Kat McDonald

Environment / Energy There is a better approach to housing affordability for North Carolina’s cities. A better approach is to focus on the freedom to create diverse housing types and expand opportunity. A better approach is to return us to a time when neighborhoods were more resilient and adaptable. A better approach is to allow growth to occur that makes commutes shorter, contributes less to urban sprawl and does more to protect our environment. Economy Wake County is thriving because of the energy, enthusiasm, forward-thinking, and hard work of our diverse small businesses. I want to encourage and stimulate that growth, not stifle it. Economy Conventional school policy drives districts, schools and teachers into solutions governed by politics and bureaucracy. It does not promote more personalized and effective learning environments or curricula. It holds back students wanting deeper academic challenges. It does not adequately serve children with special learning needs. When politicians and public agencies play a larger role in shaping educational policy than students or families, we do not prepare those students for a diverse society or a dynamic economy. Education North Carolina can promote a dynamic, future-oriented educational system based on choice. Students and families need choices among diverse, robust approaches. They need choices that promote high quality and responsive educational environments. They need choices tailored to the needs of individual students and the future they face. With these choices, we can achieve outstanding education policy for a better North Carolina. Education State education policy directly impacts the lives of North Carolina’s 1.8 million K-12 students. Spending on education represents nearly 9.8 billion of our state budget. Our approach to education policy is vitally important to students, families, educators and taxpayers. The decisions being made by legislators and state agencies today—and the availability of the best public schools, charter schools, private schools and tech learning centers—will determine if students will be college and career ready tomorrow. Education Libertarians want to contribute to a free, peaceful and prosperous North Carolina where every individual has the opportunity to pursue their unique vision of a rewarding and enriching life. Libertarians care about education. We care about the environment. We care about healthcare. We care about equality and the rights of marginalized people. We care about your ability to make decisions about your money and your labor. Education There is a better approach to cultivating opportunities for North Carolina’s students, families and educators. This better approach focuses on the freedom to access options for student success. It includes the freedom to reward engaged teachers and develop innovative instruction. And it allows for the freedom to enhance quality and performance while responsibly controlling cost. Education North Carolina can promote a housing affordability plan focused on equitable opportunity for everyone. Students and families need choices among diverse, robust housing options that meet their needs. We need to consider options that don’t tax current residents out of their homes. We need to understand that a renter, young family or retiree should not be pushed out. Cities must be permitted to grow and adapt in ways that make them robust, walkable, diverse, and inclusive. With this approach, we can create a housing affordability policy for a better North Carolina. Housing More freedom for parents to choose what’s best for their children, more opportunities for our small businesses, less regulation, and greater school and housing choice.