Democrat Antoine Marshall, NC House District 33 candidate, answers our questions

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Name: Antoine Marshall

Political party: Democrat

Age as of March 5, 2024: 36

Campaign website: www.marshall4NC.com

Current occupation: Attorney

Professional experience: Former intern for U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and former Delegate Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands; legislative assistant for North Carolina Sen. Jay Chaudhuri; former Legal Aid of North Carolina attorney; small business owner.

Education: B.A. from Claflin University; J.D. from Wake Forest School of Law.

What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? I ran for state House District 33 in 2018 and 2020.

What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it?

Affordable housing/gentrification is the most pressing issue within my district. While housing affordability is generally a local (municipal/county) issue, they only have the authority to do what the state allows. I would allow cities to implement mandatory. I would also require growing counties to submit a housing analysis to the state in order to plan for continued growth, similar to California’s “developer’s rights” law.

Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?

I would be more forceful on the issue of a cease-fire in Gaza. Not much I could do from the statehouse on the matter.

What legislation would you support to help North Carolinians who are struggling to make ends meet?

I would reinstate the earned income tax credit and tax free weekend. I would increase funding for legal service organizations like Legal Aid of NC and Pisgah Legal Services.

What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money?

The Charter School voucher program. There has never been enough demand to fully exhaust allocated funds and yet every year the General Assembly increases funds to the program. The money is better spent on public education.

Editor’s note: North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship program provides private-school vouchers to K-12 students. It was expanded this year, tripling funding and ending income restrictions for getting a voucher.

Should the new law exempting state lawmakers from the public records law be repealed?

Yes.

Would you support a bill allowing for additional casinos and legalizing video gambling machines?

Provided there is sufficient funding to gambling addiction services, wages for those employed to construct and work in the casinos have collective bargaining rights and state funds assist the communities that will bear the burden of the negative side effects from casinos.

How would you increase confidence in elections?

An independent redistricting commission and creating a public financing system for campaigns.