Freshman North Carolina state Sen. Val Applewhite, a Democrat, will face Republican Semone Pemberton and Libertarian Steven Swinton in the race for the Senate District 19 seat.
Senate District 19 encompasses most of the population and land area of Cumberland County, including the rural areas on the northern, southern and eastern sides, plus Hope Mills and portions of Fayetteville.
Swinton did not respond to the Observer’s candidate questionnaire. Applewhite’s and Pemberton’s answers are below. Some responses may have been edited for style and grammar.
Val Applewhite
Immediate family: Two adult children
Occupation: Real estate
Elected office held: Three terms on the Fayetteville City Council, 2007-2013
The N.C. Senate has passed a bill in support of medical marijuana, but the state House has not followed suit. Do you think the state should pass medical marijuana? Why or why not? Do you see a time where recreational use would pass, and is it something you would support?
I voted in support of Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, I believe it is time North Carolina passes medical marijuana. My district is home to Fort Liberty, where many disabled veterans live and suffer from chronic pain due to their service. During my campaign, veterans repeatedly expressed the need for medical marijuana as an alternative treatment for pain management. As a disabled veteran myself, I understand firsthand the challenges of managing pain. This bill was an opportunity for the state to take meaningful action to support our veterans beyond words of gratitude. While the bill has not yet passed the NC House, I remain hopeful that it will in the next session. As for recreational marijuana, I don’t foresee it becoming law in the near future, and it is not something I would support at this time. My priority is ensuring we address the immediate healthcare needs of those who need it most, particularly our veterans.