Oct. 29, 2024

The Forum focused Tuesday on N.C. House Districts 104 and 105. The Nov. 5 ballot for those two seats each includes one Democrat and one Republican. The session might have illuminated party differences on public policy questions that are debated in the N.C. General Assembly. But it was not to be: Democrats attended the session; Republicans did not.

In District 104, incumbent Democrat Brandon Lofton faces Republican challenger Krista Bokhari. In District 104, incumbent Republican Tricia Cotham faces Democratic challenger Nicole Sidman.

In the discussion, those who watch the video below will nevertheless listen to a variety of issues that North Carolina faces. Among the issues:

• The long-unresolved Leandro education funding equity case and what might follow it.
• Gerrymandering (the redrawing of district lines by the majority party (Democratic and Republican alike) to favor its members’ electoral prospects).
• Educator pay at all levels of the public school system, its impact on teacher turnover and the price paid by students.
• What Democrats see as fundamental issues that are non-negotiable even as they seek to work with Republicans on other issues.
• The state’s challenges that may not get a lot of public attention but that keep them up at night.

The Forum will not meet next week on Election Day, Nov. 5.