Vetting interview with Michael Speciale, Republican Candidate for reelection to NC House of Representatives, District 3

Interviewed by Mary Griswold, Bob Griswold, Hal James, and Raynor James
     1. How do you want to be contacted?
     By email (michael.speciale@ncleg.net) or via my website at michaelspeciale.com.
     2. Your educational background, experience and demonstrations of leadership.
     Associate’s degree in business & operations management. Basic Law Enforcement Training Certification (BLET). Fellow of the NC Institute of Political Leadership (NCIOPL). Twenty years’ service in the Marine Corps. Former TREA Associate Director for Cherry Point.  Former CCTA Chairman. Former Craven County Republcian Party Chairman. Six years as a member of the NC House of Representatives.
     3. Membership and associations.
     CCTA [Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association], the Republican Party, NRA (life member), TREA (The Retired Enlisted Association) life member.
     4. Why are you running for office?
     Before I ran, all I heard was excuses. I wanted to find out if you could go to Raleigh and keep your promises — if it could be done. It can. Sometimes you have to take small bites and can’t get everything you want at one time, but you can make progress. I’m proud of what we’ve done, but I have more in the hopper I want to do. That’s why I want to go back.
     5. As a representative of Coastal North Carolina, what is your stance on regulation of recreational and commercial fishing?
     I support both commercial and recreational fishing. Right now, the emphasis is on protecting commercial fishing from being a dying industry because the state has entertained bills that would be detrimental to commercial fishing. I have been the prime opposition to those types of bills.
     6. Would you support a ban on Sharia Law or any other foreign law in America?
     Yes, and I was a primary sponsor of a bill that does just that for North Carolina, and it passed and is now in effect. The law does not specifically mention Sharia Law, but it bans foreign law in our courts.
     7. What place does God have in public schools?
     There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits God in our public schools. When public schools were started, reading and writing were taught by using the Bible. Our Constitution is short because everything else is in the Bible. Biblical values were universally accepted when our country was founded.
     8. Should high school students be taught our founding history and the details of the U.S. Constitution?
     Yes, and the NC legislature passed a law mandating it. Unfortunately, the school system is skirting the law by saying that students got it in grade school, so we may have to pass another law that requires our founding history and the U.S. Constitution to be taught in the freshmen and sophomore years when they’re most likely to remember it.
     9. Would you support a law to remove requirements for a “Certificate of Need?”
     Yes, and I have. That was one of my primary objectives when I first got elected. Unfortunately, it’s a Gordian knot, so I’m working to get rid of it a piece at a time.
     10. What is your position on gun registration, gun free zones, and concealed carry laws?
     I have been a primary sponsor of every gun bill that has been proposed since I’ve been in the General Assembly. The 2nd Amendment should be your concealed carry permit. I plan to continue working on a bill that’s as close to Constitutional carry as we can get the votes to pass.
     11. Do you support border security, including the wall, and better controlled immigration?
     Of course.
     12. So you support picture ID requirements for voting?
     Of course.
     13. What is your view on nullification and interposition?
     I’ve introduced nullification bills, but Skip Stam was Speaker Pro-Tem, and leadership did not advance the bill.
     14. If elected, what is your number one priority?
     To continue the work we’ve started — especially to do with job opportunities and improvements in our education system. I’m proud of the work we’ve done, but there’s more to do.
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