By Catherine M. Welch
Wilmington, NC – Martin Herring and incumbent Russell Tucker are the democratic candidates looking to challenge republican candidate Richard Kaiser.
Herring studied political science at Fayetteville State and is the father of a son.
When asked about what needs to be done to bring new jobs to rural parts of southeastern North Carolina, he says the state needs to focus on developing small businesses.
By these small business efforts and individuals becoming successful in the county, not only will they be able to provide or find success for themselves, they will be able to provide jobs, they'll be able to reduce the property tax increases.
Incumbent Russell Tucker worked for Duplin County for 28 years and is in his 3rd term as state legislator. He says incentives are key.
We need to give incentives to businesses that will come and locate in rural eastern North Carolina, such as the William Lee Act which the general assembly has done and which we have expanded on, and other incentives to keep businesses here and to get them to expand.
The 4th House district includes Duplin and Onslow counties.
Laura Padget and incumbent Thomas Wright are the democratic candidates looking to challenge republican candidate Shelia Roberts for the House seat in the 18th district.
When asked what needs to be done to bring new jobs to rural parts of southeastern North Carolina,Padget says the creation and education of incentives program is key.
I think we're going to have to provide incentives to get companies to locate in rural areas. The state already has available a number of incentive programs I don't know that the more rural areas are aware of them or how they can take advantage of them.
Incumbent Thomas Wright says the state is already luring jobs to rural parts of the area through the Jobs Development and Growth Initiative Program.
"That particular initiative is through the department of commerce and the governor's office provide opportunities, enhancements, enticements and incentives to attract business and industry to rural parts of our state.
The 18th House District includes New Hanover and Pender counties.
Shirley Babson and Bill Fairley are the republican primary candidates hoping to challenge incumbent democrat R.C. Soles Jr. for the Senate seat in the 8th district.
Babson is a mother of three grown children who has served on the Brunswick County School Board for 14 years.
When asked about what needs to be done to bring new jobs to rural parts of southeastern North Carolina,Babson says the region is ripe for a variety of jobs.
With as many strawberry's and blueberries that we have in this area, with as many farmers I think it would be a perfect place for them to locate a plant here and that we give our people a place to work. Biotech is looking at this area and I've already explored that with some people looking from the Triangle area.
Challenger Bill Fairley is a retired attorney with four grown children.
He says the proposed new port for Southport is one solution.
The state needs to make sure as a general matter infrastructure within southeastern north Carolina will support the increase in population that's not only coming here for residential purposes but is coming here in order to meet the industrial growth that ought to come along with the access to cheap transportation that the port represents.
The 8th Senate district includes Brunswick, Columbus and Pender counties.