North Carolina House of Representatives District 88 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in North Carolina, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 88 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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Candidates and election results

General election

General election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 88

Incumbent Mary Belk defeated Anne Peacock in the general election for North Carolina House of Representatives District 88 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Belk (D)	69.3	19,020
		Anne Peacock (R)	30.7	8,438

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 27,458
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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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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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?

Anne Peacock (R)

Education Reform & Parents Rights. Your tax dollars should follow your child to the school you believe will be the most beneficial for your child. Parents are the final authority on all matters concerning their children and should have free and open access to review any material being used to educate their child.

Small Government & Individual Freedom. No government should be able to deem which businesses are “essential,” nor force unwanted medical treatments on anyone without an individualized court order. Vague “emergency powers” used by officials must be eliminated, and officials who abused their powers held accountable.

Fair, Secure, and Transparent Elections. Protect the right of all law-abiding citizens to cast a vote for candidates of their choice. Reform State Election law to make registering to vote and voting simple, while mandating that votes are accurately counted in a transparent and open-to-the-public process. Utilize a voter ID solution that enhances election security while not burdening the right to vote and conduct a state-wide clean-up of our voter rolls.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Anne Peacock (R)

I am most passionate about: education, the economy, scope of government power, and ensuring fair and transparent elections.

The recent inflation is hurting NC families and small business, and it was totally avoidable. North Carolina needs to pursue policies to counter-act the disastrous economic choices made in Washington. The state government needs to move quickly and react to high gas and food prices by immediately lowing state taxes, as one example. Also must reduce useless and costly state regulations on small and family businesses, and improve our highway infrastructure so we can travel safely and fuel-efficiently.

Americans see how drastically our government abused its power during COVID. The rights given to all people by the Holy Bible and Constitution are non-negotiable – even in emergencies. We’ve had the CDC manipulate information and change the definition of vaccination, while state and local officials abdicated their duty to use independent judgment, instead mandating rules that didn’t even help! The government should not get to redefine anything unless the people vote for it, and the laws that allowed for over-reach must be changed.

Because of nationwide problems in 2020, NC officials must conduct a full statewide voter-roll audit to restore confidence in our elections. Also, NC voters approved voter ID in 2018, and it is still in court. I want to find solutions that will protect elections and help all citizens vote if they want to.

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

Anne Peacock (R)

Today, I look up to my Heavenly Father, my Dad, and the American Founders.

It wasn’t until adulthood that I realized how important they are to me. I didn’t understand how wise my Dad was until after he passed. A Vietnam Vet, he died young at 51 from exposure to Agent Orange during his service. I grew up knowing my Dad was honorable and kind. He was incredibly knowledgeable – sometimes too knowledgeable! I’d ask him for the time and end up in a discussion on how watches were made. But what impacted me most was his moral compass. One day in the 1980s, when I was a teenager, he was clearly distressed. Mom told me he was under a lot of pressure at work. He had promoted an elderly black woman, and many did not approve. Despite them, he promoted her because she was the best choice.

I have many memories of him making the right decision regardless of what others thought, and his moral compass helped him carry the weight of hard times. It wasn’t until my 30’s that I saw how his example guided me in my life. My father was a leader, and though flawed, he showed me how to be a leader without me even realizing it. Because of his example, I have tried to do the right thing, even if there was backlash. I still follow his example, and try to do the right thing, even when it is unpopular. But, I have also given into others’ opinions because it was easier, and it was only through my faith in God and my relationship with Jesus that I have been able to stand fully upright for my Christian values. God calls us to act justly, and I am grateful my Dad showed me what that looks like.

I also admire the men and women who founded our country. Many of them were so young when they risked everything, and that has inspired me to get involved and carry our liberties and Constitution forward just like they did. Their example helps me take my civic duties very seriously as a citizen, veteran, and hopefully, as a State Representative.

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

Anne Peacock (R)

My integrity and commitment to serving God are my two most valuable qualities. Because I have strong principles and morals, and the courage to stand firm and make decisions based on those morals, I can quickly build trust with others so we can work together to accomplish big things. My moral integrity means I have the strength to hold leaders accountable for their actions regardless of how hard it is. I do not get distracted by my emotions or outside influences.

I want to emphasize that if you lack integrity, you lack an essential quality for an elected official. If I can’t trust an official to tell me what their values are, and how those values will protect my God-given liberties, then there is no way you are qualified to be an elected official. All the other skills that make an effective Representative can be learned, but character and values can’t.

