Ryan Brown, candidate for NC Senate District 18

Name: Ryan Brown

Political party: Libertarian

Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 27

Campaign website: ryanbrownnc.org

Occupation: Cloud engineer

Education: Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Appalachian State University

Have you run for elected office before? No

Please list highlights of your civic involvement: I have done activism work in Gastonia, North Carolina, advocating against police brutality. I have also worked in Gastonia advocating for churches there to have the ability to care for the homeless without being stonewalled by the local governments. I also volunteer as much as possible with my church.

What are the three issues that you see as most important to your district and what will you do to address them?

1: Tax burden. 2: Education that has failed students. 3. Denied healthcare opportunities. 1: I would call for the repeal of the income tax in NC. I would repeal all business taxes. 2. I would call for the General Assembly to cease all spending to fund public education and remove all restrictions placed on schools. This will allow for a market to develop for schooling. 3: I would also repeal Certificate of Need laws in NC. CON laws create burden on healthcare providers and lead to monopolies.

At a time when costs are rising, state government has a surplus. How should it be used?

Government should reduce taxes and return all stolen tax money. Taxation is immoral. Taxing more than needed and keeping the money is worse than just taking it in the first place.

Will you vote for Medicaid expansion in North Carolina?

No.

What has the legislature gotten right, and what has it gotten wrong, about public education in North Carolina?

The North Carolina legislature has wrongly implemented restrictions on education in the state. They’ve continued a system of public education that allows for failure without consequences. They’ve maintained a tax system that prevents parents from easily sending their kids to private schools if wanted.

Should North Carolina change its abortion laws? How?

Abortion should be banned starting at some point during the first trimester.

Please add anything else voters should know about your position on the legality or availability of abortion in North Carolina.

Abortion is an incredibly difficult and unique problem. Anyone who claims to have a simple solution has not thought through it enough. A ban on abortions in a vacuum will work as well as the war on drugs or the war on guns. Abortion policies, implemented without other radical changes, will have little effect at all.

Should medical marijuana be legalized in North Carolina?

Yes.

What, if anything, should the legislature to do shape curriculum dealing with topics of race, sexuality and gender?

The state legislature should be out of the business of shaping curriculum completely. The state legislature should allow for any school to teach curriculum. This curriculum can be decided on by the administration, teachers and parents.

Do you accept the results of the 2020 presidential election?

Maybe.