The following is part of WIZS’s continuing coverage of candidates running for local and state office in the November election.
Frank Sossamon has participated in several organized community forums lately as part of his campaign for the District 32 seat in the N.C. House. There have been two in Vance County and one in Granville County so far, and more are being planned in the runup to the November elections.
Sossamon, a Republican, is challenging incumbent Democrat Terry Garrison for the seat, which includes all of Vance County and most of Granville County.
The Republicans candidates for sheriff in their respective counties also were in attendance for these forums, the topic of which was crime. And Sossamon told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that the discussions have been productive, and each has informed him in some way about what the community’s priorities.
“When you talk about crime, it overlaps education, economic development, community development – it overlaps everything,” Sossamon said. “It’s hard to just concentrate on crime without talking about other issues.”
Effective communication is going to be a critical component to making progress and taking action on issues within the district, he said. “I’m hoping to help bring us together. There’s a lot we can accomplish if we work together.” Ongoing political stalemates don’t accomplish much, he said.
Change will require more than just dialogue across party lines, however. “We’ve got to have a cultural change and an attitude change,” Sossamon said. Change has to come about as a result of participation from the whole community, he added. “It can’t be done by one person or one department. It doesn’t just happen because you get some money or because you write some legislation.”
Building trust and putting aside differences are necessary as well, he said. “I’m hoping I can be a person to help – to take the skills and experience I’ve got and see what I can do to bring us together.”
On gun violence:
Sossamon said he is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. When gun violence occurs, there’s always talk about taking away gun rights and taking away guns, he said. But he said there’s a need to look at other issues, too, such as the broken mental health system.
“Mental health seems to be a thread that runs among many of these mass shootings,” he said.
On education:
When issues surrounding public education arise, the answer seems to be “we just need more money,” Sossamon said. Throwing money at a problem does not always solve that problem, he added, saying that there must be accountability about how the money is being spent and the scientific evidence to show results.
“It’s obvious that the charter schools are doing something right,” he said, adding that parents with children in charter schools must volunteer a certain number of hours at the school each year.
Parent accountability is necessary, he said, adding that he certainly favors funding education, but holding parents accountable is necessary “to move that dial to educate our children.”
On Medicaid expansion:
“I am not opposed to expansion to a degree,” Sossamon said, “but I don’t want to just open the floodgates.”
He said he needs to continue to study the issue to reach a good conclusion, adding that he is not close-minded, but does want to be fair to all and not look at government as a “money machine.”
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