North Carolina's 1st Congressional District election, 2022 (May 17 Republican primary)

I am an America first candidate. I believe we should be taking care of America before we take care of and spend our hard earned tax dollars on other countries.

We have enough lawyers and criminals in Congress; it's time to send a cop.

I have spent my entire career fighting for you and I'm just getting started.

I have a bold vision and plan for transforming both the economy and education in District 1 that equips small business and educators with the tools and skills essential to participating in the lucrative new economy.

I plan to radically shrink the control and reach of the Federal Government by abolishing several federal agencies including the IRS, The Department of Commerce, The Dept of Education, Dept of Interior and lastly the Dept of Labor.

Combating future threats to our democracy must address threats both domestic and foreign. Our biggest domestic threat in the near-term includes the integrity of our elections. This threat has potential to undermine the very foundation of democracy and in many ways is more imminent than the threat of foreign adversaries. Similarly, foreign threats are now being waged using modern tools of cyber-hacking and disinformation, designed to sow chaos in our country. Both China and Russia are actively waging digital warfare with our nation and we must employ new investments to keep this threat from undermining our way of life.

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/sroberson.jpg

Sandy Roberson (R)

Fiscal responsibility

National security

Individual liberty

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/BrentRoberson.jpg

"I’m talking about the issues that I know matter to you, the 1st District voters, because I live, work, worship and raise a family here right beside you."

Too many politicians speak from the place of polling data. Me, I speak about issues that I know affect my constituents - inflation, the high cost of living, the outrageous price of fuel and the fact that the current resident in the White House is destroying families, freedom and how hard working Americans are struggling to just get food on the table

The security of our nation and our entire way of life is now at risk with the current administration exercising policies that are changing the very fabric of our culture and our way of life. Securing our southern border now is our top priority. Allowing some 2 million people, unvetted, to cross into our nation, be given carte blanche with benefits and about to be "made" citizens is a travesty. It has to stop.

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ssmith.JPG

Sandy Smith (R)

Fighting for Forensic Audits & Election Integrity

Pro-Life & Parents Rights

Supports the 2nd Amendment, Border Security and stopping illegal immigration and a Strong Military.

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/BillyStrickland.jpeg

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Security, I will continue to support our police and our military. I also believe that we need to complete our southern border wall.

Inflation, I will stand in the way of the Democrats green new deal and other harmful economic policies to avoid their "new normal". $5 gal gas

School Choice, Parents should be able to choose the school best suited for their child's success, that choice should not be dictated by their zip codes. School funding goes with child!

I am passionate about safe communities. I have dedicated my professional career to fighting for safer communities in Eastern North Carolina only to watch them be undone by failed Democratic policies. If elected to Congress, first and foremost I will defend our law enforcement officers. I will give them the equipment they need to keep our communities safe and stand by their side.

Brads focus on public policy passions involve the following four themes:

1 - Transformation of Education that promotes greater choice for parents and better outcomes for students

2 - Small business entrepreneurship readiness and success in the new digital economy

3 - Monetary policy that promotes U.S. global competitiveness and strengthens U.S. based supply chain resiliency

4 - Strengthening of U.S. deterrents to increasing aggression from both China and Russia

Sandy Roberson (R)

Sandy will prioritize fiscal responsibility, defend our Second Amendment rights, and protect the sanctity of life. He will ensure the needs of American citizens always come first and empower law enforcement to do their job.

National Security, Border Security, Tackling Inflation and Job Creation are my highest priorities.

Sandy Smith (R)

LIFE

I believe that life begins at conception. As your Congresswoman, I will fight every day to protect and defend the sanctity of life, including the unborn.

GUNS As our founders declared, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. I am a proud gun owner with a North Carolina concealed carry permit. I believe that the right to self-defense is a basic human right, and will work tirelessly to defend our 2nd Amendment rights.

