This election year, LincolnHerald.com is offering candidates a unique chance to speak directly to you. We believe it's important for voters to hear firsthand from each candidate about their vision, experience and why they are the best choice for the role.

In this article below, you'll find answers to five key questions that reveals this candidate’s platform and priorities. We encourage you to read their responses to gain a deeper understanding of their plans and perspectives, helping you make an informed choice when you head to the polls.

1. What key issues are you prioritizing, and what steps are you taking to address them?
2. How does your background, values, education, and experience prepare you to represent the community effectively?
3. What makes you the best candidate for this position and how do you differentiate yourself from your opponents?
4. What long-term goals do you hope to achieve if elected to office?
5. What sets you apart from other candidates, and why should voters choose you to represent them?

The following is the candidate's response, written in his own words:

1. What key issues are you prioritizing, and what steps are you taking to address them?

It is my privilege to serve and represent the citizens of District 44 in the North Carolina Senate. Below are several issues that are a priority to me in no particular order.

A. To work on behalf of the citizens of my district and represent the core, traditional values of the  free market system and the  Judeo- Christian virtues, as embedded in our U.S. and NC constitutions and Declaration of Independence. I strive hard to provide good constituent service to help individuals and entities trapped in the often times frustrating  bureaucracy they find themselves entangled in. We’re not always successful, but my office and I  do our best to help those who have legitimate problems and needs. If we can cut through the government red tape to help achieve a good resolution, then we have achieved success.

B. Keeping low taxes, lessening regulations; improving the economy, and creating good paying jobs; encouraging, good manufacturing jobs and jobs in the traditional trades; promoting good education from K - 12 and community colleges and universities. 

C. Protecting our citizens’ safety by supporting law enforcement and emergency management, first responders, etc. and to the extent possible,  reducing the negative impact of illegal aliens by  requiring sheriffs in urban centers to cooperate with ICE, and providing  law enforcement with necessary  resources. Reducing the fentanyl crisis by increasing penalties for distribution.  Combating human trafficking, especially human sex trafficking, which amounts to modern day slavery and pay – for-repeated-rape of trafficked women, children and men.

D. Promoting an atmosphere that  allows freedom of expression by stopping runaway political correctness  and cultural Marxism which manifests itself through DIE, CRT, and  ESG. 

E. Protecting our women from men participating in women’s sports or allowing them into women’s dressing, rooms or restrooms, and protecting the parents’ rights within the education system.

F. Promoting a culture to save babies’ lives  from unnecessary abortions and to  develop more assistance to women to encourage them to make the choice of keeping her baby. Promoting adoption and helping to improve the foster parenting programs.

G. Protecting second amendment rights.

H. Free, open, and fair elections.

I. Encouraging more broadband to underserved areas.

2. How does your background, values, education, and experience prepare you to represent the community effectively?

I am a native North Carolinian and understand the North Carolina ways of  thinking, our background, culture and values. My background in historic preservation and Main Street downtown revitalization has given me 1) a deep appreciation  for the rich history, heritage, and  fundamental goodness of our state and country, and 2) the ability to utilize the Four-Point MainStreet downtown revitalization approach of Design, Organization, Promotion, and Economic Development as a common sense approach to problem-solving. As a Christian, I feel it is my obligation to help improve the quality of life for those who are in true need and to help those who are trying to overcome obstacles not of their own making

3. What makes you the best candidate for this position, and how do you differentiate yourself from your opponents?

I have worked for over forty years in the nonprofit sector, creating jobs, revitalizing, downtowns, and preserving and protecting history, and serving on many different boards of directors over the years, which has given me great insight as to how communities work. I utilize these life lessons in the legislature. 

My tenure as Mayor of Shelby taught me well the inner workings of local government, and I have brought this to bear in the legislature as well. 

4. What long-term goals do you hope to achieve if elected to office?

One particular long-term goal is to erase the scourge of human sex trafficking from North Carolina. We are currently the 10th worst in the nation. This touches  on many aspects of our society, including the need to support law  enforcement;   need to reduce  the demand of buying sex; protecting minors from pornography; educating the public at large , providing safe and transitional housing  for those transitioning  out of the human trafficking system, and providing services to them so they can  become  productive and redeemed members of society. 

In  light of the aftermath  of Hurricane Helene, I want to help ensure that our state government is better prepared to assist during similar emergencies in the future. This emergency has shown  a light on many aspects of state government that do very well and those  that need  great improvement.  

I am Co-Chairman of NC’s Semiquincentennial Committee for the 250th birthday of the Declaration of Independence. Through the work of this committee, I hope that we can promote events, activities, publications, preservation of properties, etc. that will help unify and bring our state and country together.

5. Why should voters choose you to represent them?

I ask for peoples’ votes because I will do what I say I will do, and I believe the voters can trust me to be who I say  I am: whether I am in the district or in Raleigh. While I make no bones about being a Christian and conservative, I think people know  that I am always willing to engage in a civil, non-combative one-on-one, in-person dialogue if someone is willing to do the same. I love North Carolina and I love calling North Carolina home, and I derive my greatest satisfaction from being able to help make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and the overall community. When I am approached with a legitimate constituent request, I feel it is my obligation to try to help them, regardless of any political party or other attribute they may exhibit. 

I try hard  to be as accessible as I can throughout my district, attending as many functions as I can. I humbly ask the voters of District 44 for your consideration and vote on Nov. 5. 

Ted Alexander, For NC State Senate, District 44