Dear Residents of NC House District 82,
In the wake of the US Supreme Court's Kelo decision, and considering Jeff Barnhart's effort to get Quick Take enacted for Cabarrus County by the North Carolina Legislature, the property rights of the average citizen in Cabarrus County are threatened. The practice of eminent domain should be severely restricted. No government entity should ever be allowed to take one person's private property and give it to another private interest, just for greater tax revenues to be realized. That is not acceptable in the Republic the founding fathers gave us. It is more like socialism. It is time the average citizens of Cabarrus County had someone to go to Raleigh to represent them, and stand up for their property rights, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
In addition, we need annexation reform. The people who would be affected by an annexation should be allowed to vote on the proposal, requiring a supermajority to approve their annexation. There should never be any forced annexation, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
Economic development may be a worthy pursuit; but not when it burdens the average citizen with enormous tax increases to pay for incentives to be given to wealthy businessmen who really can do without them. I would oppose all incentive programs, and seek to lower the tax burden for all, including local businesses, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
I do not agree with Jeff Barnhart that in-state tuition should be granted to illegal aliens. I do feel that those who enter our country in accordance with the law should be treated more fairly than they some times are. However, those who have come in illegally have already committed a crime, and should be deported. They should not be allowed to prosper or benefit from breaking our immigration laws.
The family is the most basic unit of human society. I support passage of an amendment to the State Constitution, declaring that marriage can only be the union of one man and one woman. We need to do all we can to encourage and strengthen the family. The right to life must be defended from conception until natural death. Parents should be acknowledged and respected as having the first responsibility and authority over their children's discipline and instruction. Their right to teach their children about faith and values should be respected throughout all entities of our government, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
Without the right to keep and bear arms, the people have no way to preserve their freedom. As an NRA member, I will stand for that right without fail, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
While I have never smoked cigarettes, and do not wish to encourage anyone else to do so, adults have the right to decide for themselves whether they will smoke. The smoking ban sponsored by Jeff Barnhart, passed by the Legislature, and signed into law by Governor Bev Perdue, is a violation of the people's rights. Business owners should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to allow or ban smoking at their establishments. It is not the government's place to make that decision. I would seek to repeal the smoking ban, not because I want people to smoke, but because I respect the right of adults to make such decisions for themselves, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
These are just a few of the concerns which have led me to run for the 82nd District seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. I would appreciate your support and your vote in the Republican primary on May 4, 2010. My only motivation in seeking this office is to serve the people, protecting their rights from unwarranted government interference, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
Unlike the incumbent, if I am elected, I will seek to be accessible to the people of the 82nd District. I anticipate holding frequent town hall style meetings to listen to the people and find out what their needs and concerns are, so that I will have a better idea how to represent them, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE MATTER.
Sincerely,
Larry G. Pittman
Candidate for NC House District 82
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