Benton Sawrey

Benton Sawrey was born in and lives in Johnston County, North Carolina. Sawrey graduated from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School in 2005. He earned a B.A. in political science and government from North Carolina State University in 2009 and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2013. His career experience includes working as an attorney. Sawrey volunteered on the board of trustees at Johnston Community College, as the president of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and as board treasurer of the Partnership for Children of Johnston County.[1][2]

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Sawrey's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

EDUCATION

Our children are the future of North Carolina and we need to make sure that teachers have the resources to ensure student-success in the classroom. I will strive during the budget process to provide that funding increases for education have the greatest impact on the student and are not tied up in the Raleigh bureaucracy. I believe in the value of Charter Schools and that competition breeds success for all schools.

JOBS & REGULATION

Our economy is rapidly transforming and we need to provide the tools and training so our district is prepared for the next wave of advanced manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and service based jobs. One of the top concerns of all prospective-employers considering a location is whether a workforce is available to meet its needs in the community. North Carolina must invest in its high schools and community colleges for practical skills-based education programs to prepare a workforce that’s attractive to the next automotive manufacturing project that explores our area as an option. Johnston County has been successful with programs such as the Workforce Development Center. We need to aggressively market these opportunities to the public to make sure that our workforce is trained and prepared for the next job-engine that comes our way.

TAXES & BUDGET GROWTH

Our tax code should be designed to reward investment and income, and we should not penalize any person or entity for hard work and success. I believe in lowering our overall tax burden such that North Carolina citizens keep more of their hard-earned wages. Runaway budget growth creates an opportunity for unnecessary expenditures and unsustainable growth — the General Assembly is the steward of our state tax dollars and must invest our funds wisely.

MODERNIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT

North Carolina needs to implement and leverage technology for the benefit of its citizens and businesses. We leave countless tax dollars on the table each year by failing to adopt new technologies. States around us that we compete with for new jobs and businesses are providing the ability to obtain permits, licenses, and register businesses in simple portals online Our court systems still keep paper records and files although technology exists to store these documents online. As North Carolina grows, we can prevent the size of government from becoming too bloated by using the same technologies that the private sector embraces to save costs and provide better government service to our citizens.

SECOND AMENDMENT

I believe that our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is paramount. It is essential that we are vigilant as a state against actions and Federal directives that attempt to over-regulate responsible gun owners.

PRO-LIFE

I am pro-life and believe that abortion should not be used as a form of birth control. I support pro-life protections for the mother and child.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Illegal immigration is taxing our schools, roads, and communities. We need to encourage LEGAL immigration in North Carolina, secure our borders, and discourage illegal immigration at every opportunity.

AGRICULTURE

Johnston, Wilson, and Nash Counties share a strong agricultural tradition that forms the backbone of the area economy. North Carolina needs to identify ineffective and burdensome regulations, and adapt to the new technologies that farmers have adopted to become more efficient and productive.

PROTECTING PRIVATE PROPERTY

I believe in private property rights and will introduce legislation on my first day in office to amend the North Carolina Constitution to protect property from being taken by eminent domain for purposes of private economic development. In 2005 the United States Supreme Court held in Kelo v. City of New London that government could use its eminent domain power to transfer private property to a new owner for purposes of economic development. This decision opened the door to abuse and weakened one of the foundations of our democracy. Private property rights are critical, and the General Assembly must pass legislation to put forward an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution to provide guarantees for all property owners in the state.[11][12]