Incumbent faces former commissioner in N.C. House race

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The contest for Chatham’s N.C. House of Representatives seat will see incumbent Rep. Robert Reives II face off against former Chatham County Commissioner Walter Petty in this fall’s midterm elections.

Reives, a Democrat originally from Sanford, has served in the General Assembly since 2014 and is an attorney with Sanford law firm Wilson, Reives, Silverman & Doran. He was elected as House Democratic Leader in late 2020 and represents District 54, which encompasses Chatham County and a portion of Randolph County, and now lives in Goldston.

His Republican opponent, Walter Petty, is a lifelong resident of Siler City who began a long stretch of service as commissioner beginning in 2010. Petty stepped down in the middle of a four-year term in his Dist. 5 board seat in April 2019, at the time citing the demands of his growing business, Atlantic Power Solutions — a generator sales and service company.

Each candidate provided responses to two sets of questionnaires provided by the News + Record.

Goals for office + policy issues

If re-elected, Reives said his legislative priorities include supporting the establishment of a nonpartisan redistricting commission; pushing for legislation to raise the age limit for the purchase of handguns and assault rifles, banning bumper stocks and high capacity magazines and expanding background checks to purchase a firearm; and pushing to revisit Medicaid expansion in North Carolina.

Reives said political gridlock has prevented Medicaid expansion from happening in the state and that rejecting federal funds for that purpose in the past was “irresponsible.”

“We are close this year, and I believe that expanding Medicaid would be a transformational shift for our state,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of people who lack insurance today would gain coverage. That would be good for the health and well-being of our neighbors, as well as a boon for our economy. It is both morally and fiscally sound policy, and would help lower insurance rates for everyone.”

Petty’s priorities as a legislator would include supporting and enhancing education while “requiring accountability in performance along with a parent’s bill of rights and increased school security,” as well as supporting public service agencies such as law enforcement, EMS and fire and rescue departments.

When it comes to expanding Medicaid, Petty told the News + Record he’d support expansion in N.C., but with some reform.

“Having been on hospital board and knowing the amount of uninsured or underinsured people that come through, knowing the amount of people that need care, and knowing how much expenses hospitals have to write off because they don’t get compensation, there’s got to be a better way then when you parallel that with the supply issues and the people that are not getting services needed and others getting more than they need and not being dished out proportionately,” Petty, who served on the Chatham Hospital Board of Trustees, said.

“We’re a wealthy nation, there’s no reason we can’t care for people and help people that are not able to help themselves,” he continued.

In response to a question about his stance on current laws and access to abortion in N.C. — an issue Republican leaders have said will be addressed in the 2023 legislative session — Petty said “there may be times abortion is necessary when a mother’s life is at risk.”

Reives was more explicit in his responses, saying he supports codifying the reproductive rights previously protected under Roe v. Wade, which was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

“The right to choose is under attack in North Carolina, but Democrats in the General Assembly currently hold enough seats to uphold any vetoes by Governor Cooper,” Reives said. “We cannot go down the same path as other states that are outlawing medical procedures and criminalizing women and doctors.”

Growth in Chatham

As Vinfast, Wolfspeed and other major industrial developments break ground and progress in the county, pressures surrounding affordable housing are sure to increase.

Reives said the developments will transform Chatham, and it’s critical that he continues to work with local officials in a bipartisan fashion to ensure they have resources to protect Chatham’s sense of place as thousands of new residents move to the county.

Additionally, Reives said it’s important that “Chatham has a strong voice in Raleigh” to advocate for investments from the state to support infrastructure to keep up with growth. When it comes to affordable housing, he believes Chatham should prioritize those working in public service as well as workers at the various plants coming to the county.

“I believe the best role for the General Assembly with regard to housing affordability is to be a partner, not an adversary,” Reives said. “We need to work closely with local leaders who understand the needs of their communities best.”

Petty similarly noted that Chatham’s growing industrial base will require much more infrastructure — including water and wastewater capacity — than is here now, which will necessitate funding.

“There will be a net positive impact for the state, however there will be regional impacts for us,” Petty said. “The state may not see or feel the water, waste water infrastructure and high-speed internet issues we are experiencing.”

County and state challenges

When it comes to the most significant issues within the county, Petty said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed challenges with lacking internet services and poor mental health. He also described “education issues” that he said were part of the motivating factor that drove him to seek office, saying the school system is being converted into “an indoctrination system for the WOKE,” limiting parents’ ability to speak out.

“We need a parent’s bill of rights passed in the legislature,” he said. “Our parents know what is best for their children and we can’t allow their voices to be pushed aside any longer.”

Petty also said he would “work hard to make sure the voices of N.C. voters aren’t ignored by our Governor,” claiming that Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed more bills than all other governors combined since N.C. became a state in 1789. (North Carolina governors weren’t given veto power until 1997.)

Petty also believes Chatham has become “a bedroom community,” lacking the development of services, industry and employment opportunities to retain residents working within the county.

“The balance we worked on for the last 10 years is now on the horizon, but once again we are now left to catch up,” he said.

The solution will require coordination between the district representative and the state to secure the appropriate funds, something Petty said he feels he has the relationships to accomplish.

Across the state, Reives said N.C. should be expanding investment in public education, working to protect access to healthcare and protecting natural resources.

“Locally, that means continuing to support our schools, ensuring the people of Chatham and Randolph counties have reliable access to life saving procedures and medications, and ensuring that our current growth doesn’t pose any threat to Jordan Lake,” he said.

Reives also said he believes the legislature has veered too far in one direction under a single party rule, and greater partisan balance would push legislators with different constituencies and priorities to better negotiate and find common ground.

Reives identified supporting education and strengthening democracy as the most significant challenges facing the General Assembly over the next two years. Specifically, he believes the state should fully fund public schools in North Carolina, and every child should have the opportunity to get a sound, basic education. Additionally, N.C. should see an end to gerrymandering through the creation of an independent redistricting commission, Reives said.

“We should also make it easier for North Carolinians to vote, not harder,” he said.

Prior experiences and bringing Chatham to Raleigh

Ultimately, Reives said he feels he can make a difference because he has a “strong cross-section of partisan relationships” built on friendships and prides himself on his relationships with individuals on both sides of the aisle. He also said his breadth of experience living and growing up in an economically disadvantaged area, as well as serving alongside people with economically advantaged backgrounds has prepared him to be “a voice for all.”

He highlighted his work as representative in collaborating with other legislative leaders and the governor to reopen schools and to pass the first state budget in three years.

“I will continue to help bring Chatham County values to Raleigh and to advocate for every member of our community,” he said.

Petty prioritized his experiences of growing up in the district, saying he has a track record in both business and government as a former county commissioner.

“I have spent my entire life in this district,” he said. “I know the people, their values, and our history. I know how loving, kind and caring they are. I know what their family values are and what is important to them. I will ensure this District has a voice in Raleigh.”

To read more about the candidates’ platforms and view their full responses to candidate questionnaires visit chathamnewsrecord.com/elections. The general midterm elections will be on Nov. 8. Early voting runs from Oct. 20 through Nov. 5. To find your polling location, visit vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup/.

Reporter Maydha Devarajan can be reached at mdevarajan@chathamnr.com and on Twitter @maydhadevarajan.