Kim Coley

Kim Coley (Republican Party) ran for election to the North Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 36. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Coley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Kim Coley was born in Martinsville, Indiana. She pursued her undergraduate education at Central Bible College. Coley’s career experience includes working as a small business owner and minister.^[1]

Elections

2020

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36

Incumbent Julie von Haefen defeated Kim Coley and Bruce Basson in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Julie von Haefen (D)	53.2	31,644
	Kim Coley (R)	43.1	25,656
	Bruce Basson (L)	3.7	2,206

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 59,506
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Julie von Haefen advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36

Kim Coley defeated Gil Pagan in the Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36 on March 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kim Coley	56.0	3,787
	Gil Pagan	44.0	2,975

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,762
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Bruce Basson advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Wake County, North Carolina (2018)

General election

General election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Susan Evans defeated Kim Coley in the general election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Susan Evans (D)	61.9	265,249
	Kim Coley (R)	38.1	163,394

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 428,643 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Susan Evans defeated incumbent Erv Portman in the Democratic primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4 on May 8, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Susan Evans	62.0	38,793
	Erv Portman	38.0	23,801

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 62,594
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Kim Coley advanced from the Republican primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Kim Coley

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

Kim Coley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Coley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have spent my life serving those within the community I live in. I believe investing time and energy in the people is the wisest investment anyone can make.

I have called North Carolina House District 36 home for more than 25 years. I am a private business owner and a real estate investor. As a parent, I appreciate having educational choices for my children and I'm thankful for the teachers in both the K-12 and continued education who recognized talents and abilities in my children encouraging them to aim high.

I have tried to reciprocate by offering my skills, talents, time and connections to the community by working with and through a variety of organizations such as PTF, PTA, Athletic, camps, Younglife, churches, and community projects as I wanted to make the world around our children better.

My desire is to provide a unique perspective while working with other community leaders, creating the best environment for the community of House 36 the district and North Carolina as a whole has to offer.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I believe Hathcare begins with personal responsibility. The role of government regarding Healthcare is to keep informations transparent and options available to ALL citizens, including the Unborn.
I believe both the public and private educational systems have a place in our society. It is a parents right to choose the educational system or combination that best suits the needs of their family
The best economist predicts that skilled labor will soon be a lost commodity. We must explore ways to transition workers as these changes occur to ensure a healthy business growth within North Carolina

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I value people. I fully support the Born Alive bill and believe we need to work hard to protect the lives of all our citizens including the most vulnerable.

I am passionate about the Second Chance Act and working to ensure the next generation has the support of their community to mature and become productive members of society.

I am passionate about our children receiving the best education choices North Carolina has to offer. I plan to work toward a transparent budget that properly compensation the teachers as well as offers the support they need such as (nurses, social workers, and assistants) to help our children achieve.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I respect the tenacity of Nimrata Haley, known as Nikki Haley. Her unwavering commitment to her core values, her esteem toward the founding fathers by which this country was founded upon, and her wisdom of who to trust as she stepped through doors she herself didn't feel qualified to do, encourages me to be true to God, to myself, and to the people. Her story inspires me to rise to new challenges and not to be a passive voice accomplishing nothing but rather to engage by being an active participant in finding solutions.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I would recommend Nikki Haley's book With All Due Respect.

"We've got a responsibility. The way we handle issues and the way we talk about issues should be towards solution, not division." Nikki Haley

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The characteristics I believe are essential for an elected official would be the ability to work well with others, the ability to evaluate information, and to be able to disagree respectfully. An elected official should be even-tempered, solution seeker, approachable and considerate of others.

I believe an elected possess the following principles to best serve the people of North Carolina; discerning wisdom, self-discipline, patience, humility, self-respect, and trustworthiness.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The qualities I have that will allow me to best serve House District 36 are the ability to build relationships, I am a good listener, and I value the opinions of others. I am not looking to be successful as a legislator but to be significant. Success is individually determined, but becoming significant is obtained by putting others first.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of an elected North Carolina legislator are first to maintain the values and promises by which they were elected. As a legislator, I believe my responsibility is to search for knowledge from a variety of sources while honoring the constitutions of North Carolina and the United States, ensuring the best solutions are derived from meaningful dialogue with other members.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to inspire the next generation of women that they too have something of value to add to the conversation or the community of which they belong and would like it to be said of me that by being passionate about people she brought honor and trustworthiness back to the office of which she was elected.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

In 1980 the school I attended held mock voting polls for the next president of the United States. On my ballot was Republican candidate Ronald Regan and Democrat candidate Jimmy Carter. I was proud when my candidate Ronald Regan was announced the winner. Even as a child I realized the importance and privilege of voting for our elected officials.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first employed job was as a photographer for Kinder Photo in the Warwick Mall, Rhode Island. For about a year I captured those keepsake moments of children for parents.

