House District 34
Tim Longest
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers?
Yes. Although incentive packages can be exorbitant, and the game of incentives encourages a "race to the bottom" among states, offering incentives to companies choosing where to locate is a necessary part of ensuring the best companies choose and remain in North Carolina over competitor states. As a legislator, I will work to ensure any incentive package benefits North Carolina and leads directly to the creation of jobs for North Carolina workers.
5. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers? Why or why not?
6. Do you support Medicaid expansion?
Yes
Do you support Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?
Yes. Medicaid expansion is a moral and economic imperative. Over 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians would be insured under Medicaid expansion. North Carolina taxpayers are paying into a system from which they are not benefitting while residents of other states do so long as North Carolina delays on Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, North Carolinians are dying or failing to receive important health services as a result of the General Assembly's failure to expand Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid will put more money into the pockets of North Carolinians, as well as helping ensure the sustainability of hospitals serving underinsured communities, particularly in our rural areas. Medicaid expansion must be the General Assembly's first priority.
7. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners at the municipal and county level to create a better environment for our region?
I will work closely with our city and county leaders to ensure both that Raleigh remains a great place to live and work and that our environment and natural resources are preserved for future generations. Developing and implementing a long-term transit plan for a transportation system that includes options for mass transit will make us less dependent on fossil fuel emissions while making it easier to get around as we grow. Additionally, expanding our energy infrastructure to incorporate more renewable energy, including wind and solar, will also help decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and develop an economy in North Carolina that sustains our environment for the long-term.
8. How will you work to support Wake County’s public education needs, including our public schools, community colleges and public universities?
Wake County has long had world-class public schools, community colleges, and public universities, but ensuring that world-class status is only possible because of sustained and farsighted investments in education at the state level. The General Assembly has not invested what it needs to for our education system in Wake County and across North Carolina to compete globally. As representative, I will work to raise teacher pay to at least the national average to end the teacher shortage and ensure a great teacher in every classroom. I will fight for better funding in our public schools from Pre-K through our universities and community colleges to ensure our schools—our most important investment—have what they need to succeed not only in Wake County, but across our state.
9. How will you help North Carolina to be more competitive regionally, nationally, and internationally?
North Carolina and its Research Triangle became nationally known not because of a refusal to invest, but because of smart, long-term investments in infrastructure and education. At the end of the Great Depression, Governor W. Kerr Scott called the state's massive treasury surplus a "deficit in public services"—and that is true of today's surplus as well. The General Assembly has not kept up the long-term, progressive investments necessary to build our region and state. As a legislator I would advocate for further investments in our education, transportation, and energy systems to make North Carolina a great place to live and work into this century and the next.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the state for ongoing growth.
My predecessors in this seat, Representatives Grier Martin and Deborah Ross, were committed to long-term investments in transportation for North Carolina. I share that commitment, and will work closely with city and regional leaders to create and implement the transit plan our state needs to grow.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Business is good when the state makes investments from which businesses and workers benefit. I will advocate for those long-term investments in education, transportation, and energy, to enable North Carolina businesses to thrive and to make this a great place to live as well as work.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Although much affordable housing policy is made at the municipal level, I will work with city leaders, the community, and the private sector to ensure that the State supports our city and region in expanding our supply of affordable housing.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
The General Assembly is responsible for crafting policy applicable to the entire State, while cities often function as "laboratories of democracy." I see my role as representative as ensuring the General Assembly partners with and supports our cities.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
We need to ensure our criminal justice system has the resources it needs to protect the public and stop crime, while addressing inequities as well.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers?
Yes. Although incentive packages can be exorbitant, and the game of incentives encourages a "race to the bottom" among states, offering incentives to companies choosing where to locate is a necessary part of ensuring the best companies choose and remain in North Carolina over competitor states. As a legislator, I will work to ensure any incentive package benefits North Carolina and leads directly to the creation of jobs for North Carolina workers.
5. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers? Why or why not?
6. Do you support Medicaid expansion?
Yes
Do you support Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?
Yes. Medicaid expansion is a moral and economic imperative. Over 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians would be insured under Medicaid expansion. North Carolina taxpayers are paying into a system from which they are not benefitting while residents of other states do so long as North Carolina delays on Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, North Carolinians are dying or failing to receive important health services as a result of the General Assembly's failure to expand Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid will put more money into the pockets of North Carolinians, as well as helping ensure the sustainability of hospitals serving underinsured communities, particularly in our rural areas. Medicaid expansion must be the General Assembly's first priority.
7. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners at the municipal and county level to create a better environment for our region?
I will work closely with our city and county leaders to ensure both that Raleigh remains a great place to live and work and that our environment and natural resources are preserved for future generations. Developing and implementing a long-term transit plan for a transportation system that includes options for mass transit will make us less dependent on fossil fuel emissions while making it easier to get around as we grow. Additionally, expanding our energy infrastructure to incorporate more renewable energy, including wind and solar, will also help decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and develop an economy in North Carolina that sustains our environment for the long-term.
8. How will you work to support Wake County’s public education needs, including our public schools, community colleges and public universities?
Wake County has long had world-class public schools, community colleges, and public universities, but ensuring that world-class status is only possible because of sustained and farsighted investments in education at the state level. The General Assembly has not invested what it needs to for our education system in Wake County and across North Carolina to compete globally. As representative, I will work to raise teacher pay to at least the national average to end the teacher shortage and ensure a great teacher in every classroom. I will fight for better funding in our public schools from Pre-K through our universities and community colleges to ensure our schools—our most important investment—have what they need to succeed not only in Wake County, but across our state.
9. How will you help North Carolina to be more competitive regionally, nationally, and internationally?
North Carolina and its Research Triangle became nationally known not because of a refusal to invest, but because of smart, long-term investments in infrastructure and education. At the end of the Great Depression, Governor W. Kerr Scott called the state's massive treasury surplus a "deficit in public services"—and that is true of today's surplus as well. The General Assembly has not kept up the long-term, progressive investments necessary to build our region and state. As a legislator I would advocate for further investments in our education, transportation, and energy systems to make North Carolina a great place to live and work into this century and the next.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the state for ongoing growth.
My predecessors in this seat, Representatives Grier Martin and Deborah Ross, were committed to long-term investments in transportation for North Carolina. I share that commitment, and will work closely with city and regional leaders to create and implement the transit plan our state needs to grow.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
Business is good when the state makes investments from which businesses and workers benefit. I will advocate for those long-term investments in education, transportation, and energy, to enable North Carolina businesses to thrive and to make this a great place to live as well as work.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Although much affordable housing policy is made at the municipal level, I will work with city leaders, the community, and the private sector to ensure that the State supports our city and region in expanding our supply of affordable housing.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
The General Assembly is responsible for crafting policy applicable to the entire State, while cities often function as "laboratories of democracy." I see my role as representative as ensuring the General Assembly partners with and supports our cities.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
We need to ensure our criminal justice system has the resources it needs to protect the public and stop crime, while addressing inequities as well.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
