Miriam Rollin

Miriam Rollin earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1981 and a law degree from the Catholic University of America in 1987.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I care deeply about people. I take the time to listen. I know how the system works and I’m a fighter for making things better!

I have been a fighter for disadvantaged kids and families for my 40-year career, fighting in Congress, in state legislatures, and in the courts. In 1981, I ran a national student organization fighting cuts in federal student aid. For 16 years, I worked on both sides of the aisle as a leader of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, bringing the voices of 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors to win over a billion dollars in federal and state investments in proven-effective crime prevention, including early childhood education, after-school youth programs, mental health treatment, and voluntary in-home visits for at-risk new moms! I served as a prosecutor of criminal child abuse and family violence cases, and a civil attorney for abused and neglected children. Before I retired, I ran a national education civil rights alliance, protecting the rights of children with disabilities and other marginalized kids. As your representative, I will bring policy and law expertise, skills working with many different people, and energy/passion for making things better — I’ll fight for affordability for you!

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?

The people of House District 1 need a Representative who will fight for budgets & policies that will address the real issues facing all of us — affordability of housing, healthcare, gas, utilities, & groceries — rather than someone who votes for whatever the leadership wants. I hear from many folks across the district hurting because of bad decisions made in DC —tariffs, war, & big cuts to SNAP & Medicaid about to hit. Folks are upset about the failure of Raleigh legislators to take action. Some actions in Raleigh have caused further economic pain, from ferry tolls to utility rate increases. It’s time for a change; it’s time for a representative who will fight for policies & budgets to help people afford the essentials.On education funding effort (state dollars in PK–12 public education as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product), NC ranked dead last nationally (51st), in a report issued last December. In per-pupil revenue from state & local sources, NC ranked second-to-last nationally (50th), spending approximately $5,600 less per student than the national average. That’s an embarrassment for NC! The budget passed recently by the NC General Assembly has modest education funding increases, but not nearly enough to meet the need, or to improve NC’s bottom-of-the-barrel national ranking. Our representatives also siphon off more & more resources for private schools. I will fight to fund our public schools, pay our teachers, & end school vouchers.State tax policy can be equitable, fund our schools adequately, & ensure affordability help for people when they are hurting. The recent budget includes tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the rich at the expense of most of us. With the personal income tax rate cut that will go into place next year, most households will receive less than $170, while the richest 1 percent of households (with incomes above $870,000) will get an average tax cut of over $7,000. The budget also preserves the elimination of the corporate income tax. I will fight for a NC tax code that ensures the wealthy & big corporations pay their fair share, reduces the tax burden on everyday, working families, & funds our schools & needed affordability help.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Are you tired of rising prices, cuts in services, and Raleigh politicians who don’t do anything to help? Are you fed up with the rich getting richer, at your expense? Are you worried about some of our best teachers fleeing north to Virginia, where they can get a living wage, and that already inadequate public school funding is getting siphoned off for private school vouchers? And have you had enough of your state representatives passing changes in voting rules that make it harder for you to vote and easier to challenge your vote after the fact? You’re not alone, and there is a better path forward!

This election, vote for Miriam Rollin, a proven leader who is passionate about fighting for the change we all need!