Lieutenant governor candidate Forest visits Boone
by Anna Oakes
“I think there's a leadership crisis in North Carolina,” said Dan Forest, a Republican candidate for North Carolina lieutenant governor this November.
Forest spoke with the Watauga Democrat during a visit to Boone Thursday. If elected, Forest said he would advocate for choice in education, a better business climate in the state and stronger illegal immigration laws.
In North Carolina, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor and serves a four-year term. The lieutenant governor is first in line to succeed the governor and presides over the N.C. Senate.
According to Forest's campaign biography, he has more than 23 years of experience as a business leader, architect and entrepreneur.
“My background is architecture. I think it suits the role well … we are creative problem solvers,” Forest said. “Somebody needs to look at the long-term plan of our state.”
Forest lives in Raleigh with his wife of 20 years and has four children. He has never held elected office, but he is the son of U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, a Republican representing North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.
The candidate said he would focus on issues affecting education, economic development and law enforcement.
Regarding education, Forest said North Carolina ranks 41st in the nation for K-12 education, a ranking he wants to change.
“I think we really make the change by breaking the state government-controlled monopoly on education and introducing choice,” he said.
Forest said the state can increase educational quality and decrease cost by supporting diverse options in addition to traditional public schools, including private schools, charter schools, magnet schools and home schooling.
Private schools spend about $6,000 educating a child, compared with $13,000 per pupil in public schools, he said.
The state should strive to provide a better regulatory and tax climate for businesses, Forest said.“We would like North Carolina to become the top state for business in the country,” he said, adding that the Tar Heel state has the highest corporate income tax rate in the Southeast.
Forest said he also would like to see a reduced gas tax and a “Buy NC” program for state government.
Forest opposes tax breaks to attract companies to North Carolina.
“I think that is the government's way of picking winners and losers in business, and I don't think the government should be in that role at all,” he said. “Wouldn't every small business owner in North Carolina like to have the same kind of incentives? It's just not right.”
In his roles related to law enforcement, Forest stated he wants to become North Carolina's “point person” on illegal immigration.
“We say we don't have any money for education, and yet we spend a billion dollars a year on education for people that aren't even citizens of our country,” he said.
Forest wants to see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program implemented in all counties. Under 287(g), a local entity receives delegated authority for immigration enforcement within its jurisdiction. He also would like to see E-Verify, an Internet-based system that determines a person's eligibility to work in the United States, used by all North Carolina employers.
Forest said he would ensure that Western North Carolina is heard in Raleigh.
“We've spent a lot of time in the mountains. We're going to take care of the folks out here,” said Forest.
For more information about Forest's campaign, call 980-395-5184 or visit http://www.danforest.com .
Forest spoke with the Watauga Democrat during a visit to Boone Thursday. If elected, Forest said he would advocate for choice in education, a better business climate in the state and stronger illegal immigration laws.
In North Carolina, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor and serves a four-year term. The lieutenant governor is first in line to succeed the governor and presides over the N.C. Senate.
According to Forest's campaign biography, he has more than 23 years of experience as a business leader, architect and entrepreneur.
“My background is architecture. I think it suits the role well … we are creative problem solvers,” Forest said. “Somebody needs to look at the long-term plan of our state.”
Forest lives in Raleigh with his wife of 20 years and has four children. He has never held elected office, but he is the son of U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, a Republican representing North Carolina's 9th Congressional District.
The candidate said he would focus on issues affecting education, economic development and law enforcement.
Regarding education, Forest said North Carolina ranks 41st in the nation for K-12 education, a ranking he wants to change.
“I think we really make the change by breaking the state government-controlled monopoly on education and introducing choice,” he said.
Forest said the state can increase educational quality and decrease cost by supporting diverse options in addition to traditional public schools, including private schools, charter schools, magnet schools and home schooling.
Private schools spend about $6,000 educating a child, compared with $13,000 per pupil in public schools, he said.
The state should strive to provide a better regulatory and tax climate for businesses, Forest said.“We would like North Carolina to become the top state for business in the country,” he said, adding that the Tar Heel state has the highest corporate income tax rate in the Southeast.
Forest said he also would like to see a reduced gas tax and a “Buy NC” program for state government.
Forest opposes tax breaks to attract companies to North Carolina.
“I think that is the government's way of picking winners and losers in business, and I don't think the government should be in that role at all,” he said. “Wouldn't every small business owner in North Carolina like to have the same kind of incentives? It's just not right.”
In his roles related to law enforcement, Forest stated he wants to become North Carolina's “point person” on illegal immigration.
“We say we don't have any money for education, and yet we spend a billion dollars a year on education for people that aren't even citizens of our country,” he said.
Forest wants to see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program implemented in all counties. Under 287(g), a local entity receives delegated authority for immigration enforcement within its jurisdiction. He also would like to see E-Verify, an Internet-based system that determines a person's eligibility to work in the United States, used by all North Carolina employers.
Forest said he would ensure that Western North Carolina is heard in Raleigh.
“We've spent a lot of time in the mountains. We're going to take care of the folks out here,” said Forest.
For more information about Forest's campaign, call 980-395-5184 or visit http://www.danforest.com .