Political Party: Democratic
Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 45
Campaign website: www.electlaurabudd.com
Email: laurabuddnchouse@gmail.com
Occupation: Attorney
Education: B.A. Ohio University 1999; J.D. Wake Forest University Law School 2002
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought): No
Please list your highlights of civic involvement:
Currently, I serve as the president of the Matthews Athletic Recreation Assoc., vice-president of Piedmont Gymnastics Association, and am a member of the Mecklenburg County Bar, the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and Women in the Profession for the North Carolina Bar Assoc. I am also a Boy Scout Leader. Previously, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Peace & Justice Immigration Clinic and Matthews Free Medical Clinic and been a longtime volunteer with Room in the Inn.
If you’re a member of the minority party, how will you be an effective legislator as a member of the minority party?
I practice civil litigation. On the surface my job looks combative. When I started, I was often the youngest attorney and one of the only women in court. I learned early that a well-researched and well-reasoned approach seeking common ground will often lay the foundation to reaching a resolution to the conflict. As a legislator, whether serving in the minority or majority party, a consistent collaborative approach to the issues will be the most effective to serving the people of North Carolina.
School test scores dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should North Carolina do to improve student performance?
To improve performance and fulfill our duty to our children and families, we need to fund the Leandro Plan. Along with competitive teacher salaries to make North Carolina a contender in competing for the best educators in the nation, we need to increase funding for social workers to help struggling families connect with local resources, and increase the number of educational psychologists to test for learning difficulties to prevent and reduce achievement gaps.
What do you want to happen in North Carolina if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
North Carolina should codify Roe v. Wade affirming a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions without the interference of the government. The decision whether to bear a child is between the woman, her doctor, and if she is religious, her God. To limit a woman’s autonomy and control of her body is to treat her as less than a full citizen entitled to all the protections of the Constitution.
What should North Carolina do to reduce violent crime?
I support a two-pronged approach. Increased funding for law enforcement is critical to enable officers to perform. Parallel with this a focused effort to strengthen housing and food security, strong afterschool/summer programs for K-8, and vocational training opportunities in high school are necessary to reduce the school to prison pipeline numbers. The prison system reforms need to make mental health, addiction treatment, and re-entry training into society the priorities over punishment.
Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?
Yes. Medical marijuana should be legalized and dispensed under the care of a licensed physician for those patients who would benefit from the treatment of diseases and health conditions it has been shown beneficial in treating. The legislation legalizing it should be drafted to also benefit local businesses and farmers who would participate in the program.
What should the state’s minimum wage be? What policies would you support to help struggling North Carolinians?
The minimum wage should be a living wage, at a minimum $15.00. I also support paid parental leave, Medicaid expansion, and allocating more control of resources to local towns and municipalities who are in better position to define how to use them to help struggling North Carolinians in their communities.
Should North Carolina expand Medicaid, and how?
I support the expansion of Medicaid for those North Carolinians who cannot afford health insurance by accepting the federal funds allocated. This would cover a large portion of the population currently without health insurance, bring approximately $4 billion taxpayer dollars into NC each year, and which would create thousands of jobs as well as help rural hospitals remain open.
Is there an area where you disagree with your party? Why?
There are and will continue to be areas I disagree with the Democratic Party on. However, it is less about “a party” and more about collaborating with others to think critically about how to best meet and serve the needs of all North Carolinians.
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article261270062.html#storylink=cpy
