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Mark Cavaliero

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Mark Cavaliero
Image of Mark Cavaliero

Republican Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1990

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

1986 - 2016

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Years of service

1986 - 2016

Personal
Religion
Methodist
Profession
Founder and CEO of Carolinas IT
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Mark Cavaliero (Republican Party) ran for election to the North Carolina State Senate to represent District 17. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Cavaliero completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mark Cavaliero earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 1990. Cavaliero also studied at the Amphibious Warfare School and the Command and Staff College with the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 2016. Cavaliero worked as the founder and CEO of Carolinas IT from 1995 to 2019. He has served with the Boy Scouts of America as an eagle scout and adult volunteer and with Veterans of Foreign Wars.[1] Cavaliero also founded and owns a commercial and residential real estate investment company.[2]

Elections

2022

See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for North Carolina State Senate District 17

Incumbent Sydney Batch defeated Mark Cavaliero and Patrick Bowersox in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 17 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sydney Batch
Sydney Batch (D)
 
51.8
 
45,279
Image of Mark Cavaliero
Mark Cavaliero (R) Candidate Connection
 
46.0
 
40,167
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Patrick Bowersox (L)
 
2.2
 
1,922

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 87,368
Candidate Connection = 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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sydney Batch advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Mark Cavaliero advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Patrick Bowersox advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for North Carolina State Senate District 17

Incumbent Sam Searcy defeated Mark Cavaliero and Travis Groo in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 17 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sam Searcy
Sam Searcy (D)
 
51.4
 
83,564
Image of Mark Cavaliero
Mark Cavaliero (R) Candidate Connection
 
44.8
 
72,774
Image of Travis Groo
Travis Groo (L)
 
3.8
 
6,204

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 162,542
Candidate Connection = 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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Sam Searcy advanced from the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Mark Cavaliero advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Travis Groo advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Carolina State Senate District 17.

Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Mark Cavaliero completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cavaliero's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I'm running for the State Senate because I believe with the right leadership our best days are ahead of us. North Carolina is my home. It's where I grew up, went to school, got married, raised a family, and started several very successful businesses. I LOVE our state - from the mountains to the coast and everything in between.

I'm a native of North Carolina, growing up in the small Piedmont town of Badin. I am a graduate of the public school system, all the way from elementary school to the UNC-Chapel Hill. Since I was 18 years old, I've been a part of the Marine Corps, first as a midshipman, and then as a commissioned officer, serving around the globe. I mobilized as a reservist and served as a company commander during the 2003 liberation of Iraq. I retired from the Marine Reserves in 2016 as a Colonel.

I'm also the founder and former CEO of Carolinas IT, which I led over 24 years to become one of the most successful private businesses in North Carolina. I've been married to my college sweetheart for 28 years and have 3 children. I'm an Eagle Scout and lifelong Scouting volunteer.
  • I've got the experience and leadership to help our state lead the nation in and to be a place where future generations can have the freedom and opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our founding fathers envisioned.
  • I'll work for things that matter to families in the district - safe neighborhoods, a strong and healthy economy, and the absolute best education opportunities for our children to prepare them for the future.
  • Big government isn't the solution to problems, I'll work for a government that is smaller, more efficient, and more responsive to the people.
Keeping taxes low for all the hard-working families across North Carolina.

Ensuring our state is a great place to start and operate a business that provides jobs, benefits, and economic activity for the community.
Demanding accountability, innovation, and fiscal discipline from our government.
Working for an educational system that provides our kids with the knowledge and skills they'll need to be successful in life and career.
Providing choices in education are good for everyone, and families should be able to choose the education path that works best for them.
Our natural resources are a treasure we must protect.

Using innovation and free market solutions to drive down the cost of healthcare.
My personal hero in government is Abraham Lincoln. He had the wisdom and maturity to lead the nation through the most divisive time in its history. He worked with both his supporters and opponents to implement policies in the bests interests of our nation. When it was time for the hard choices, he made them and then pursued his objective of saving the nation with passion and determination. His love and care for people was evident in his letters to the families of those who died in the Civil War.
"The Purpose Driven Life"
Integrity, trust, vision, maturity, love and loyalty for the United States of America and all of it's people.
I've been a leader in Scouting, the Marine Corps, and business for over a quarter of a century. I know what it's like to successfully lead, and I know what it means to be a good steward of all that we've been blessed with. I know what a difference strong leadership can make, and how boldness, vision, and wisdom at the right time and in the right place can make all the difference.

I'm a problem solver, a quick learner, and a leader with a history of going into tough situations and getting results. I know that throwing money at problems rarely creates the best long-term solutions. Rather, the best solutions are created through innovation and leadership. Looking at problems from a fresh angle. Unleashing the creativity and initiative of our people to bring about true progress.

Leadership makes a difference - good leaders make things happen where others just get drama. You know that - you know people you can drop into any situation. No matter what it is - and they will make good things happen and come out on top.
- Engage with the citizens of the district to fully understand how to best represent them.

