Jonathan Almond

As the government continues to grow, so does its desire to dictate how people live their lives. In recent years we have seen the government tell many of our small businesses they are not essential. They told people they must give up their rights to decide how to protect their health by mandating masks. At one point, they even suggested you could not participate in society without a vaccine that the government decided was “safe and effective”. I will fight to limit government overreach and to keep the power with the people.

The Second Amendment protects the freedoms guaranteed in the First — a truth our founders understood when they wrote in the U.S. Constitution that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” The Second Amendment is constantly under attack by people who use any tragedy to blame the gun and not the perpetrators! I will fight against any attempts to infringe on our constitutional rights.

We’re taxed when we earn our wages, and then taxed again when we spend those already‑taxed dollars. That is why I am honored to serve on the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform. Our committee is working on the reforms, including a property tax levy limit, to help protect both homeowners and renters from losing their homes. We also pay taxes on the property we own and have already paid for. With inflation at 40-year highs, families need this money in their pockets more than ever. I will vote NO on any attempt to confiscate more money from hardworking North Carolinians.

The government continually wastes and mismanages OUR money. Then they ask for more and more. If you or I mismanaged our family budget as poorly as the government, no one would give our family more or bail us out because we failed. I am an experienced controller with an accounting and finance background and I will put to skills to use to find wasteful government spending. We must stop wasting the people’s money!

Supporting the men and women who serve is deeply important to me. My family has generations of military and law‑enforcement service, and they taught me how essential these heroes are to the strength of our country and our communities. Protecting the Constitution and safeguarding our neighborhoods is one of the most honorable callings a person can answer. That’s why I cosponsored House Bill 42 — the Back the Blue Pay Act — a major law‑enforcement measure improving pay, benefits, and protections for officers across North Carolina.

The Declaration of Independence states “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The first unalienable right mentioned is LIFE! North Carolina has become a hub for abortion, as surrounding states have reduced or outlawed it. We must do more to protect the lives of unborn children in North Carolina.

Free and fair elections are essential to ensuring government reflects the will of the people. I support voter ID, limited early voting, rare absentee by‑mail voting, and secure paper ballots on Election Day. I voted for House Bills 958 and 834 to strengthen election rules, give nonpartisan candidates a greater role in the process, and require audits after each general election so every vote is counted with confidence.

Our Federal Government must continue to secure the border, stop illegal entry, and remove those who are here unlawfully. We’ve seen firsthand the devestation of Fentanyl and other deadly drugs that have historically been smuggled across the border and into our communities. After the killing of Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte LYNX Blue Line, I believed it was imperative to support the NC Border Protection Act, Senate Bill 153, which strengthens reporting and compliance. I also voted for House Bill 307 — Iryna’s Law — to end cashless bail for violent offenses and require stricter pretrial release rules for repeat offenders.

People with special education needs are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. Making sure they have the resources and support they need to learn and grow is very important. As someone who has twin boys with special learning needs, I can tell you having a strong support system around them in school is so important for their development.

Being a representative of the people in government is a service to the people, not a career. I believe there should not be lifelong politicians. I believe the longer a person is in office, the more likely they become servants of themselves and not of the people. I will support a term-limit bill in the General Assembly.

No government body should have the right to decide what medical intervention your child “has to have” to exist in society, schools, or sports. Whether it’s a mask or vaccinations, the parent should be able to decide what is best for their child, especially if there are harmful consequences that go with those decisions.

A strong America starts with strong foundations. That means encouraging every student to pursue excellence in STEM, honoring the skilled trades that keep our communities running, and returning to the basics that shape capable citizens — reading, writing, and math. When young people master these fundamentals, they gain the confidence to innovate, build, and lead. And as they learn, we must teach them to respect one another, value hard work, and cherish the freedoms that make this country unlike any other. America thrives when our students think boldly, work skillfully, and live gratefully for the liberty we’ve been entrusted with.

We cannot allow minors or other adults to perform genital mutilation or hormone therapy on our children. We do not let children join the military, vote, or buy alcohol. We should apply the same standard to irreversible decisions about a child. Sex reassignment surgery and other gene therapies should be available only to adults over 18.