeff Sullivan
Kay Carroll (I)
Lyn Andrews (I)
Rick Walker
I=Incumbent
2/
As a member of an elected body of Johnston County, how would you work with other elected bodies to build consensus for your ideas and collaborate to find what is best for the county?
April Lee
David Spain
Jeff Sullivan
Kay Carroll (I)
Lyn Andrews (I)
Rick Walker
3/
Recently, close to one million dollars were cut from funding. A part of that funding was for pre-k programming. How do you view the role of public preschool and school readiness in the overall success of our public schools, and what specific initiatives would you support to enhance school readiness in our district?
April Lee
David Spain
Jeff Sullivan
Kay Carroll (I)
Lyn Andrews (I)
Rick Walker
4/
In our district, certain student populations consistently score well below others on standardized tests and academic metrics. How do you plan to leverage this data to ensure that students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, marginalized communities, and/or with special needs graduate with the same opportunities as their peers? What interventions and policies would you support that uplift these underserved groups and ensure equitable educational opportunities for all students?
April Lee
David Spain
Jeff Sullivan
Kay Carroll (I)
Lyn Andrews (I)
Rick Walker
NC Senate and House of Representatives
1/
Please introduce yourself and state the reason why you are seeking this position and why you think you are prepared to serve if elected.
NC Senate
Benton Sawrey (I)
Felicia Baxter
NC House
Kevin Thurman
Howard Penny (I)
Donna White (I)
Tawanda Shepard
I=Incumbent
2/
Johnston County is a Tier 3 County, although a significant part of the county does not meet that criteria, and those municipalities miss out on critical funding because of this designation. What will you do to ensure our underserved municipalities receive access to economic development programs?
NC Senate
Benton Sawrey (I)
Felicia Baxter
NC House
Kevin Thurman
Howard Penny (I)
Donna White (I)
Tawanda Shepard
3/
What concrete steps will you take to ensure that families in the workforce, particularly those with low to moderate incomes, can afford and access reliable childcare services, enabling them to participate fully in the workforce without undue financial strain or childcare-related barriers?
NC Senate
Benton Sawrey (I)
Felicia Baxter
NC House
Kevin Thurman
Howard Penny (I)
Donna White (I)
Tawanda Shepard
4/
Access to health care is a concern in North Carolina, and Johnston County is no different. From specialists to mental health care providers, the wait can be long in light of the growing demand for health care services and the expanding role of nurse practitioners. How do you plan to address the issues surrounding nurse practitioners' practice authority, including scope of practice regulations, to ensure that they can practice to the full extent of their education and training, thereby improving access to primary care and health care services for underserved populations?
NC Senate
Benton Sawrey (I)
Felicia Baxter
NC House
Kevin Thurman
Howard Penny (I)
Donna White (I)
Tawanda Shepard
US Senate and House of Representatives
1/
Please tell us about yourself, your strengths and why you think you're prepared to serve us if elected.
US House
Frank Pierce
2/
Access to quality early child care is a two-generational workforce issue. First, parents need access to quality care in order to actively participate in the workforce. Secondly, children who attend quality childcare programs are kindergarten-ready, paving the way for school success, which leads to job readiness. In light of the critical role that childcare plays in supporting working families and the economy, how do you propose leveraging federal funds to ensure sustainable support for the childcare sector, including initiatives to improve affordability, expand access, and enhance the quality of care provided?
US House
Frank Pierce
3/
Legislation such as HR 7198, known as the Prove It Act, aims to strengthen protections for small businesses by requiring federal agencies to assess and limit the direct and indirect costs of their rules and regulations on small businesses. If elected, what will you do to help support small businesses and reduce burdensome regulations?
US House
Frank Pierce
4/
In a political landscape often dominated by party interests, constituents seek representation that prioritizes their needs over partisan agendas. How will you ensure that your representation in office remains focused on serving the needs and concerns of your constituents in Johnston County, even when they may differ from the priorities of your party?
US House
Frank Pierce
Johnston County Commissioner
1/ Please tell us about yourself, your strengths and why you think you are prepared to serve if elected.
Bill Stovall (I)
I=Incumbent
2/ What are your top funding priorities for Johnston County and why?
Bill Stovall (I)
3/ As our county continues to grow, we're seeing significant changes in both the business landscape and the local economy. How do you plan to balance the benefits of growth, such as increased business opportunities and job creation, with the challenges it brings, including infrastructure strain, housing affordability, and maintaining the character of our community?
Bill Stovall (I)
4/ Given the county’s growing population, the increasing demand for services such as public safety, infrastructure, and healthcare, and the county’s desire to recruit and retain employees, what will you do to ensure services are adequately funded, and county employees are paid a fair market rate?
Bill Stovall (I)
Smithfield Council
1/ Tell us about yourself, your background, your strengths, and why you think you are prepared to serve if elected.
David Barbour
Doris Wallace2/ Please give the reasons you decided to run for this office.
Doris WallaceDavid Barbour3/ With the residential and commercial growth we are seeing across the county, there is concern that some communities' infrastructure, water & sewer in particular, will not be able to handle the capacity. Do you feel your community is equipped to accommodate the growth that is coming? If not, what deficiencies do you see and what are possible solutions?
Doris WallaceDavid Barbour4/ Please share examples of how you have collaborated with others to solve problems or bring about positive change. How will you contribute to the unity of leadership within your town and in partnership with the county and neighboring communities?
Doris WallaceDavid Barbour5/ What specific issues do you think need to be addressed in your community?
Doris WallaceDavid BarbourEvent Sponsors
Connection Sponsors
Growth Sponsors