Other important qualities I have are bravery, selflessness, civility, and a love of learning. As a retired combat veteran, I’ve already shown I am willing and able to face danger for our country and its values. My faith and military service also taught me how to put others needs ahead of my own. My background in communications means I know how to represent others accurately and communicate ideas clearly. My life coaching skills means I know how to actively listen with honest intentions. Communications also helps me engage in spirited but respectful debate, so I can work with others to find solutions to the many problems we currently face. My love of learning means that I work hard to understand both history and the law, so I am prepared to help contribute solutions without violating citizens’ rights.

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

Anne Peacock (R)

I believe the most important thing for all legislators is to uphold the U.S. and State Constitutions and ensure our individual God-given liberties remain intact. Most people know State Legislators create laws, appropriate funds to determine where tax dollars are spent, and determine how much taxes will be, but I believe the oversight role of the State Legislature is as important as any of the other three. State Legislators must act to ensure current laws are enforced, and that the governor and state judges follow the law and State Constitution – even impeaching a governor or judge if necessary. A State Representative must stay in touch with their district constituents, listen to their concerns, and help citizens contact and work with State agencies to resolve issues when needed. To create proper new laws Legislators must also stay fully informed on current events. Events dictate what issues are most concerning to citizens and staying on top of events helps Legislators be prepared to deal with problems as they emerge. I think a contributing factor to the COVID mess was because both State and Federal Legislators were not properly following all the science and a lack of sound on-going discernment led to the use of vague ‘emergency’ declarations that stripped citizens of their most fundamental rights, like the right to worship. Legislators were being directed by non-elected officials of organizations like the CDC and FDA, which under its original intention is a great ‘tool’ for elected officials; but because legislative bodies did not fully exercise their ability to uphold Constitutional liberties, ongoing emergency declarations continued to strip citizens of their rights. State Legislators must exercise all their elected responsibilities and have the courage to defend the Constitution and the citizens they represent regardless of how unsettling the time.

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

Anne Peacock (R)

Previous experience can help performance, but I think it is more important to have the right character traits and outside experience. The right traits and outside skill set will allow a leader to fall in and serve in any capacity. One valuable skill that successful legislators need is some prior leadership experience, since that helps develop networking skills, teaches you how to build and manage teams, and understand the value of compromise. It will also help you develop the ability to accomplish tasks under difficult circumstances, and how to get high-value projects done on time and under budget. I think a lot of what an effective legislator needs in terms of skills is learned when they campaign – especially as a challenger to an incumbent. First-time candidates and challengers must become very good at working with volunteers, and you build valuable skills knocking on doors, making phone calls, and talking to voters. You learn to understand when people are open to discussion and compromise, and when they aren’t. I believe face-to-face experience with volunteers and voters is much more useful than prior office holding, because staying in close contact with citizens and their concerns is one of the most important skills a legislator can have.

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

Anne Peacock (R)

I’ve most recently been inspired by Noah Webster. He is famous for publishing the Webster Dictionary, and he also served several terms in the Connecticut Legislature.

Noah was a significant influence on men like Washington, Franklin, and Hamilton - and he was 15 years younger! He also wrote a spelling and grammar book that helped introduce students to American history, civics, and patriotism for the first one hundred years of our national existence. His legislative career was only a small part of his life, and I think that’s how public service should be.

One quote of his that has stuck with me is, “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of [our] government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or the incompetent will be appointed to execute the laws: the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.”

I find comfort and a lot of wisdom in Webster’s quote, and I know I will continue to lean into my faith and draw on God’s strength to do what must be done in my public service. The religious and moral principles founders like Webster used to guide their actions are why I would model myself after leaders like Webster. After all, Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Anne Peacock (R)

An “Emergencies Act” is a necessary law but there needs to be extensive oversight from the legislative body when these laws are used, and accountability for the officers who exercise power improperly. Governor Cooper has abused citizens’ rights by continuing the statewide emergency order when there is clearly no longer any emergency. Cooper has said he won’t end the order because, “…it’s a legal tool we are using to provide the flexibility that’s needed…,” and has stated he won’t end the emergency order until legislators pass new laws that grant him this ‘flexibility’ continuously. The abuse of power the Governor used in this example is exactly why new safeguards on the state's Emergencies Act must be exercised and immediately put in place. I would like to amend the Emergency Management Act to limit the amount of time a declaration can cover and require that extensions of emergency orders require the approval of the State Legislature, so the people’s representatives have ultimate control. We need to re-examine the powers given to local governments under vague health laws and ensure they don’t allow for abuse of citizens’ civil liberties. State Legislators are duty bound to protect the liberties of citizens and I believe that doing so requires a thorough reform of the North Carolina Emergency Management Act, since it is too open to abuse as it is now written.

See also

More about these elections:

• North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2022

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