Lenoir County Elections: Humphrey vs. Williams for House District 12 seat
The November 8 General Election in Lenoir County does not boast a lot of contested races for voters to choose from. However, the ones that are contested are key in how politics will play out for residents in the next four years.
Current elected official for the North Carolina House of Representative District 12 Chris Humphrey is running for re-election against candidate Lillie Streeter Williams.
Humphrey, 52, currently owns All State agencies in Kinston and Goldsboro, graduated from Lenoir Community College, received his political science degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and is running as a Republican. He is married to his wife Terry and has two daughters Courtney and Bailey. He was elected in 2018 representing District 12 in the N.C. House of Representatives defeating George Graham.
Williams, 67, is a retired educator who is now a certified life coach and volunteer chaplain. She is married to Samuel Earl Williams Sr. and has five children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She holds a mental health associate degree from Lenoir Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, a Master's Degree in Educational Supervision and Administration and an EdS in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Theological Studies from Christian Life School of Theology. She is running as a Democrat.
With election day under a month away and early voting set to begin soon, the Kinston Free Press sent out questionnaires for candidates to voice their concerns on what issues are important to them. Below are the responses from Humphrey and Williams.
What is the best way for voters to contact you?
Humphrey: Chris.Humphrey@ncleg.gov or 919-733-5995.
Williams: My phone number is 252-525-4665. Email at lillie@williamsfornchouse.com.
What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate?
Humphrey: I was born and raised in eastern North Carolina and know and understand the needs and values of my fellow citizens that live here. I have been a successful small business owner for the past 27 years. I attended Lenoir County public schools, Lenoir Community College and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, and have been active in the community my entire adult life. I also served on the La Grange Town Council as well as the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, which gives me a unique understanding of the inner workings of local government. Having served 2 terms in the N.C. General Assembly, I have slowly moved up the ladder, developing important relationships with leaders in the NCGA. I currently serve as Insurance Committee Chair in the N.C. House and serve on Agriculture, Health, Energy & Public Utilities and Appropriations Committees.
Williams: I am able to effectively communicate with individuals and large and small groups of people. I am able to organize people for common causes. I have well over 30 plus years as an educator working with students and families in the community experiencing the everyday issues that affect the quality of life for all our families and I have been able to positively influence thousands of students to become successful engaged citizens.
What do you read to stay informed on issues?
Humphrey: I subscribe to most of the local newspapers and news sites, including a state newspaper. Raleigh news outlets continually garner my attention, as they have beat writers assigned to the General Assembly on a daily basis. I also pay attention to the national news and listen to multiple podcasts on a daily basis.
Williams: I stay tuned in to several news outlets on social media so I can get news in real-time, almost immediate occurrence. Additionally, my influence in the community continues as a life coach helping teens to become productive citizens. Through my Perfecting Destiny Empowerment Services, a non-profit small business, I am able to stay in close contact with members of the community and learn what they believe the real issues are.
If elected, what would you do to stay transparent as an elected official?
Humphrey: I will continue to support transparency laws so that the public has access to information pertinent to them. The public has a right to know what's going on in their government and hiding information should not be tolerated.
Williams: I would use several different modalities for communication and accessibility; virtual settings, phone and written correspondences and individual and group meetings in town hall settings.
What do you think is the most important issue for the seat you are running for, how do you want to resolve it? How has current leadership addressed the issue?
Humphrey: Inflation and the economy are two hot-button issues for this district. Record inflationary pressures on the food we buy at the grocery store, the fuel we put in our vehicles and the rising cost of goods and services have everyone concerned. Federal spending is out of control and at the state level, I have fought to keep our taxes low, to make sure our law enforcement agencies are properly funded and supported, and our constitutional right to bear arms is not infringed upon. We have lowered taxes for everyone in N.C., passed legislation to support law enforcement and safeguard our Second Amendment rights. Leadership continues to monitor the national and local landscape to make sure we are a step ahead of any challenge that may pop up.
Williams: The most important issue for this seat is to fully fund public education to address the loss of learning and learning recovery for our marginalized students to help them become successful citizens. The current leadership in General Assembly has severely weakened public schools by consistently supporting budgets and plans to underfund our public school system. I advocate for schools to be comprehensively funded so every student has access to a free appropriate education.
This article originally appeared on Kinston/Jones Free Press: Lenoir County Elections: Humphrey vs. Williams for House District 12 seat
