Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg P.O. Box 16550 • Charlotte, N.C. 28297 info@ bpc-charlotte.org • www.bpc-charlotte.org

2012 Primary Election Questionnaire Candidate: Website:

Paul M. Brown

Office Sought: BOCC At-Large Email:

[email protected]

Please provide clear and concise responses based on the office and level of government that you are seeking. 1. Why are you seeking elected office? My name is Paul M. Brown, and I am seeking elected office in Mecklenburg County because our people need a “Fresh Voice, New Leadership” in office in 2012. 2. What are the primary functions of the office that you are seeking? The primary functions of the Mecklenburg County Commissioner At-Large is to adopt annual County budget, set county property tax rate, establish priorities on many community needs, especially those related to health, education, welfare, mental health, and the environment. 3. Identify the three (3) most important issues relevant to the office you are seeking? What is/will your strategy be for addressing them? 1.) Improving the education issue that CMS is facing. Provide the funding to keep those teachers that improve and care for our youth in the classrooms. 2.) The economy and the high rate of unemployment. Look at only the education factors that disqualify an individual, but also the issue of negative criminal background history, which follows that individual for the rest of his/her life. Work with law makers in changing the current expungement law. Thirdly, the issue of providing the best care for our senior citizens and veterans in our county. Provide programs to ensure that our veterans, who have served for our country, is given the opportunity to employment in the civilian world. More programs to assist the needs of our senior citizens. 4. What do you feel is the responsibility of elected officials to educate their constituency on issues that come before them and to understand the concerns of their constituency? How do you or will you fulfill that responsibility?

Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Our elected officials are responsible for educating our constituents on certain issues that will affect them not only today, but years down the road. The importance of voicing your views within your community, and being more proactive into the growth of your community. County Commissioners should be involved in community meetings on a regular basis, not being a politician, but a Public Servant. 5. What are your views on the boundaries between religion and government? Religion is very important to me, but shouldn’t be a factor into the decision-making process of the people that we serve.

a. What role does/will your faith or values play in creating public policy or making appointments? My faith will not play into the decision-making process if elected into office. 6. Where do you stand on efforts to impose a requirement for photo identification in order to vote in North Carolina? I am against photo identification, especially this close to election. This will disqualify lots of people who may have problem obtaining a photo I.D. 7. Are you For or Against Amendment One? Why? I am against Amendment One, because we start dealing with rights provided to us within the Constitution. 8. The living standards of our children and our grandchildren’s generation depend on investments we make today that pay off in future productivity later. Balancing the priorities of investment and fiscal restraint: b. Identify three (3) areas where the government should spend money today? More money should be spent on CMS, Improving our economy, by providing incentive to business, so that they can provide pay wages that is consistent with the cost of living in our county.3.Safety within our community. c. Identify three (3) areas where the government should cut spending today? That is a hard issue without getting information from our citizens on priority in our community.

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