LeVon Barnes

Barnes earned a B.S. in physical education teaching and coaching from Campbell University in 2004 and an M.Ed. in health and physical education from Prairie View A&M University in 2008.[1][2]

At the time of his 2017 run for city council, Barnes was a physical education teacher for the Durham Public Schools. His professional experience also includes work as the head men's basketball coach and associate dean of students for Lackawanna College and as an assistant men's basketball coach and adjunct instructor for the Dallas County Community College District.[1]

As of 2024, Barnes was affiliated with the following organizations:[2]

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Fellow North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership

Leadership Triangle Transforming Leaders, Goodmon Fellow

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a father, 19 year and counting public school educator, founder of youth empowerment movement, Fellow of NC Institute of Political Leadership, Noble Peace Prize Nominee, coach and motivational speaker who been around the world speaking on the power of collective action. I believe in paying it forward to our next generation and not handing them the same problems that were left to mine. We can disagree and have civility all at the same time. It's time to get back to meaningful government that people can actually feel and says that works for them.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Saving our public schools: The biggest item in our state budget is public school funding and yet it is also grossly underfunded. Schools in Alamance County and across the state are falling apart in front of our eyes, between our students breathing in mold, one of the lowest student expenditure in the country, bottom third in country in teacher pay and the purposeful privatization of our schools using public dollars. We are truly on the brink of furthering the divide of those that have and those who don't have as much. The next generation of leaders don't need any more barriers in order to make it. So investing in our public schools is my top priority. There will never be a perfect government but we can have a balanced one. North Carolinians want civil discourse but are tired of the public discourse and want leaders who will do more than blame the other side. This helps no one and only further divides us, I want to represent all of the citizens in Alamance. As an educator I teach students & work with families from all sides of the aisle that are open and honest about what they stand for and yet I’m still able to get the best from them regardless of whether I agree or disagree. Getting rid of extremism & getting back to cordiality is paramount for North Carolina to be at its best. I stand on that I will be approachable, present & an active listener regardless of the issue. Let’s face it while the overall economy in our state and country are doing well, I like you are not feeling it enough. I share in the experience like most state employees, health care workers and civil servants who have to work multiple jobs to stay above water and we are salaried. For our hard working folks in the food service industry or warehouse workers, it has been since 2008 in which the legislature raised minimum wage .70 cents to make it 7.25 an hour. As of the start of this new year 15 states have raised their minimum to at least $15 an hour but North Carolina is not one of them. So how can one be happy and not get the compensation they need to survive. I will be fighting hard to change our minimum wage to $17 an hour.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Access to healthcare that's not 35 mins or more away. Broadband internet access to many of our neighbors don't have quality internet access. Protecting a women's right to choose, as a girl dad there should never be a time my 19 month old daughter should have less rights with her own body than her grandmothers. Protecting our environment and our right to vote in fair non gerrymandered elections. I'm gonna fight like hell to save our public schools including creating more opportunities within our community colleges.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to God first and foremost. I look up to my mother and father who instilled in me at a very young age to speak up for yourself and for those who may not feel they have a voice. The strength and resolve my mother showed when my father died to keep me off the streets and out of trouble while trying to maintain a house and all the bills associated with going from a two to one income i'll never forget.

I look up to my students, the players I have coached over the young men I have been able to mentor in youth empowerment program over the last 19 years is why I do what I do. Trying to make their lives better than mine and not leave them the same baggage my generation and others have created is important to me.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I'm a huge West Wing fan, the American President was one of my favorite films but if I could offer a book that would make up my political philosophy is The Art of War by Sun Tzu.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honest, integrity, transparency, humble, and connectivity. I say these five but there are others for the following reasons: No one is birth rited into elected office, you get there by the voters who believe in what you say and mean. Even the most hard pressed politico knows you will not be able to accomplish everything you state you would but do you stand up and actually vote for the things that make it better for the lives of the people who put you in position.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I listen actively, I prepare and study before I make any decision, I know how to collaborate and work in a team setting. My ability to stay calm in crisis and negotiate with others makes me an ideal candidate.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities are the ones I stated above. You must have integrity in this job but also the transparency needed to answer to the people whether you got a vote right or wrong. Leadership is hard but we signed up for this whether I have obtained your vote or not.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Legacy is not determined by me, it is determined by the lives I have been able to affect in a meaningful way. When it's my time, they will be able share my story and the impact that I was able to make in their lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember as a kid was the Challenger explosion in 1986. I was 4 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was as a summer camp counselor at the camp I went to as a kid. I worked every summer or after school program for 4 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Audacity of Hope. President Obama is just that dude.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

