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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Valerie P. Foushee is a Democratic member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing District 23. Foushee is running for re-election in the primary on May 8, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

She was first appointed to the chamber on September 13, 2013, to replace Ellie Kinnaird, who resigned to work in grassroots advocacy.

Foushee was an administrative services supervisor before retirement.

Education

  • BA, Political Science/Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Professional Experience

  • BA, Political Science/Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Former Employee, Chapel Hill Police Department

Political Experience

  • BA, Political Science/Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Former Employee, Chapel Hill Police Department
  • Senator, North Carolina State Senate, District 23, 2013-present
  • Candidate, North Carolina State Senate, District 23, 2018, 2020
  • Chair, Board of Commissioners, Orange County, 2008-2010
  • Member, Board of Commissioners, Orange County, 2004-2010
  • Member, Board of Education, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, 1997- 2004
  • Chair, Board of Education, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, 2001-2003

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Appropriations/Base Budget Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Information Technology Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Former Member, Judiciary I Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology

Member, Commerce and Insurance

Member, Courts Commission

Member, Education/Higher Education

Member, Health Care

Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Local Government

Member, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services

Member, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and North Carolina Health Choice

Member, Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee

Member, Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform

Member, Select Committee on Nominations

Member, State and Local Government

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BA, Political Science/Afro-American Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Former Employee, Chapel Hill Police Department
  • Senator, North Carolina State Senate, District 23, 2013-present
  • Candidate, North Carolina State Senate, District 23, 2018, 2020
  • Chair, Board of Commissioners, Orange County, 2008-2010
  • Member, Board of Commissioners, Orange County, 2004-2010
  • Member, Board of Education, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, 1997- 2004
  • Chair, Board of Education, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, 2001-2003
  • Member, Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate, present
  • Member, Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of Eastern Piedmont, present
  • Member, First Baptist Church, present
  • Member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch, present
  • Member, Randolph Chapter #185 Order of the Eastern Star, present
  • Member, Triangle Park Chapter, the Links, Incorporated, present
  • Former Church School Superintendent, First Baptist Church
  • Board Chair, Marian Jackson Center
  • Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance
  • Member, University of North Carolina Board of Visitors, 2011-2015
  • Member, Board of Directors, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 2009-2012
  • Member, Board of Directors, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, 2008-2012
  • Member, Board of Directors, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, 2011-2012
  • Member, Board of Directors, Orange County Social Services, 2004-2012
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Durham Technical Community College, 2008-2012
  • President, North Carolina Association of Black County Officials, 2010-2012
  • Chair, North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Healthy Living Task Force, 2012

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Hometown Hero, 1360 WCHL (2011)

    Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Award for Public Private Partnership (2010)

    Chapel Hill Carrboro NAACP M.L.King Service Award (2004)

    NC School Boards Association All-State School Board (2004)

    Women Of Distinction ECA Woman of the Year (2003)

Spouse's Occupation:

Retired Fire Marshal for the Town of Carrboro and a Deacon at First Baptist Church

Policy Positions

North Carolina State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing North Carolina's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I would only support income tax increases on a temporary basis on earners in the highest income bracket to provide for necessary services such as education, public safety, etc.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of North Carolina?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in North Carolina?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from North Carolina high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Do you support North Carolina's "Innovative School District" program?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- I support funding for charter schools currently in existence with proper oversight that requires them to meet the same standards of accountability for student achievement; that requires certified teachers in every classroom; and that prohibits them from discriminating based on race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or religion.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through North Carolina's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- c) I would support assistance for low wage workers who do not qualify for government sponsored coverage.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in North Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in North Carolina's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by North Carolina state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Do you support the removal of Confederate monuments from public spaces?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- I support increased investments in public education to provide for early childhood programs, raising teacher pay and reduced class size. Additional funding for textbooks, technology, and aging facilities.I support expanding Medicaid to provide access to healthcare with the 10% state share provided by healthcare providers.I support establishing an independent redistricting commission to ensure fair voting districts and access to the ballot box.