By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Republican and Brunswick County Board of Education Member Ray Gilbert is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Dewey Hill for his N.C. House, District 20 seat.
Hill, 81, is a Columbus County native and owner and president of Hillcrest Corporation, Hills Food Stores and Home Run Food Marts.
Gilbert, 39, is a resident of Ash, a small business owner, the executive director of The Fatherhood Resource Center and an ordained minister. The News Reporter asked both candidates to respond to a questionnaire.
Why do you wish to be elected to the State House? How can Columbus County benefit?
GILBERT: “It is time to change the perception and actions of the N.C. House. We have the Speaker of the N.C. House and some of his associates under investigation, indictment and convictions from the crooked deal that brought legalized gambling to North Carolina.
“There is a type of corruption that is going on in Raleigh where it appears as though the public office is being traded for personal gain. I am tired of legislators benefiting from their work via profit or unethical dealings and we must put an end to this practice as soon as possible.
“I want to restore the integrity of the N.C. House and bring some common ground to the table and maintain my conservative values. We need a representative in Raleigh that will fight to bring value to jobs, schools, improve the roads (pave more dirt roads of taxpayers), reduce the tax burden on people and small businesses and restore common sense to government.
“Columbus County benefits when we bring more credibility to our county and its leadership, with more open government, better schools, jobs, and roads. Economic development benefits all of Columbus County. The private sector must create wealth, versus the current practice of taking hard earned tax money from people to give to other people.”
HILL: “I will continue to be a spokesman for Columbus County. As a lifelong resident, I know the needs of our area and my seniority in the General Assembly will help to benefit Columbus County.”
What goals have you set, if you are elected?
GILBERT: “1. Constitutional amendments for a referendum on recall of elected officials, term limits and fair eminent domain. We need the ability to recall elected officials who are elected to do one thing, yet when they are elected, they ignore the people who they represent.
“I support term limits, because it will keep the system honest and allow for easier transition and hopefully a citizen legislature instead of career politicians, which is what we currently have in Raleigh.
“2. Improve more local, state and county roads (pave more dirt roads and widen Highway 130 between Whiteville and Shallotte). The legislature has figured out all kinds of ways to get by laws to do what they choose, except for how to pave dirt roads that people have been living on for 30-plus years. And their excuse is the roads were not made to state specs, but we know better and Freedom Star Road and others that our school buses travel will be a priority when I am elected.
“3. Create a North Carolina State Park between Shallotte and Whiteville to include lakes, athletics, kids’ activities, swimming, fishing, boating, cooking and banquet facilities. This would be a place where families can go and spend quality time with each other and enjoy the outdoors.
“4. Implement a state plan to reduce the number of illegal immigrants and other persons committing fraud with governmental services.
“5. Ensure parents that our schools are competitive or give parents the options to remove their kids from an under-performing school and put them in one that is performing, whether it be charter, private or other.
“6. Reduce the tax burden on people and businesses and work to create a flat tax for North Carolina.
“7. Conduct Town Hall meetings throughout the 20th District to hear from citizens and work for productive solutions for our people and district.”
HILL: “My goals will be education, economic development, environment and safe neighborhoods.”
What should be your primary responsibility in representing Columbus County?
GILBERT: “Listen and represent what is good and fair for the county. Lead with vision and passion for improving and empowering people to succeed and do well.”
HILL: “To listen and represent the people of Columbus County.”
What legislation would you be willing to sponsor and/or support that would benefit North Carolina and Columbus County?
GILBERT: “A constitutional amendment for term limits, eminent domain-private property rights, recall of elected officials and a law prohibiting any illegal immigrant or non-citizen of North Carolina from receiving any state benefits. I would sponsor an English only bill for all schools, government and agencies that would require that all information be printed in English.
“I would sponsor a bill to create a new Southeastern N.C. Economic Development Consortium that would allow great benefits for industries and jobs to be created in our area. I would sponsor a bill to create a state park in the district.”
HILL: “Same as question No. 3.”
Would you vote for a state budget that lowers funding of schools, replacing the funds with lottery money?
GILBERT: “No.”
HILL: “I would not vote for a state budget that lowers funding of schools and replacing funding with lottery money. Lottery money should be in addition to our school funds.”
What can be done to stop the Senate and House leaders from raiding Highway Construction Funds for personal projects, even though Columbus County has benefited from some of the money?
GILBERT: “The statewide road system, even in this county, is in bad shape, and more maintenance is needed.