Undocumented and before 16-years-old I have cleaned houses, campground caretaker, babysat, mowed lawns, walked dogs, raked leaves, shoveled drives (in the Northeast where it snows) and at twelve was the children's church coordinator.

What is your favorite book? Why?

TBD. I'm actually in the process of writing my own.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I would probably want to be Wonderwoman. I appreciate she wasn't from the area. She used her strengths to fight injustice. Though she was strong physically she didn't hide her femininity. As a princess, she demonstrated humility, compassion, and empathy for others. She sought truth above all else.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Tom's Diner (your welcome) now it's stuck in your head!

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have struggled with devaluing myself due to finishing my formal education degree. Yet even with a formal degree in Communication and Business, the experience is able to obtain is what makes that degree valuable.
Though I have underestimated myself by not finishing my educational degree, I have had a multitude of experiences that would qualify me for any job within my original desired field. Through my experiences of public service and small business ownership, I have been able to empathize with many people who find themselves transitioning for a variety of reasons. I choose to use my struggles to relate to others while inspiring them to do today what they can.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The upper chamber or Senate usually is the chamber used to confirm the appointments made by the governor. Through my years of community involvement, I have had the privilege to witness the two chambers working together rather than exploiting their differences. I have watched as the House passes a bill on to the Senate or vice versa with an open dialogue of things that might need clarification.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

The role or relationship between any three branches of government including the governor and the others is to be the check and balance. Holding one another accountable for the betterment of the people and not beholden to agenda-driven organizations.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The North Carolina state budget has proved to be one of the greatest challenges. Without a reasonable agreed-upon budget, North Carolina road infrastructures remain questionable as to who will pay for the roads as we continue to grow. Medicaid Expansion is in limbo as expansion is deliberated while the needs of the people for which the program was designed have not appropriately been met. Education is in a quandary holding the teachers in a frustrated state and the future of our children in question.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I believe relationships are beneficial to any organization. Taking time to build relationships helps to develop trust among those working with you. When we take the time to listen first we gain perspective, understanding, and context of how the other individual arrives at their conclusions. Being willing to engage in dialogue with someone that does not look like you, share your background, or perspective servers to widen your own parameters and viewpoints.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I am willing to be on any committee that will help me better serve my interest in House District 36. My current interest would be the committees of Education, Judicial, Environmental, Health, and State and Government

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I am not seeking further leadership within the legislature at this time. Though I am not afraid to lead, I believe my time is better served by building those relationships with other members then promoting those who have the talents and skill sets that best help us as a body to serve the people of North Carolina by which we were elected.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

No one. Though I respect those who have held office before me, I plan to be an original. I will seek counsel, wisdom, and opinions from others who have served in office, but the people will have elected me. To be transparent within the office I am elected, I must once again be true to who I am.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I am not interested in running for another office at this time. I chose to run for legislature after I won my district in 2018 for County Commissioner, but was unable to represent the people of this district in the seat. This is my opportunity to be the voice of House District 36 in Raleigh.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A mother found herself with a disengaged angry teenager struggling to fit in among his high school friends. Overwrought with guilt and the feelings of inadequacies she struggled to find a way to help her teenager through this difficult season of his life.

One evening she received a call from the local police informing her that her son had been found with a group of underage drinkers. The students were all sited expect for her son. The officer explained the reason her child was not receiving a ticket but knew he was headed down a long dark road. She thanked the officer and candidly shared her concern with the officer. The officer asked if she had heard of Capital Teen Court then while explaining the program to her he made the necessary phone calls.
Several weeks later, her son sat in the courtroom of Teen Court among a jury of his peers while being defended and prosecuted by volunteer teenagers desiring to one day be attorneys. A Cambell Law student presided over the court. Her son was sentenced to jury duty, community service, and the Straight Talk session.
Durning the Straight Talk session, Michael, a former NC State athlete shared his story of distribution charges and the court's ruling, sentencing him to 10 years in prison. Michael lost his scholarship, educational opportunity, and freedom by the choices he had made. After hearing Michael's story they headed home.. In the car she inquired about his experience, her teenager responded, "I'm one decision away from ending up just like Michael. Then her teenager shifted in his seat and cried all the way home.

