North Carolina State Senate District 27 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 State Senate District 27 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for North Carolina State Senate District 27

Incumbent Michael Garrett defeated Richard Sessoms in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 27 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Garrett (D)	54.5	37,055
		Richard Sessoms (R)	45.5	30,932

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 67,987
= 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?

Richard Sessoms (R)

Zero tolerance for threats and violence. We need more school resource officers and support for the teachers who want to keep the classrooms safe.

We need to ensure that medical marijuana is implemented here in NC. I believe once this happens it will help with the opioid crisis.

North Carolina should stand for freedom, prosperity, and opportunity; the small business community reflects whether or not that is our reality.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Richard Sessoms (R)

All disabled veterans should have the property taxes of their primary residence reduced in proportion to their percentage of disability. We also must protect free enterprise and cut red tape from the municipalities to the state capitol.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

This is kind of a hard one for me because I have had so many good influences in my life. So the example I would like to set was passed down to me from my father. He always taught us to work hard, finish what you started, and to always do what is right.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

The Populist Guide to 2020.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

Truth, honesty, and being able to listen to your constituents.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

I believe that a politician needs to stand up for his or her constituents no matter what. It doesn't matter if it goes against their party or not because people come first.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

The first historical event that I can remember was the 1st Gulf War. I was in 1st grade at the time if I remember correctly.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

My first job was when I turned 16 and got a job at the Guilford County animal shelter helping clean kennels and taking care of dogs. I had that job for about 13 months before I moved on to another job.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Richard Sessoms (R)

I believe the governor should be the leader of the state while the legislature is there to keep him or her in check if need be.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

The biggest issue as a state that we have right now that cuts across party, ethnic, and classes is the housing issues affecting our state. We have a big issue right now due to people from across the US are flocking to the state and scooping up houses. This drives out long term residents and makes it hard for lower income people to find a place to live.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Richard Sessoms (R)

No benefits to this at all.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

No. I believe that anyone and everyone that wants to get involved should get involved then run for office. We have one of the best political systems in the world where anyone and everyone can run for a political office if they so shall choose.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

Yes, I do believe it is beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. That way it will help you when you need to get a bill that you are passionate about passed.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Richard Sessoms (R)

I would like a bipartisan commission to draw competitive districts.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

I don't have any specific committees that I would like to be involved with right now.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Richard Sessoms (R)

N/A

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

No.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

Possibly. I might want to run for US Congress in the future but that is a long ways off right now.

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?

Richard Sessoms (R)

Yes, this is in regards to the emergency declaration that we are still under at this point in time. So in April 2020 a friend of mine's gym got shutdown due to Covid19. Well a week later he got property tax bill in the mail from the county, and he called them to see if he could get it deferred until he opened back up to ensure that he had enough money in the bank. The county flat out told him that "It wasn't the county's fault for you being shut down because you still need to pay your property tax bill or risk a lien being put on your property". It is impactful to me because we as legislators need to be mindful of the people in this state when we sponsor and vote on bills that will affect our constituents.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

Yes.

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

Richard Sessoms (R)

Yes, compromise is necessary and desirable on most things in life on sensible policies. That way we can all work together for betterment of our constituents.

See also

More about these elections:

• North Carolina State Senate elections, 2022

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