Fayetteville Observer Voter Guide 2022: Meet the candidates for North Carolina House 45

The Fayetteville Observer
Candidates for North Carolina House 45, Frances Jackson, left, and Susan Chapman.

Republican Susan Chapman and Democrat Frances Jackson are seeking election to the North Carolina House of Representatives District 45.

Republican State Rep. John Szoka, who is running for a spot on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, now represents the district, which was redrawn after the 2020 Census.

Below are the candidates' responses to a Fayetteville Observer questionnaire. Responses have been edited for style and grammar.

Frances Jackson

Frances Jackson

Name: Frances Jackson

Age: N/A

Immediate family: N/A

Occupation: Educator in Cumberland County Schools

Elected office held: N/A

Contact: francesjackson767@gmail.com; Electfrancesjackson.com

What restrictions, if any, would you impose on abortion in North Carolina? If the pregnancy is ectopic, or if the fetus has died and its corpse could cause a deadly infection, or the pregnancy otherwise could severely injure or kill the mother, what language would you put into the statutes to ensure that doctors can terminate the pregnancy and save the mother’s life without fear of being prosecuted? I'm a Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, not a doctor of medicine. I support the right for women to choose and value the expertise of medical professionals to provide health care according to the individual needs of the patient.

When a bill to legalize medical marijuana goes before the General Assembly next year, would you support or oppose it, and why? I would support and decriminalize medical marijuana. My support is based on the expertise of medical professionals.

If the Democratic governor and the Republican leaders who want Medicaid expansion are unable to make a deal for it this year, would you support or oppose doing it next year? What should the government do for lower-income workers and others who don’t have health insurance because they can’t afford to buy it on the open market and who are prohibited by federal law from buying it through Obamacare? Next year in my first term of office I would support Medicaid expansion. Lower-income workers and citizens whose incomes fall below affording the marketplace plan and those above the Obamacare threshold would receive help from a state sponsored plan.

Susan Chapman

Susan Chapman announced her candidacy for the District 45 seat on March 19, 2022. Running as the only Republican for the seat, Chapman will only be listed on the November ballot.

Susan Chapman did not respond to the Observer's questionnaire.