ELECTION INTEGRITY Governance by the people depends on our elections. We must restore confidence by making voter ID mandatory. Eliminate all universal mail in ballots, and limit absentee ballots to active military members deployed or stationed overseas and senior citizens. Require annual cleaning and auditing of our voter rolls. Eliminate extended voting periods and require all absentee votes be received the day before the election.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION We need to stop the Democrat lawlessness and secure our country. I support President Trump’s Border Wall and strong border security policy. We need to finish the wall, end chain migration, and fix the crisis on the southern border.

EDUCATION I support School Choice as every child should have the opportunity to have a quality education and it shouldn’t be based on their zip code or their family’s financial situation. Parents should be the ultimate decision-maker when it comes to their child’s education, not the government.

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

School choice- Because of my hard start in life, I know first hand that education is the only way to change your future. Additionally, as a father of four, education is deeply important to me. Education is the key to bettering yourself and making America stronger.

Security-I will support our police and military, not defund them. I will also vote to build the wall at our southern border.

Inflation- Inflation is out of control and I will block the policies of the green new deal and all bills that hurt our citizens right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Farming- as a farmer and marrying into a farming family I will work on the Farm Bill and all other projects that help the farmers and their families. The small family farm is what built this country and the humble way-of-life of our farmers, must be protected.

Judicial reform- Eliminating laws favoring one class of people over another and work on disparity of sentencing.

Jesus. I'm a devout Christian and very active in my church, my community and strive to live a good life based on Biblical principles and I try everyday to live up to the life that true Christians aspire to.

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

My Father-n-Law Jack Smith, because his faith and wisdom was immeasurable. He taught me how to treat other people applying the bible and Christ love.

Theodore Roosevelt- He was a Rough Rider, bold in everything he did, fought for what he believed in while preserving the animals and land he loved to hunt. Good Stewardship of what God gave us.

Ronald Reagan-I admire his ability to communicate to people on our terms about complicated issues.

Donald Trump-He put America first and genuinely loves our country. He could use a little Jack Smith in communicating to people but his policies where the best!

Honesty and integrity.

Integrity, transparency and accountability.

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

A conservative viewpoint is a way of life. It stands for independence, self reliance, and the government just needs to get out of our way. For most of us, God is first in our life. The bible teaches us to rely on God and do right in life. We believe that we can do what needs to be done and do not need hand outs or the work done for us. Keeping this in mind will drive policies that reward hard work and doing right and not punish it.

My will to fight. I will fight for our conservative values. I know what it's like to be in a fight and be losing but be unwilling to compromise your beliefs or what you stand for.

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

First and foremost, I am not a politician. For decades we have been sending the wrong people to Washington, DC who quickly forget who put them there and why. Then, their office becomes a career which was never the intent of our Founding Fathers. Next, getting reelected becomes their goal and their true purpose for being there gets lost but people keep voting them in and the cycle seems endless. That must change. I firmly I am that needed change. I've worked hard all my life and built successful businesses from the ground up. I've done it through blood, sweat and tears and perseverance. I'm far more like my constituents than the people they've been voting in for decades. I care. I can make a difference and, I'm not looking for a new career, I'm looking to make a difference.

To do what they say they they are going to do, and to place the interests of citizens in their district ahead of partisan politics.

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

Mt philosophy on the role of elected officials is simple; do the job you were hired to do, Represent We The People free of special influence and your own agenda. You're elected to be a voice for the many and to be a steward for good work that makes a positive difference in the lives of those you represent.

September 11th. I was fifteen years old at the time. It was the first time in my life that I truly understood that evil existed in this world and it gave me the motivation at a young age to do something about it.

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

Iran-contra affair with Col. Oliver North testifying is the first event I remember. I watched it on TV everyday that it was on. I was 12. Watching President Ronald Reagan handle the situation with grace and dignity, showed me how a statesman handles pressure. It also made me very aware of how events occurring in places around the globe, effected us locally.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Cleaning horse stalls out for Linda Fisher's horse farm at 12 was my first "paid" job. I also shingled houses at age 10, delivered papers around the same time, moved furniture in the summertime for United Van Lines around age 11 and mechanic work on motors-all with my dad and older brother. Then at 13, I got a job at the Windmill Restaurant, bussing tables. That was followed by working at filling stations, fast food restaurants, cattle ranches and farms from ages 14-18 to support myself after moving out.