“The N.C. General Assembly should pass a law that would restrict this practice and the election of a new representative who opposes this practice.”
HILL: “I have brought this issue before the House finance committee in the past short session and as I serve on the transportation committee, I intend to introduce legislation that would prohibit taking funds from the Transportation Trust Fund.”
How should the state handle any future budget surpluses? Should there be a rainy day fund? Should it provide tax breaks for working-class families? Should it be used to fund local projects? Please be specific.
GILBERT: “State surpluses should be used for funds in a reserve fund/rainy day fund that is for unforeseen events. Legislators should resist the urge to spend on election year gimmicks and strategies for re-election, knowing that there is a projected budget shortfall the next year.
“I will and can support tax breaks for all taxpayers with some of the reserve fund as it increases. Funding of local projects may be OK if it is for the good of all of N.C., like a state park or supporting an ethanol plant or other economic development projects for creating jobs in the private sector.”
HILL: “The state budget committee, of which I am a member, has projected a revenue shortfall of $700 million to $1 billion dollars. In the last short session, we put money in the rainy day fund, which is now sufficient to handle a disaster. If any surplus is ever available we should help our working people.”
North Carolina is the only state that requires counties to pay a portion of Medicaid expenses. Approximately one-third of all property taxes in Columbus County go toward Medicaid expenses. Should the state take full responsibility for funding Medicaid? How do you propose this issue be addressed? What type of legislation would you support? Please be specific.
GILBERT: “The N.C. General Assembly should immediately pass legislation allowing for the state to pick up the Medicaid portion and this will allow for lower property taxes in Columbus County. I find it troubling that your local elected officials have been able to recruit fewer industries and will pass the cost of county government to families who are scarcely making it. It is time to change your representative in Raleigh and I want to be your choice to go and fight for this issue.”
HILL: “The state should take full responsibility. Columbus County is hit hard by the system. We capped the Medicaid increase and created a committee to study the system. I intend to sponsor a bill that mandates the state to fund this Medicaid cost and leave the county harmless.”
What is your position on landfill regulations in N.C? What restrictions should be applied to landfills that bring in waste from outside the state?
GILBERT: “The regulation policy of landfills should be that North Carolina will work to store its own waste, but decline to take waste from other states or countries. I am opposed to the current proposed Columbus County landfill.”
HILL: “I voted to place a moratorium on landfills until we could get a handle on where and what we should allow. We do not need to take other states’ and counties’ trash. We will come up with a program to handle our own. We still need to have a recycling program. We need to be careful if and when we do a landfill, not to locate it in an area that will harm our environment.”
Under what circumstances, if any, would you vote for a tax increase?
GILBERT: “I oppose tax increases and think the state should do as the farmer, teacher, carpenter and other families do: If we are without the money to do some things, we cut back and reduce spending. Families have to get by with what they have and the State of North Carolina is no better. We have a spending problem in Raleigh, instead of an income problem.”
HILL: “I don’t know of any circumstances to vote for raising taxes.”
What does your opponent say about your record that you would like to explain or compare?
GILBERT: “I am running a positive campaign and will not focus on what my opponent says about my record or me. I want the people reading this to know that I take my duties in public service to be just that – to serve the public and bring about results. As a minister, it is my hope to debate and discuss issues in the arena of ideas, instead of personal attacks.”
HILL: “I have not heard from my opponent in several months. I stand on my record and don’t believe my opponent would like to challenge my record.”
Additional Background Information:
GILBERT
A graduate of Southern Arkansas State University and Arkansas State, Gilbert has a BA and MA in political science and has taken doctoral studies at North Carolina State University. He is married to Sheila Stanley Gilbert and is also a father. He attends Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Calabash.
Gilbert reports that he is chairman, the N.C. Fatherhood Advisory Council, president and lifetime member of the NAACP; chairman, Brunswick County Republican Party and was a member of Brunswick County Board of Education (2004-2008).
Also, the American Red Cross Board, Brunswick County Communities in School’s board, National Rifle Association (NRA), the PTO, president of the Southeastern Economic Development Commission, board of N.C. Practitioner’s Network for Fathers and Families, and North Carolina Black Leadership Caucus.
HILL
Hill and his wife Muriel reside at Lake Waccamaw. They have two children. He is a member of the First Baptist Church in Whiteville and a member of the Board of Trustees of Boys and Girls Homes of N.C.
