To help inform voters in the November 5, 2024 election, this candidate questionnaire may be republished at no cost by local publications in North Carolina. Please consider subscribe to The Charlotte Observer to make this coverage possible.
Name
Justin (JW) Matthews
Date of birth (month, day and year)
02/07/2000
Campaign website or social media page
Matthewsfornc110.com
District and party affiliation
NC House District 110. Democratic Party
Occupation
Warehouse employee/order filler
Education
BA in Political Science and International Affairs (Gardner-Webb University). All from Cleveland Community below: Associate in Arts Associate in Science Certificate in Criminal Justice
Have you stood for election before? (Provide a list of previous positions sought or held)
No.
Please share your highlights of community involvement
In 2020 and 2022 I was an election official. I was a member of the nonpartisan group You Can Vote. I am also the First Vice Chairman of the Cleveland County Democratic Party.
In North Carolina, abortion is prohibited after twelve weeks. State politicians, including gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, have said they want to restrict abortion even further. Do you support the state’s current abortion restrictions, and what is your approach to the legislative issue related to reproductive health?
I believe that this should remain between healthcare providers and women. Medically speaking, a miscarriage is a form of abortion and these laws do not distinguish between a miscarriage and an elective abortion. Although current law has exceptions, in many cases a woman is already on the brink of death before doctors think they can take action to provide emergency abortion care. There are other programs that reduce the need and demand for abortion, such as providing low-cost contraceptives. Women deserve health care.
What do you think is the biggest problem facing your constituents, and what would you do to address it if elected?
One of the concerns I listened to was public education. The General Assembly expanded the voucher program by $248 million; Meanwhile, public school teachers are struggling to make ends meet. I know people who make more money working in a warehouse than working as a special education teacher. People are also concerned about their housing costs. We need to keep Wall Street out of North Carolina’s home market so that North Carolina residents can afford to buy a home.
While violent crime rates are declining nationally, they are growing in major North Carolina cities like Charlotte and Raleigh. How would you address the problem of rising violent crime rates and what do you see as the role of the legislature when it comes to public safety?
We need to fully fund our police. We must also crack down on the flow of illegal and dangerous drugs (Fentanyl). We need to invest in community programs. The legislature has a duty to the people and must respond quickly and with a measured attitude. We must also hold rogue officers accountable when they violate their oath. There are steps we can take to support and protect those who protect and serve, and there are also steps we can take to ensure that due process is respected and followed.
Although inflation has decreased, rising prices continue to worry North Carolinians. How do you ensure that your citizens are able to afford basic needs such as healthcare, food and housing?
We need to make sure that we fund our social safety net programs and also make sure that they are not abused by people who don’t really need to have access to them. And we need good jobs: Big companies are coming to NC, but workers continue to struggle in many places. According to an Oxfam survey, NC ranks 52nd in labor rights (this survey included DC and Puerto Rico). We can have a good business economy and also be a good state for the workers. There is no need for a sacrifice to be made by one for the benefit of the other.
Are there any policies of your party that you disagree with?
As the youngest Democratic candidate for the statewide House of Representatives, I am particularly shocked by the national party’s resistance to making “insider trading” a thing of the past in Congress.
