Larry Coleman, candidate for NC Senate District 22

Name: Larry Coleman

Political party: Republican

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 49

Campaign website: https://www.colemanforncsenate.com/

Occupation: Community college administrator

Education: MBA

Have you run for elected office before? No

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: As a longtime resident of the district, I played an active role in the school system by serving as a member of the Easley site-based decision making team and establishing an Exceptional Children’s component of the Durham PTA. I also served on the special needs advisory committee of Durham Parks & Recreation. My current community volunteer effort is developing the local VFW property, located in Bragtown, to provide over 150 units of affordable housing along with a Veteran & Community Co-op.

What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?

Education: access learning opportunities, whether public, charter, or private. This requires equitable and meaningful investment in our schools.

Housing opportunities: Solutions must ensure Durham residents access to housing that meets their needs while addressing the relationship between employment opportunities and housing availability.

Criminal justice reform: Continue the work of SB 300, study of the state’s criminal laws with a goal of clarifying and consolidating existing crimes.

At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?

North Carolina should continue to reduce its personal income tax rate and increase the standard deduction for the lowest tax brackets.

Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?

Undecided.

What has the legislature gotten right, and what has it gotten wrong, about public education in North Carolina?

The legislature continues to make improvements in teacher pay and expanding the opportunity scholarship program.

Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?

There should be a ban on abortion, with some exceptions.

Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.

Roe v. Wade eliminated the need and ability to discuss the issue in a real and meaningful way. Since the decision, those with opposing views on abortion have not learned to communicate in a meaningful way. I believe we need to be honest and candid about what we believe and why it matters. We owe those who disagree with us the respect to listen what they believe. Personally I believe in God’s miraculous gift of life and that we should make every effort possible to protect it.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Undecided.

What, if anything, should the legislature to do shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?

The NC SBOE manual outlines the process to be followed when developing or revising a section of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Any discussion of race and gender education that relates to educational content standard is a function of the state. The local school district is responsible for curriculum and instruction.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Yes.