"There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it." ~ Amanda Gorman

Issues

Strong Communities. Real Solutions. Focused on the Long Term.

“Our communities deserve leadership that listens and fights for them.”

I believe people should be able to live where they work, raise families close to home, and count on leadership that understands the realities of mountain communities.

Areas of Public Policy I’m Most Passionate About

I am most passionate about policies that strengthen rural communities and improve everyday

quality of life for families in western North Carolina. These include:

Healthcare and mental health access, especially in rural areas where services are limited and costs are high
Strong public schools and support for educators, including fair pay, student support services, and respect for local schools
Affordable housing, childcare, and living wages so working families can afford to stay in their communities
Disaster recovery and long-term resilience, ensuring that recovery efforts after events like Hurricane Helene actually reach local families and build back stronger
Economic stability for working families and small businesses, with workforce development that matches local needs
Accountable, transparent government that shows up, listens to constituents, and works across differences to get things done

My focus is on practical solutions that put people first, reflect rural realities, and

make government work better for the communities it serves.

Policy Issues Suzanne Prioritizes

Affordable Healthcare & Mental Health Services

In Western North Carolina, too many families struggle to access affordable healthcare and mental health services close to home. Long drives, long waitlists, and limited providers leave people without the care they need—especially in rural communities.

Suzanne has spent her career working with families, students, and educators to expand access to mental health care and build stronger support systems. She knows why it is important to fight for affordable healthcare and mental health services.

To accomplish these goals, we need a multi-pronged approach in the following areas:

- Supporting providers who serve rural communities
- Creating the medical infrastructure to sustain services
- We need to ensure that mental health care, including substance abuse treatment and recovery programs, are treated as essential—not optional.
Because when people get the care they need, communities are stronger.

Disaster Recovery & Environmental Resilience

Hurricane Helene didn’t just flood roads and homes—it disrupted lives, livelihoods, and entire communities. Long after the waters receded, many families are still dealing with repairs, insurance gaps, and uncertainty about the future.
Long-term flood recovery in Western North Carolina requires sustained investment beyond emergency response. Priorities include funding for housing repair and replacement, resilient infrastructure, floodplain and watershed management, and support for local governments navigating complex recovery programs.
The state must partner with local communities to pursue mitigation strategies that reduce repeat flooding, including infrastructure upgrades, land-use planning, and environmentally sound building practices that reflect mountain geography and climate realities.
Recovery shouldn’t be rushed or forgotten. We need leadership that stays engaged, helps cut through red tape, and makes sure recovery dollars actually reach the people who need them. That means standing up for rural mountain communities and making sure rebuilding is done right—not just fast.

Real Support for Working Families

Supporting working mountain families means making sure people can afford to live where they work. That includes access to affordable housing, affordable childcare, and wages that allow families to meet basic needs without leaving the community they call home. When families are stable, schools are stronger, local businesses thrive, and communities are more resilient.

In Western North Carolina, housing has become one of the biggest challenges facing working families. Teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, service workers, and young families are increasingly priced out of the communities where they work. When people can’t afford to live locally, schools struggle to hire, businesses lose workers, and families are forced to leave the mountains.
- Suzanne believes that housing policy should reflect the realities of rural mountain communities. That means focusing on workforce housing—homes that are affordable for people who already live and work here—rather than one-size-fits-all solutions designed for urban areas.
For many working families in Western North Carolina, access to affordable childcare is one of the biggest barriers to staying employed. When childcare is unavailable or unaffordable, parents—especially women—are forced to reduce hours, turn down jobs, or leave the workforce altogether.
- Suzanne believes childcare should be treated as essential infrastructure for working families and local economies. Supporting childcare providers and expanding access to affordable, high-quality care helps parents work, businesses keep employees, and communities remain strong.
A living wage isn’t just about workers—it’s about keeping local businesses and communities strong. When wages don’t keep up with the cost of housing, childcare, and basic needs, workers leave the area, turnover increases, and small businesses struggle to stay staffed.
- Suzanne believes that paying wages people can live on helps businesses retain experienced employees, reduces turnover costs, and strengthens the local economy. In rural communities, where the workforce is smaller and relationships matter, retention is especially important.

Strong Public Schools & Fair Pay for Educators

Strong public schools are the backbone of strong communities. If we want our children to succeed and our towns to thrive, we have to support the educators who make that possible. That means paying teachers and school staff a professional wage, reducing turnover, and making sure rural schools have the resources they need to serve students well.
In rural communities, schools are often the heart of the community. When we lose educators because pay isn’t sustainable, students suffer and families are pushed to look elsewhere. Supporting educators means keeping schools strong and communities intact.
North Carolina must invest in competitive educator pay and long-term support for public schools, particularly in rural districts. Raising teacher and staff salaries, addressing vacancy rates, increasing per pupil spending, and funding student support services are essential to improving educational outcomes and strengthening workforce readiness statewide.

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