To help inform voters in the Nov. 5, 2024, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
Name: Tricia Cotham
Birth date (month, day and year): 11/26/1978
Campaign website or social media page: TriciaCotham.net
Occupation: Small business owner
Education: UNC Chapel Hill, BA and Masters of Education Administration
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
North Carolina State House 2007-2016, North Carolina State House 2022-2024, Candidate for U.S. House District 12 2016
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
-Teacher of the year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2002
-Small business owner
-National championship basketball coach
-Most influential women in Charlotte
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and most of the county’s towns are on board with draft legislation to get permission from the legislature for a sales tax referendum to pay for public transit and other transportation. If elected, would you support a bill that allows the sales tax increase to appear on the ballot? Why or why not?
Editors’s note: The answer provided by the candidate mostly addresses a plan under consideration to add toll lanes to a stretch of Interstate 77 in Mecklenburg County via a public-private partnership. That plan is separate from the legislation referenced in the survey question , which concerns a possible sales tax increase to fund other transportation projects. Cotham’s full answer is below:
The Town of Matthews and Mecklenburg County did NOT approve the recent ask from the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Region Transportation and Planning Organization (CRTPO) to move the project forward. I do not support this toll road project at this time. The Town of Matthews had invested time and funds into being a part of it, then suddenly they were out. From what I understand, CATS’ ridership has decreased about 50% while the funding has increased close to the same amount. Uptown commercial vacancies are at a critical high of about 22%. Remote working has changed and will continue to change our needs for transportation. Transportation is critical but also the work to make it happen to benefit our residents needs to be more inclusive. More elected officials need to be included to better represent the people. The public needs to understand more about the details as well as corporate partners and other centers of influence. We need more information and collaboration.
In North Carolina, abortion is banned after 12 weeks. State politicians, including gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, have said they want to restrict abortion even further. Do you support the state’s current abortion restrictions, and what is your approach to legislating issues related to reproductive health?
I’m running to continue my work on education, taxes and public safety, not because of abortion. It’s important to state the facts instead of my opponents’ lies. After extensive review, I decided the legislation represented a good faith compromise. Under this law, women have access in the first trimester, when the vast majority occur. Women continue to be protected in the event of a miscarriage. IVF and birth control are fully protected. The bill provided millions to support women and their children.
What would you say is the biggest issue facing your constituents, and what would you do to address it if elected?
More than ever families are dealing with increasing crime and public safety concerns for their children and their elderly relatives. Crime is increasing in Charlotte, which is why I proudly voted to require sheriffs to work with federal officials when detaining illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes.
Inflation has been affecting everyone for the last couple of years and is a common conversation among neighbors. I worked across the aisle to pass a balanced budget and cut state income taxes by over 40% so people in District 105 can keep more money in their pocket.
While violent crime rates are decreasing nationwide they are growing in large North Carolina cities like Charlotte and Raleigh. How would you tackle the issue of rising violent crime rates and what do you believe is the legislature’s role when it comes to public safety?
I have worked to pass common sense legislation to keep our communities safe, such as voting to require sheriffs to work with federal officials when detaining illegal immigrants charged with violent crimes. I passed bipartisan legislation to make it harder for repeat offenders charged with violent crimes to be released. Public safety is very important to me which is why I have fought for monumental funding for multiple police departments within my district.
While inflation has slowed, rising prices continue to concern North Carolina residents. How will you ensure your constituents are able to afford basic necessities like health care, food and housing?
Just this legislative biennium I passed bipartisan legislation to cut state income taxes by over 40% to help address the rising cost of living. I will continue to advocate for balanced budgets that keep taxes low and government spending under control.
Is there any policy by your party that you disagree with?
It is healthy to disagree with your own party, and I have shown that it is something I am not afraid to do. I am an independent thinker who focuses on results, not rhetoric. This includes actively working across the aisle and building relationships to find bipartisan solutions. I joined the Republican Party in part because they are a big tent party that supports various viewpoints. I know there are issues, such as climate change, that my approach is different from some Republicans. But I always believe there is common ground to be found where Republicans and Democrats can work together for the betterment of our state and country.
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