Candidates running for NC Senate 21 seat offer views on topics

Democrat Frank McNeill and Republican Sen. Tom McInnis are competing for the North Carolina Senate District 21 seat currently held by Sen. Ben Clark, who is running for Congress. McNeill is the former mayor of Aberdeen, and McInnis currently serves as a senator in District 25

Below are the candidates' responses to a Fayetteville Observer questionnaire. Responses have been edited for style and grammar.

Tom McInnis

Name: Thomas M. McInnis

Age: 68

Immediate family: My wife is Janice McInnis. We have four children, one of which has passed.

Occupation: I am retired from the auction marketing business, but still active in real estate as a private investor and consultant. I am also an active tree farmer.

Elected office held: I am a past member of the Richmond County School Board. I served for approximately 8 years.

Contact: P.O. Box 3776, Pinehurst, NC 28374; McInnis for NC Senate on Facebook; McInnisfornc.com

What restrictions, if any, would you impose on abortion in North Carolina? If the pregnancy is ectopic, or if the fetus has died and its corpse could cause a deadly infection, or the pregnancy otherwise could severely injure or kill the mother, what language would you put into the statutes to ensure that doctors can terminate the pregnancy and save the mother's life without fear of being prosecuted? I believe that all life is precious, both unborn babies and their mothers. I believe that late-term abortion is immoral and should never happen. I do believe that there should be exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and when the fetus cannot survive outside of the womb.

When a bill to legalize medical marijuana goes before the General Assembly next year, would you support or oppose it, and why? I have voted on this issue in the past and since I do not know what the new bill will look like, I cannot take a position on this matter at this time. Upon the offering of a new bill, I will certainly give the matter serious thought and will give consideration to the wishes of my constituents.

If the Democratic governor and the Republican leaders who want Medicaid expansion are unable to make a deal for it this year, would you support or oppose doing it next year? What should the government do for lower-income workers and others who don't have health insurance because they can't afford to buy it on the open market and who are prohibited by federal law from buying it through Obamacare? I understand the importance of healthcare for all the citizens of North Carolina. I voted for Medicaid expansion in the last session and will continue to support the position that I have taken in the past.

Frank McNeill

Name: Frank McNeill

Age: 66

Immediate family: My wife, Susan, and I have three amazing daughters, Morgan, Meredith and Aubrey.

Occupation: President, McNeill Oil and Propane

Elected office held: Aberdeen Town Board 1979-89; Aberdeen mayor, 1989-92; Moore County School Board, 1998-2002.

Contact: frank@mcneillfornc.com; Twitter, @Frank4NC; facebook.com/votefrankmcneill

What restrictions, if any, would you impose on abortion in North Carolina? If the pregnancy is ectopic, or if the fetus has died and its corpse could cause a deadly infection, or the pregnancy otherwise could severely injure or kill the mother, what language would you put into the statutes to ensure that doctors can terminate the pregnancy and save the mother's life without fear of being prosecuted? I will oppose the extremist Republican agenda to enact a total ban on the freedom of women to make their own healthcare choices. My opponent, Tom McInnis, is backed by extremists that want to ban abortion and put women in jail who choose to have an abortion, even victims of rape or incest. I'll uphold Governor Cooper's veto of those dangerous bills, and instead push for policies to support young families. By focusing on solving the root of the problem, we can ensure abortions are safe, legal and rare.

When a bill to legalize medical marijuana goes before the General Assembly next year, would you support or oppose it, and why? I am disappointed my opponent, Tom McInnis, voted against a bill this session that would have narrowly legalized medical marijuana for serious health conditions. I listened to the dozens of hours of testimony from cancer patients and veterans who pleaded with lawmakers to give them an alternative to sickening opioids and treatments. No veteran should find themselves in a crack house just to buy something to alleviate their PTSD. Just as the state regulates the sale of alcohol, we can regulate the responsible distribution of medical marijuana.

If the Democratic governor and the Republican leaders who want Medicaid expansion are unable to make a deal for it this year, would you support or oppose doing it next year? What should the government do for lower-income workers and others who don't have health insurance because they can't afford to buy it on the open market and who are prohibited by federal law from buying it through Obamacare? I wholeheartedly support Medicaid expansion, and I'm disappointed in Republican legislative leaders for kicking the can down the road another year. With the transformation to managed care happening this year, nonpartisan state health officials have pleaded with lawmakers to expand Medicaid to take advantage of over a billion dollars in federal funds. My opponent, Tom McInnis, is a member of Senate leadership, and he owns this disaster. It is obvious to me that the only way we will ever expand Medicaid, provide affordable healthcare to thousands of workers, and support rural hospitals, is to elect a Democratic majority in the legislature.