Meet the candidates: North Carolina Senate, District 7

Emma Dill, Wilmington StarNews
·7 min read
The state Capitol building in Raleigh.
The state Capitol building in Raleigh.

Incumbent Republican Michael Lee is facing off against Democratic challenger Marcia Morgan in a bid to represent District 7 in the North Carolina state senate.

The newly redrawn District 7 encompasses all of New Hanover County. Lee, a Wilmington lawyer, began his term in the N.C. state senate in 2021 after narrowly beating then-incumbent Harper Peterson for the seat. Lee's current term expires on Jan. 1, 2023. Lee was elected to represent the Wilmington area in the state senate in 2014 and 2016 before being ousted by Peterson in the 2018 election.

Morgan, Lee's challenger, is a former educator and retired U.S. Army colonel. She stepped into the race in July when former candidate Jason Minnicozzi dropped out of the race, citing a lack of financial support. Morgan unsuccessfully ran in 2018 and 2020 for seats in the N.C. House of Representatives but has campaigned on education and equality along with the environment and economic issues.

Voters in New Hanover County have three options to cast a vote in this year's municipal election. Residents can vote before Election Day by mailing in an absentee vote or casting their vote during the One-Stop or Early Voting period, which begins Oct. 20 and ends Nov. 5.

Voters can also cast their ballots on Election Day, which is Nov. 8.

Michael Lee

  • Age: 53

  • Occupation: Lawyer

  • Family: Wife and four children

  • Education: B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; J.D., cum laude, Wake Forest University School of Law

  • Political affiliation: Republican

Marcia Morgan

  • Age: 75

  • Occupation: Retired

  • Family: Sister, nieces and nephew in Texas

  • Education: B.A. in mathematics from Texas Wesleyan University in 1968, M.S. in secondary education in physical education from The Ohio State University in 1970, Ph.D in research methods in physical education from The Ohio State University in 1973

  • Political affiliation: Democrat

What is the biggest issue facing District 7 and how do you plan to address it?

Lee: Polarization. When candidates and elected officials on both sides of the aisle move to the extremes, we all lose. We need further criminal justice reform, but we should not defund the police. We need to provide that a woman has the right to choose, but that unrestricted right should not continue from the second trimester until birth unless an exception for rape, incest, fetal or maternal health exists. You have seen other examples of extremism intended to polarize us. When people – including Gov. Roy Cooper – engage in scare tactics, misrepresentations, and outright lies, we should reject their fearmongering efforts to polarize us. I will serve as I always have – tirelessly, with compassion, and working with both parties to solve real world problems.

Morgan: Many District 7 residents are struggling financially — having to work multiple jobs and pinch pennies to make ends meet. At the same time, their fundamental rights are being eroded. The ongoing attacks on individual rights — especially for women, minority voters, the LGBTQ community, and others — mean that many North Carolinians are being treated like second-class citizens by a state government that should respect and protect them. I will sponsor and support legislation that gives breaks to hard-working individuals and families — not corporations — and that shows that North Carolina values the rights of all of its citizens.

What local issues do you plan to advocate for at the state level?

Lee: I will continue to advocate for water quality, economic development, affordable housing and funding to local nonprofits. Through the Water Safety Act, I funded groundbreaking technology to be tested by the CFPUA to filter our water and will continue to provide funding to make sure our water is safe. I will continue to fight for increased funding to the film incentive as well as other economic development initiatives in our area. I fought for an additional $170 million to affordable housing efforts and significant local investments resulted. I will continue to make sure our local non-profits on the front lines in our area are reinforced with state funding so they can continue to provide efficient, personal and direct support to our community.

Morgan: As a former public school teacher, I have a keen understanding of how important it is to fully fund our school system: paying our teachers well, ensuring they have access to the tools and resources they need, and giving our children the opportunity to receive a high-quality public education. We must also protect our environment, establishing and enforcing standards that prevent businesses from polluting our water and air. Not only will we be ensuring our beautiful natural resources are around for generations to come, but we’ll protect the tourism industry that’s so important to our area.

What will you do to help District 7 residents struggling to make ends meet?

Lee: We will reduce taxes, continue efforts to attract business, and make sure the state budget is fiscally sound. In my three terms, we have cut the state income tax rate, made the first $25,000 a family earns free of state income taxes, and created a business environment that CNBC ranked No. 1 in the U.S. I know times are tough and many are struggling. I will continue to advocate for businesses to move to our area with high-paying jobs – and continue to support the workforce development initiatives at UNCW and CFCC so our citizens can get the education, skills, and training they need to be successful in this new economy.

Morgan: Hard-working citizens deserve a livable wage that allows them to enjoy a reasonable quality of life. To make this happen, we must attract innovative, environmentally-conscious businesses that will offer our skilled workforce good-paying jobs. We must expand Medicaid — not only will it make healthcare more affordable for struggling citizens, but it will add thousands of lucrative jobs across the state.  And we must also identify creative ways to make housing more affordable.

What is your stance on abortion?

Lee: I have a wife and a daughter, and I am surrounded by women I love and deeply respect. I would never tell a woman she doesn't have the right to make her own choices. I believe, like most North Carolinians, there is a balance in the middle - that abortions in the first trimester should be legal. After the first three months of pregnancy, there should be exceptions for rape, incest, fetal and maternal health. Virtually every country (except totalitarian nations like China and North Korea) have banned late-term and partial-birth abortion. Rather than listening to the extremists, let's shift our focus to the human, personal and often heartbreaking reasons behind WHY women have to make this choice.

Morgan: Abortion is healthcare. Legislators do not belong in the exam room.

What makes you the best candidate?

Lee: Leadership and results. I led bipartisan efforts in criminal justice reform, to reopen our schools, to provide access to medical marijuana, and to secure transformational economic development projects. I championed two Water Safety Acts that resulted in significant investments to our area as well as pioneering treatment technologies, mitigation and detection. I tripled the film incentive and made it permanent. I provided funds to our community in the state budget, including $53,500,000 to the CFPUA and LCFWSA for water/sewer infrastructure; over $4,000,000 in funding to nonprofits like the Harrelson Center, L.I.N.C., Mt. Calvary, Eden Village, WARM, Children’s Development Center, Arts Council, Ft. Fisher, Paws4People, and others; significant funding to UNCW, CFCC and IBEC.

Morgan: I am a former public school teacher and retired Army Colonel, so my entire adult life, I’ve served others. I believe government and politics should also be about serving others, focusing on the needs and wants of the people who are being represented. My experiences have given me the knowledge, skills, and common sense needed to work with both parties, find consensus and get things done for the people of District 7.

Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at 910-343-2096 or edill@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Michael Lee, Marcia Morgan square off in bid for N.C. District 7 seat