Steve Hale (North Carolina)

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

Steve Hale

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1971 - 1976

Personal

Birthplace

Richmond, Va.

Contact

Campaign website

Steve Hale (Republican Party) ran for election to the Wake County Board of Commissioners to represent District 3 in North Carolina. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

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

Biography

Hale was born in Richmond, Virginia. He studied at Wake Technical College and North Carolina State University but did not graduate. In his work as a private investigator, he has successfully completed over 200 court-appointed first-degree murder investigations for the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services. He served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1976.

Hale has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• American Legion
• Fraternal Order of Police

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Wake County, North Carolina (2020)

General election

General election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 3

Maria Cervania defeated Steve Hale in the general election for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Maria Cervania (D)	60.6	364,737
		Steve Hale (R)	39.4	237,605

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 602,342
= 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

Democratic primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 3

Maria Cervania defeated Audra Killingsworth in the Democratic primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 3 on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Maria Cervania	59.9	96,495
	Submit photo	Audra Killingsworth	40.1	64,558

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 161,053
= 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.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Steve Hale advanced from the Republican primary for Wake County Board of Commissioners District 3.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Steve Hale completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hale'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 lived in Wake County all of my life. I was attended all Wake County Public Schools, including Wake Technical Community College and NC State. I am a graduate of the North Carolina Justice Academy.

Privileged to have served in the US Army in Europe during the cold war, was a member of the Wake County Sheriff's Office for 26 years retiring as a Detective Lieutenant of the homicide unit.

I am a North Carolina licensed private investigator and work as a criminal defense investigator in court appointed capital murder cases throughout North Carolina.

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 am a physical conservative and will work to moderate county spending and tax increases.
• I advocate paying for government services as we go and not borrow money. Our current debit is $2.5 billion. The annual payments on this debit is $295 million, $98 million of that is interest alone.
• Education is the driving force of our economy. I will work to ensure our businesses and industry has an educated work force to chose from.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about Public safety and mental health. Without a safe environment business can not grow. Mental health is an increasing problem in our communities. Mental health struggles can make economic success all but impossible.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The county commission is the oldest form of county government in American. The county commission acts as both the executive and legislative body, enacting and administering local ordinances.

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

Conservative Heroes: Fourteen Leaders Who Shaped American by Garland Tucker III.

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

Honesty, integrity, leadership ability, and a commitment to serve the needs of others.

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

Empathy, compassion, kindness, and toughness of spirit necessary to do the right thing.

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

Recognize the fiduciary responsibility commissioner have to taxpayers. This office must have public trust that monies collected and spent in their name will be done wisely.

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

Working in tobacco fields during summer vacations. I worked on farms from age 14 until I obtained a driver's license which allowed me to drive into Raleigh for work after high school classes. I have never been unemployed since age 14.

What is your favorite book? Why?

A Bright Shining Lie by LTC John Paul Vann. It reveales the truth of the Vietnam War. My generation was forged by this war and the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

This book details the incompetance and dishonesty of the South Vietnamese Army and the nightmare that followed the arrival of US Forces

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

Any super hero really. I always felt like first responders were like superman. Coming to the aid of anyone in crisis.

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

Sissy Strut by the Meters

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

County commissioners' duties include serving as the governing body for the entire county, overseeing the budget, setting the tax rate, zoning and planning, promoting growth, and determining the strategic vision and direction of the county.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, but more important is a dedication to your community, passion for public service, and of course the ability to devote the time required to serve.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Budgeting and the ability to prioritize action items coming before the board. Also an understanding of how public policy effects the community.

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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