A real struggle has always been fighting for a country that has never viewed you as a human being. A lot of the images that I have seen in my life and a lot of my own personal experiences it's just bothered me. But I know if I give up trying to achieve equality and equity then I fall into the trap that's been there. I look at my students, their families but most importantly my daughter and it gives me all the strength to keep fighting.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

I believe in checks and balances but the ideal relationship should be an open one and a cordial working relationship that's based on effective governance, bi-partisan cooperation when we can. We all should want to make the lives of the people we get to serve better. But you can't work with irrational folks who extreme views.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Over the next decade our biggest challenges will be population growth but specifically addressing the modernizing of our infrastructure, transportation and the affordable housing crisis. Funding our public schools, climate change, voting rights and specifically the purposeful gerrymandering of districts, access to affordable healthcare and mental health care are just some of the major issues facing this state.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

While that maybe helpful especially in knowing public policy and just how the legislative process works , I believe the number one issue that we have within our state legislature is the lack of diversity across the board, whether that's different fields and socio-economic backgrounds. Having a diverse legislature that represents all communities in North Carolina can have some real impact on bills and laws that get passed.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

No question, we can't have a functional. efficient and effective government without bi-partisan relationships. We can either choose to be on our side and get nothing done as been the case or we can focus on where we agree the most and pass bills that can help North Carolinians. We can civil discourse but the time of public discourse and extremism has to end.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

President Barack H. Obama

Congressman John Lewis

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I think for the time being winning NC House 64 is my main goal and serving the people of Alamance County.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Too many stories to name just one. When I listen to residents who are going through struggle but have the resiliency to keep going despite all the barriers those are the stories that fuel me in this campaign. Not only can I empathizes with them because I have been there but I also know what it took to fight my way out of it.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Again I believe in checks and balances but voters make decisions on who they want to be in the seat and when it comes to an emergency there needs to be one voice leading with guidance of their cabinet. But when there's over reach that is when the legislature should step in.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I would immediately like to file a bill that would increase the state's minimum wage to $17 an hour.

What committees interest you?

Education K-12 Committee, Appropriations, Ethics and House Appropriations on Health and Human Services.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I'm all about transparency and holding government officials accountable. Our right to represent the people in the State of North Carolina is the ultimate privilege and one where it's temporary at best. Where we receive our money from in our campaigns should be open and our emails should be open as well. Government officials should be held to the highest of ethics and character standards.

LeVon Barnes did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Barnes' campaign website highlighted the following issues:

INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH

Like many people, I didn’t grow up with a lot of opportunities. But I had the chance to attend summer camp through a program offered by the city. This program exposed me to arts, culture, and a lifestyle that as a young boy growing up in Staten Island, NY I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn otherwise. Those experiences molded me into the person I am today. I know how important those programs were for me and how important they are for our youth today. We need to show that we really care about the future of our youth by investing in their lives and investing in Durham.

When students graduate high school, what kind of Durham are these students walking into? Is it a Durham full of opportunities and inclusiveness? We need to strengthen the summer internship program by developing better relationships with local business and nonprofits, creating opportunities for our youth. They need to learn trades and tangible skills that will benefit them and Durham, enhancing the quality of life for all people, whether they choose to go to college or enter the workforce.

AN ECONOMY FOR ALL

U.S. News voted Durham #7 on the list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2017, the question is for who? Who is feeling the growth in Durham? Growth is great, but growth on the backs of people who do not have is not growth that we should celebrate nor promote. It first starts with the Fight for $15. Durham can be the most progressive city of the South but that means training our workforce in innovative jobs like clean energy and technology.