- Understand the issues facing our state, and be informed on public policy options to address them.
- Actively participate as a member of the legislature to advocate on behalf of the citizens of the district and for the state as a whole.
- Operate a legislative services office to help citizens navigate options open to them for obtaining assistance.

- Engage in voting, policy investigation, and debate surrounding pending or proposed legislation.
One of the first things I learned as a Boy Scout is that you leave the campsite better than you found it. You square away the firepit, pick up trash, organize the firewood, and clean any facilities. The same applies as a leader, I'd like to make sure that I can look back and see that I had an impact on our state that left it a better place than when I arrived here in 1968. I have a vision for North Carolina leading the nation in education, opportunity, infrastructure, and technology. I want it to be a place where future generations can have the freedom and opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our nation's founding fathers envisioned.
I remember seeing images of our service members in the Vietnam war on our old black and white TV. I was about 5. I then remember seeing Richard Nixon on TV during the Watergate scandal. Both of those events highlight the importance of integrity and wisdom in public service.
When I was 14, I started working at the Trading Post (Camp Store) at Boy Scout Camp Barnhardt near my hometown. It was my dream job at the time and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be at camp all summer. I worked there for three summers and learned the foundations of running a small business. We sold various items for campers such as T-Shirts, hats, knives, sodas, candy, and ice cream.
The Bible - I read it daily and find it to be a source of faith and inspiration.
"Three Little Birds" - Bob Marley
My father left us before I was a year old. Luckily, I grew up in a small town with great role models and support. Everything I've accomplished in life has been a struggle - paying for school, becoming an officer, starting and growing a business, leading Marines into a combat zone. Life is about struggle, but struggle builds character and values. How we react to adversity is a measure of our character.
Should be based on respect, trust, and open communication. They should be able to identify common goals and work together to achieve them.
The growing divide between rural and urban areas is certainly something we've got to be concerned about. We need to understand how advances in technology and the growing economy will impact each area, and work to ensure all areas of the state enjoy economic growth, prosperity, and improving quality of life.
I'd prefer a bicameral system like that of North Carolina, where the legislature has two chambers. I think this provides a good variety of opinion and representation of the public. Two chambers provides for additional checks and balances against excess and hasty decision making.
Experience is always helpful, but politics shouldn't be a career for anyone.
es, as a professional for many years in both business and the military, I understand the importance of having strong relationships, both with those you agree and with those who have different opinions. We've all got to work together to ensure a brighter future for our state.
A process that is fair, transparent, and provides people with effective representation.
Any committees having to do with economic development, technology, and veterans affairs would be a great fit for my experience and expertise.
I'm solely focused on serving the citizens of my district and North Carolina.
Since the pandemic began, I've been impacted by many stories of small business owners who have spent a lifetime building up a business only to see it destroyed in a matter of weeks by the policies meant to protect people from the Covid-19 virus. It's heartbreaking to hear of a lifetime of work shattered.
Yes. No governor should be able to implement a state of emergency and keep it in place for years without oversight.
I won't compromise on core values, but I understand that in order to get anything done in Raleigh negotiations are necessary.

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.

2020

Candidate Connection

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

Expand all | Collapse all

I'm running for the State Senate because I believe with the right leadership our best days are ahead of us. North Carolina is my home. It's where I grew up, went to school, got married, raised a family, and started several very successful businesses. I LOVE our state - from the mountains to the coast and everything in between.

I'm a native of North Carolina, growing up in the small Piedmont town of Badin. I am a graduate of the public school system, all the way from elementary school to the UNC-Chapel Hill. Since I was 18 years old, I've been a part of the Marine Corps, first as a midshipman, and then as a commissioned officer, serving around the globe. I mobilized as a reservist and served as a company commander during the 2003 liberation of Iraq. I retired from the Marine Reserves in 2016 as a Colonel.

I'm also the founder and former CEO of Carolinas IT, which I led over 24 years to become one of the most successful private businesses in North Carolina. I've been married to my college sweetheart for 26 years and have 3 children. I'm an Eagle Scout and lifelong Scouting volunteer, currently serving as an assistant scoutmaster.

  • I've got the experience and leadership to get our state back on track after the pandemic and set us up for future success.
  • I will be a champion for your rights under our Constitution, which I have sworn an oath to protect.
  • I will stand up to those who would shackle us with more debt, more big government, and less freedom.
Keeping taxes low for all the hard-working families across North Carolina.

Demanding accountability, innovation, and fiscal discipline from our government.
Use innovation and free market solutions to drive down the cost of healthcare.
Choices in education are good for everyone, and families should be able to choose the education path that works best for them.
I am proudly Pro-Life and support measures that encourage respect for both the life of mothers and the lives they may carry.