The Bible. It spells out the pathway to salvation.

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

Lonesome Dove bc its Lonesome Dove

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is well with my soul

The U.S. House of Representatives is the "People's House". It should be made up of a diverse representation of the nation's citizens so that legislation is passed that benefits everyone.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

The U.S. House is the peoples chamber, it is truly a representative of America and her diverse people and their diverse interests.

It could be beneficial but it is absolutely not required. One issue politicians face is if they are not careful they become out of touch with society. A person with no political experience can come in and be the closest to the constituents they represent and do a far better job of representing them than a career politician.

I believe that today, more than ever, we need successful entrepreneurs who have worked and succeeded in the real world to seek public office. The lack of previous political experience in my opinion is a huge plus!

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Maybe.

I believe the greatest challenge facing the United States over the next decade will be competing with China on the global scale.

I believe we have three equally difficult challenges ahead over the next decade:

Challenge 1 - The future of Democracy and The Urban Rural Divide Urban cities have flourished as the U.S. economy has accelerated it's shift away from Agriculture and Manufacturing leaving rural America behind. This is a trend that undermines democracy and inflames the toxic political climate we now find ourselves

Challenge 2 - Shrinking the size of the Federal Government The true size of the Federal government (not including the military) has ballooned to over 11 million employees! While the government reports that there are only 2 million full-time federal employees, the government has been employing temporary and contract employees through grants and other back door funding schemes resulting in a tone-def, out of control bureaucracy that must be reigned in.

Challenge 3 - The Financial Apocalypse of Debt Is Looming The explosion of Federal debt is at risk of crippling our countries economy in the decades to come. No nation can spend in excess of it's income forever. More worrying is that the single largest source of borrowed money is the Social Security trust fund. We know already that the Federal government has no way to pay back in full the money's borrowed. There is a financial reckoning on the horizon that will not only challenge our way of life, but has potential to unleash a generational conflict between young and old as the funds for Social Security disappear.

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

Security-- Funding the police, military and securing our southern border.

Appropriations, Homeland Security, Budget

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Agriculture, Security and Judicial

Yes

Yes, although a house term that is four years in duration (instead of two), and limited to a maximum of two terms might be a better arrangement.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Yes

I believe all offices should either have term limits or age limits. If we will not institute term limits then the mandatory retirement age for federal office holders should be 62.

I unequivocally support term limits and have publicly promised that if elected, I will NOT serve more than three terms as a congressman.

I get asked that question every time I speak publicly to voters. We've had "term limits" since the founding of this great nation, it's called elections. If you don't like how your elected officials are performing, vote them out.

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

Mandatory term limits would be great to a certain extent and dangerous in others. There is already a provision in the Constitution for term limits, Vote.

Both sitting representatives 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?

No. I am my own person. I am used to showing up to dangerous places and solving problems. D.C. will be no different.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Yes, as a police officer I have heard many stories and spoken with many victim's who have each impacted me in a different way.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Young couple dies in a wreck on the way to get married. They get to the gates of haven and when St. Peter came out, they asked if they could get married in heaven. He told them to wait there and he would be back to let them know if they can. St. Peter comes back and says, "yes" you can get married here. The couple said, while you where gone we where thinking and wondered if we could get a divorce in heaven if it doesn't work out . St Peter said, look it took me three months to find a preacher up here how long do you think it will take me to find a LAWYER!.

I believe that compromising conservative principals and values is never acceptable as a member of Congress, however seeking common ground with an opposing party when it doesn't violate conservative principals should be encouraged.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Sometimes you have to compromise to work things out however you do not compromise fundamental principals.

I would fight to make sure the Constitution is protected. I will also vote for tax cuts.