Candidate Vetting Interview Summary-Bob Hunter, NC Court of Appeals Judge

Interview questions were developed by a Vetting Committee of 10 members of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association. All candidates for a particular office were asked the same questions. Interviews were conducted by 3 rotating members of the Vetting Committee. Summaries are the agreed-upon consensus of each 3-member group. Candidates were asked to interview in-person, but phone interviews were offered for candidates living outside Craven County if schedules would not allow travel.
Name, Candidate Position: Bob Hunter, NC Court of Appeals Judge
Interview Date: 10-11-16
Party Affiliation: Republican
Interviewed: On Phone
Name:  Bob Hunter
Phone:  919-801-9799
Email:  bobhunterforjudge@gmail.com
Address:  P.O. Box 12384, Raleigh, NC, 27605
Educational Background:
I graduated from Greenville High School. I have a BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1969), a law degree from UNC law school (1973), and an LLM (master’s) law degree from Duke (2014).
Experience:
Court of Appeals Judge (elected in 2008).
Licensed to practice law in both federal and state courts for more than 40 years.
Conducted a broad general private practice serving diverse clients in business law, estates, real property, securities law, and debtor-creditor relations.
 Demonstrations of Leadership:
Recognized by NC Advocates for Justice as the Outstanding Appellate Judge of the year.
Served on BarCares (an organization that cares for lawyers with psychological problems).
Chaired the NC Board of Elections.
Served as Deputy Attorney General
Memberships and Associations:
Republican Party
First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro
Contributes to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Morehead City
NC Bar Association
American Bar Association
Why are you running for this office?
I ran initially to devote my older years to public service. I believe in giving back to citizens.
What is the organizational structure of your campaign, fund raising capability, etc.?
You’re talking to him. (This comment was accompanied by a chuckle.)
Which of the Founding Fathers do you most admire?
George Washington.
Why?
He had the opportunity to be a monarch and turned it down.
Margaret Thatcher once said, “Consensus is a lack of leadership.” Do you agree?
I don’t know if I agree or disagree.
It can be. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.
Why or why not?
Well, think of when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. There was a consensus that we needed to fight back.
Doing nothing is a lack of leadership.
Which President do you most admire?
Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan equally.
Why?
Both in their own way saved our union. The country was in real danger of breaking apart when they were elected. Both were farm boys from the mid-west, and they both had a lot of practical sense.
Do you believe the Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be:
            a. An evolving document whose meaning changes with time, or
            b. A permanent set of rules to limit the power of the federal government?
I don’t have a strong belief either way. If I had to choose, I’d say the second.
Discuss an ethical dilemma you faced. What happened? How did you resolve it?
It happens rarely, but sometimes I’ll have a conflict between what the law says and what my religious beliefs are. When that happens, I generally recuse myself.
Where do individual rights come from?
God.
What do you know about Common Core? What is your position on it and why?
Nothing.
What is your position on it and why?
I try to leave the education of children to their parents.
What is your opinion on gun ownership, registration, and gun free zones?
The 2nd Amendment covers it.
What does the phrase “Separation of Church and State” mean to you?
It means the Anglican Church doesn’t get a check from the government. In truth, it means no church gets a check from the government.
If elected, what would be your number one priority item during your term in office?
To be fair and write clear opinions.
This interview was conducted by Kathryn Blankley, Hal James, and Raynor James.
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