Name: Don Mial
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Manager in the Department of Public Safety, Division of Juvenile Justice
Time in District: Since 1992
Endorsements: None
Amendment One: Against
What is the central issue of this election?
We’ve got to figure out a way to create more jobs here in North Carolina. In the eastern part of Wake County, where this district is located, we’ve got to do some things about transportation, we’ve got to do some things up in that area about water issues. There are a number of hot-button issues in particular in that area. Our schools in that area are not being treated fairly in my opinion in terms of financial, as well as in terms of the way the assignment process is going at this time.
What are the specific issues facing your district?
Well, those are the things I’m looking at- the ones I just cited. Those are the hot-button ticket items because this district, District 39, takes up Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, and part of Garner, and the eastern part of Raleigh. That’s the area and it’s important that we bring some economic development to the area- we have to create jobs for the people out there.
Why should your constituents elect you?
I think the reason why they should elect me is because they need someone that’s going to be there, someone that’s going to represent the people in that district. There are three people running for the seat and I tell folks, “I’m not running against either one of them, I’m running to represent the people in the district.” I will say that the incumbent that is present in that district, that they have 129 excused absences. To me, that’s a little excessive when you miss that many voting opportunities on key issues that affect the people in the district and people in the state. If you look at it from a job standpoint, you had someone who missed 129 days of work, I’d think you didn’t give a damn. So, I think it’s important for the people to have someone who’s going to be there, someone who’s going to represent the people in the district and I’m that candidate.
What are the biggest accomplishments and failures of the NC House over the last two years?
Seems like they’re just on a suicide mission. I mean, the issues that they are coming up with are just not the issues we need to be talking about. Of course, many of the people that came in 2010, they came in with an agenda and they said they were going to do something for the economy, they were going to create jobs, they were going to balance the budget, do all these wonderful things, but when they got in there, the only thing we’ve been talking about here in the last year and a half are social issues. Not that they’re not important, but that’s not what people are concerned about right now. People in North Carolina are hurting and they need jobs. They need somebody that’s going to get in there and fight for them and try to get some industries here in North Carolina to create sustainable type jobs and make sure they can take care of their families.
Those are just not issues we should contend with. Right now, we still have the issue out there in terms of what they’ve done with the teaching, with the [North Carolina Association of Educators] meeting up late at night in order to try to make sure that the people can’t support NCAE. That’s absurd. Those types of things are just not good, viable solutions to support our legislative process. They want people that they can trust and that are going to be upfront and honest with them.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I think one of the things that I enjoy doing, even though lately I haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity to do so, is getting out and playing golf. Of course, it’s one of those games that everyone tries to play and nobody ever gets good at it. But it is one of my more relaxing things other than getting out in the yard and playing with my grandkids. I have three wonderful grandkids, three boys, and that is my delight of the day whenever I get out in the yard and mess with those guys.