Our natural resources are a treasure we must protect.
My personal hero in government is Abraham Lincoln. He had the wisdom and maturity to lead the nation through the most divisive time in its history. He worked with both his supporters and opponents to implement policies in the bests interests of our nation. When it was time for the hard choices, he made them and then pursued his objective of saving the nation with passion and determination. His love and care for people was evident in his letters to the families of those who died in the Civil War.
"The Purpose Driven Life"
Integrity, trust, vision, maturity, love and loyalty for the United States of America and all of it's people.
I've been a leader in Scouting, the Marine Corps, and business for over a quarter of a century.

I know what it's like to successfully lead, and I know what it means to be a good steward of all that we've been blessed with. I know what a difference strong leadership can make, and how boldness, vision, and wisdom at the right time and in the right place can make all the difference.

I'm a problem solver, a quick learner, and a leader with a history of going into tough situations and getting results. I know that throwing money at problems rarely creates the best long-term solutions. Rather, the best solutions are created through innovation and leadership. Looking at problems from a fresh angle. Unleashing the creativity and initiative of our people to bring about true progress.

Leadership makes a difference - good leaders make things happen where others just get drama.

You know that - you know people you can drop into any situation. No matter what it is - and they will make good things happen and come out on top.
- Engage with the citizens of the district to fully understand how to best represent them.

- Understand the issues facing our state, and be informed on public policy options to address them.
- Actively participate as a member of the legislature to advocate on behalf of the citizens of the district and for the state as a whole.
- Operate a legislative services office to help citizens navigate options open to them for obtaining assistance.

- Engage in voting, policy investigation, and debate surrounding pending or proposed legislation.
One of the first things I learned as a Boy Scout is that you leave the campsite better than you found it. You square away the firepit, pick up trash, organize the firewood, and clean any facilities. The same applies as a leader, I'd like to make sure that I can look back and see that I had an impact on our state that left it a better place than when I arrived here in 1968. I have a vision for North Carolina leading the nation in education, opportunity, infrastructure, and technology. I want it to be a place where future generations can have the freedom and opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our nation's founding fathers envisioned.
I remember seeing images of our service members in the Vietnam war on our old black and white TV. I was about 5. I then remember seeing Richard Nixon on TV during the Watergate scandal. Both of those events highlight the importance of integrity and wisdom in public service.
When I was 14, I started working at the Trading Post (Camp Store) at Boy Scout Camp Barnhardt near my hometown. It was my dream job at the time and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be at camp all summer. I worked there for three summers and learned the foundations of running a small business. We sold various items for campers such as T-Shirts, hats, knives, sodas, candy, and ice cream.
The Bible - I read it daily and find it to be a source of faith and inspiration.
"Three Little Birds" - Bob Marley
I grew up in a single parent household. Everything I've accomplished in life has been a struggle - paying for school, becoming an officer, starting and growing a business, leading Marines into a combat zone. Life is about struggle, but struggle builds character and values. How we react to adversity is a measure of our character.
The NC Senate has fewer members, and its districts include more citizens.
The growing divide between rural and urban areas is certainly something we've got to be concerned about. We need to understand how advances in technology and the growing economy will impact each area, and work to ensure all areas of the state enjoy economic growth, prosperity, and improving quality of life.
Should be based on respect, trust, and open communication. They should be able to identify common goals and work together to achieve them.
Yes, as a professional for many years in both business and the military, I understand the importance of having strong relationships, both with those you agree and with those who have different opinions. We've all got to work together to ensure a brighter future for our state.
Any committees having to do with economic development, technology, and veterans affairs would be a great fit for my experience and expertise.
My focus would be on being the best Senator I can be, and serving the citizens of my district.
I'm solely focused on serving the citizens of my district and North Carolina.
Since the pandemic began, I've been impacted by many stories of small business owners who have spent a lifetime building up a business only to see it destroyed in a matter of weeks by the policies meant to protect people from the Covid-19 virus. It's heartbreaking to hear of a lifetime of work shattered.

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.

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External links

Candidate

North Carolina State Senate District 17
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 6, 2020
    2. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 12, 2022


    Current members of the North Carolina State Senate
    Leadership
    Minority Leader:Sydney Batch
    Senators
    District 1
    District 2
    District 3
    District 4
    District 5
    District 6
    District 7
    District 8
    District 9
    District 10
    District 11
    District 12
    District 13
    District 14
    Dan Blue (D)
    District 15
    District 16
    District 17
    District 18
    District 19
    District 20
    District 21
    District 22
    District 23
    District 24
    District 25
    Amy Galey (R)
    District 26
    District 27
    District 28
    District 29
    District 30
    District 31
    District 32
    Paul Lowe (D)
    District 33
    Carl Ford (R)
    District 34
    District 35
    District 36
    District 37
    District 38
    District 39
    District 40
    District 41
    District 42
    District 43
    District 44
    District 45
    District 46
    District 47
    District 48
    District 49
    District 50
    Republican Party (30)
    Democratic Party (20)


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