We need to bring in jobs and train our local workforce offering opportunities for full-time employment. People are getting forced out of their homes in Durham, therefore we must offer jobs with a living wage. We cannot continue to support a system where people are forced to spend the majority of their income on rent, especially when they have a mouth to feed. Families deserve better. And elected officials need to provide families with sustainable opportunities. These parents want to make a better life for themselves and their children. Everybody should feel the growth in this city and believe that this is the kind of Durham we want.

POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

People are getting shot and people are getting detained. There are nonprofits and community groups who are working to strengthen community and police relations, but it’s time for the local government to step in. We need to work with police to create community training programs on race, equity, and how to build community partnerships. Additionally, Durham has declared itself a sanctuary city, however, if we’re going to declare that, then we need to act like it. We must all of protect our residents and families in Durham.

FAIR ELECTIONS

People have fought for us to have free elections, they’ve died for us to have free elections, and we must honor their work and protect that right. We need elections and elected officials that are true representations of the people. The Supreme Court ruled that our district maps are biased and racially motivated. And both sides acknowledge they’ve drawn them unfairly in the past, but we need new maps now. And if that means we have special elections in 2017, then that’s what we need to do. People need to know that they are represented fairly.

Additionally, the NC State Legislature keeps introducing oppressive Voter ID laws. The pro-Voter ID argument is weak, especially since voter fraud isn’t an issue in this city. it’s just another hurdle put in place to prohibit people from voting. It’s a barrier intentionally put in front of minorities, low-income individuals, and especially our seniors. To deny people the right to vote demotes Americans to second class citizen in this nation. It goes against who we are as Americans.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Gentrification is rampant in Durham. Downtown used to be boarded up, but now it’s flourishing. And although there are many local businesses filling the old boarded up buildings, new corporate developers are moving in and building million dollar condos. The surrounding communities have been pushed out of their homes and it’s only getting worse. We need affordable, safe, and healthy homes for our community. We need opportunities for homeownership. We need land trust opportunities so these people can continue living in their neighborhood. In order to do this, we need to create partnerships with land trust companies and create incentives and requirements for developers to build affordable housing.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

We need to protect, maintain, and improve our green spaces in Durham. We need bike paths, parks, and trails equitably distributed across all neighborhoods. By doing this we’ll provide alternate transportation opportunities to all neighborhoods, decreasing traffic congestion and improve air quality – overall reducing our carbon footprint.

DURHAM AS A SANCTUARY CITY

The city does not need to cooperate with U.S. Department of Immigration & Customs Enforcement. People are getting detained. Durham has declared itself a sanctuary city, however, if we’re going to declare that, then we need to act like it. We must protect our residents and families in Durham. I will protect all DACA residents and talk out against immigration status checkpoints set up by police officers. We must have volunteer lawyers on call to provide legal assistance for immigrants and their families. We cannot allow national politics to infringe upon our recognition that no person is illegal and that the lives led by undocumented immigrants in Durham are just as valid and important to protect as the lives led by those born in the United States. We must use every tool available to us to ensure that no Durham residents will be unfairly or inhumanely deported.

EQUITABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The city’s investment in bus transportation has not reached the population which needs it most. We need to dramatically increase our public bus system so it’s accessible and affordable to all. Right now, people are having trouble keeping their jobs because of the unreliable system. With a $1 price per single fare, it seems affordable. But many people have to take multiple buses to get to work, spending hours riding the bus to get to one location when driving could take 20 minutes or less. That is time people could be working, running personal errands, or taking care of their family. We must consider time when addressing the bus’ affordability. Right now some businesses provide their employees with free or reduced bus passes to make sure they have transportation to work. We need to incentivize this program so every business offers this to their employees. Additionally, we need to add bus routes and buses so people can go to and from work and home quicker.[5]

—LeVon Barnes' campaign website, (2017)[6]