{"id":11324,"date":"2012-04-17T12:14:40","date_gmt":"2012-04-17T16:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/?p=11324"},"modified":"2012-04-17T12:14:40","modified_gmt":"2012-04-17T16:14:40","slug":"n-c-house-district-38-lee-sartain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/2012-primary-election-voter-guide\/2012\/04\/17\/n-c-house-district-38-lee-sartain\/","title":{"rendered":"N.C. House District 38: Lee Sartain"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nName: <\/strong>Lee Sartain
\nParty:<\/strong> Democrat
\nOccupation: <\/strong>Education Policy Specialist
\nYears in District:<\/strong> Two and a half years
\nEndorsements: <\/strong> None
\nAmendment 1:<\/strong> Against\n<\/div>\n

What is the central issue of this election?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think it is jobs and education. The reality is the job market continues to lag, but on the flip side, people also want high quality schools for their kids and they want great community colleges and universities, which the legislature over the last two years has spent almost all their time basically trying to disintegrate all the work we\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n

What are the specific issues facing your district?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think they mirror the state. The reality is my district looks a lot like the rest of North Carolina. People there are still looking for employment- high unemployment is still on their mind. But, at the same time, I think things like the Wake County school board race is on their mind and they want to make sure every school in the state has a high quality teacher in the classroom. They also want to make sure that if they\u2019re in a situation where they do need to enter a new field of employment, they want to make sure that they can go to community college and the university and actually be able to afford it, which, right now, it\u2019s becoming more and more out of reach for most North Carolina families. <\/p>\n

Why should your constituents elect you? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, for one, when we look at the slate of candidates, I\u2019m the only one with any education experience. I spent the last almost seven years now working in different education projects, from teacher reform to technology. The state right now spends 56 percent of its budget on education, so you really need someone in there that actually understands it. But, at the same time, I\u2019ll be the only candidate that has actually given any details on sort of how they\u2019d turn around the economy with economic development programs and having a clear voice on this discourse. <\/p>\n

What are the biggest accomplishments and failures of the NC House during the last two years?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Well, in so far as accomplishment, I\u2019m not completely sure I can give too much kudos. I do compliment the Republicans on the speed at which they passed the budget through the House – it didn\u2019t really get tied up and they did actually have a budget done by July 1, which is the beginning of the fiscal year. But, the reality is, that once the budget was over, they started wading into every social issue they possibly could- from women\u2019s reproductive rights to marriage- things that really divide North Carolina. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s an accomplishment- I think that\u2019s a huge, huge failure. <\/p>\n

On top of that, you have the failure of redistricting, which will more than likely now be held up in court for several years. But, you know, I think this year will be exciting – we\u2019re going to bring back some sanity to the legislature and I think North Carolina wants that to happen.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your guilty pleasure?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d say anything is a guilty pleasure at this point, but any time I get a little free time, I do try to relax and go out with friends. But, on the side, I do swim on a master\u2019s swim team and, even though it\u2019s in the middle of the campaign season, the national championship is in Greensboro this year in late April. So, hopefully I\u2019ll be able to go swim a little bit in that – not that I think I\u2019ll win anything but at least it\u2019ll be fun to get away for a couple of hours.
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