This is our story. My son went on to graduate early, attend Wake Technical College, and become a manager for Vantage Marketing Company. Capital Teen Court isn't just an organization of which I'm familiar with but the JCPC's have developed a solution that works, offering our kids the ability to take responsibility and get back on track. As a mother, I will forever be grateful.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

External links

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 15, 2020

[show]

Current members of the North Carolina House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Destin Hall

Majority Leader:Brenden Jones

Minority Leader:Robert Reives

Representatives

District 1

Ed Goodwin (R)

District 2

Ray Jeffers (D)

District 3

Steve Tyson (R)

District 4

James Dixon (R)

District 5

Bill Ward (R)

District 6

Joe Pike (R)

District 7

Matthew Winslow (R)

District 8

Gloristine Brown (D)

District 9

Timothy Reeder (R)

District 10

John Bell (R)

District 11

Allison Dahle (D)

District 12

Chris Humphrey (R)

District 13

Celeste Cairns (R)

District 14

Wyatt Gable (R)

District 15

Phillip Shepard (R)

District 16

Carson Smith (R)

District 17

Frank Iler (R)

District 18

Deb Butler (D)

District 19

Charles Miller (R)

District 20

Ted Davis (R)

District 21

Ya Liu (D)

District 22

William Brisson (R)

District 23

Shelly Willingham (D)

District 24

Dante Pittman (D)

District 25

Allen Chesser (R)

District 26

Donna White (R)

District 27

Rodney Pierce (D)

District 28

Larry Strickland (R)

District 29

Vernetta Alston (D)

District 30

Marcia Morey (D)

District 31

Zack Hawkins (D)

District 32

Bryan Cohn (D)

District 33

Monika Johnson-Hostler (D)

District 34

Tim Longest (D)

District 35

Mike Schietzelt (R)

District 36

Julie von Haefen (D)

District 37

Erin Paré (R)

District 38

Abraham Jones (D)

District 39

James Roberson (D)

District 40

Phil Rubin (D)

District 41

Maria Cervania (D)

District 42

Mike Colvin (D)

District 43

Diane Wheatley (R)

District 44

Charles Smith (D)

District 45

Frances Jackson (D)

District 46

Brenden Jones (R)

District 47

John Lowery (R)

District 48

Garland Pierce (D)

District 49

Cynthia Ball (D)

District 50

Renée Price (D)

District 51

John Sauls (R)

District 52

Ben Moss (R)

District 53

Howard Penny (R)

District 54

Robert Reives (D)

District 55

Mark Brody (R)

District 56

Allen Buansi (D)

District 57

Tracy Clark (D)

District 58

Amos Quick (D)

District 59

Alan Branson (R)

District 60

Cecil Brockman (D)

District 61

Mary Harrison (D)

District 62

John Blust (R)

District 63

Stephen Ross (R)

District 64

Dennis Riddell (R)

District 65

A. Reece Pyrtle (R)

District 66

Sarah Crawford (D)

District 67

Cody Huneycutt (R)

District 68

David Willis (R)

District 69

Dean Arp (R)

District 70

Brian Biggs (R)

District 71

Kanika Brown (D)

District 72

Amber Baker (D)

District 73

Jonathan Almond (R)

District 74

Jeff Zenger (R)

District 75

Donny Lambeth (R)

District 76

Harry Warren (R)

District 77

Julia Howard (R)

District 78

Neal Jackson (R)

District 79

Keith Kidwell (R)

District 80

Sam Watford (R)

District 81

Larry Potts (R)

District 82

Brian Echevarria (R)

District 83

Grant Campbell (R)

District 84

Jeffrey McNeely (R)

District 85

Dudley Greene (R)

District 86

Hugh Blackwell (R)

District 87

Destin Hall (R)

District 88

Mary Belk (D)

District 89

Mitchell Setzer (R)

District 90

Sarah Stevens (R)

District 91

Kyle Hall (R)

District 92

Terry Brown (D)

District 93

Ray Pickett (R)

District 94

Blair Eddins (R)

District 95

Todd Carver (R)

District 96

Jay Adams (R)

District 97

Heather Rhyne (R)

District 98

Beth Gardner Helfrich (D)

District 99

Nasif Majeed (D)

District 100

Julia Greenfield (D)

District 101

Carolyn Logan (D)

District 102

Becky Carney (D)

District 103

Laura Budd (D)

District 104

Brandon Lofton (D)

District 105

Tricia Cotham (R)

District 106

Carla Cunningham (D)

District 107

Aisha Dew (D)

District 108

John Torbett (R)

District 109

Donnie Loftis (R)

District 110

Kelly Hastings (R)

District 111

Paul Scott (R)

District 112

Jordan Lopez (D)

District 113

Jake Johnson (R)

District 114

Eric Ager (D)

District 115

Lindsey Prather (D)

District 116

Brian Turner (D)

District 117

Jennifer Balkcom (R)

District 118

Mark Pless (R)

District 119

Mike Clampitt (R)

District 120

Karl Gillespie (R)

Republican Party (71)

Democratic Party (49)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 15, 2020

[1]

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Kim Coley

Contents

Biography

Elections

2020

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Carolina House of Representatives District 36

Libertarian primary election

Campaign finance

2018

General election

General election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 4

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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