Fayetteville Observer Voter Guide 2022: Meet the candidates for U.S. House District 9
North Carolina State Sen. Ben Clark, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson for the U.S. House District 9 seat.
Below are the candidates' responses to a Fayetteville Observer questionnaire. Responses have been edited for style and grammar.
Richard Hudson
Name: Richard Hudson
Age: 50
Immediate family: Wife, Renee; and one son
Occupation: U.S. congressman
Elected office held: U.S. Congress
Contact: richard@richardhudsonforcongress.org; facebook.com/rephudson; twitter.com/RepHudsonNC
What is your position on abortion? Should it remain legal in North Carolina and if so, with what restrictions? If it is banned at either the state or national level, what exceptions should be made? I believe in the sanctity of every life and oppose abortion except in the case of life of the mother. Roe v Wade made abortions legal up until the time of birth for any reason. This was radical and out of step with 47 of 50 European nations that limit abortions after 15 weeks – the time when a baby has a heartbeat, feels pain, and sucks her thumb. Science behind protecting babies and mothers has advanced tremendously since 9 unelected men ruled on Roe v Wade in 1973. Most Americans support reasonable limits to abortion to protect the unborn and mothers. The Dobbs v Jackson decision returned power to decide this issue where it belongs – the people through their elected representatives.
What is your opinion on whether the federal government should forgive student loans? I oppose President Joe Biden’s plan to transfer outstanding student loans to hardworking Americans. This is unfair, especially for those who worked hard to pay their loans, did not go to college, or earned education benefits by serving in our military. I am concerned about this proposal’s $750 billion impact on our national deficit, as well as to our military recruitment and readiness. Instead, I am focused on strengthening our economy and cutting reckless spending to create jobs, lower the cost of living, and expand all Americans’ opportunities.
What can be done about gun violence in the United States? Murder rates across our nation have recently hit a 20-year high and we must work to address the spikes in crime and violence. This involves supporting our law enforcement and ending soft-on-crime policies that have put dangerous criminals back on our streets. We must also work to solve the mental health crisis plaguing our nation, only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. I have sponsored legislation to invest billions of dollars into mental health, as well as into common sense measures like hardening schools and hiring more guidance counselors and school resource officers to save lives. Taking guns and constitutionally-protected rights away from law-abiding citizens is not the answer.
Ben Clark
Name: Ben Clark
Age: 62
Immediate family: Wife, Dion; two daughters
Occupation: Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel; training troops on Mission Command Systems at Fort Bragg
Elected office held: North Carolina senator: Five terms representing Hoke, Cumberland and Fort Bragg
Contact: communications@BenClarkNC.com; facebook.com/BenClark4NC; twitter.com/benclarknc
What is your position on abortion? Should it remain legal in North Carolina and if so, with what restrictions? If it is banned at either the state or national level, what exceptions should be made? Republican attempts to ban abortion with no exceptions are barbaric. Children, rape victims, women whose health is at risk should not be forced to carry babies to term. Abortion should be safe, legal and rare.
What is your opinion on whether the federal government should forgive student loans? I support President Biden’s decision to forgive student loans for low and working-class Americans. Debt forgiveness is literally the most fundamental Christian value.
What can be done about gun violence in the United States? I am a responsible gun owner who believes in responsible gun ownership. I do not believe, as my opponent does, that teenagers, the mentally ill, or violent criminals should own or have access to assault rifles.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Voter Guide: Meet U.S. House District 9 candidates Clark, Hudson
