Pat Bradford

Strongly Agree

Human life is sacred and deserving of legal protection at every stage, from conception until natural death. A just society should value and defend the dignity of every human being, especially the most vulnerable, while supporting families and life-affirming policies.

Schools should support students by providing appropriate resources and ensuring parents are involved whenever possible. In cases of an unwanted or crisis pregnancy, schools can offer contact information for community-based organizations such as Life Line Pregnancy Center, which provide counseling, practical support, and life-affirming resources for students and families.

The First Amendment prohibits government from establishing a state religion while protecting the free exercise of faith. In public schools, this means the government must remain neutral toward religion, not hostile to it, and students and staff should not be punished for expressing their sincerely held religious beliefs within the bounds of the law.

Public education should be funded primarily by state and local government, with decisions made as close to parents and communities as possible. In New Hanover County, The Endowment provides valuable local support without expanding federal control. Funding should prioritize classroom instruction, academic excellence, student safety, transparency, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Strongly Agree

Student loan forgiveness shifts debt to taxpayers who paid their loans responsibly, chose more affordable paths, or did not attend college. It is unfair and fails to address the real causes of rising tuition and student debt. Reforms should focus on accountability, transparency, and preventing future debt burdens.

Strongly Agree

ICE plays an important role in enforcing federal immigration law and enhancing public safety by identifying and detaining individuals who are in the country illegally and have committed crimes. Upholding the rule of law and cooperating with lawful immigration enforcement helps keep communities safe and maintains confidence in our legal system.

Strongly Disagree

Schools should focus on academics and supporting students in partnership with parents, not referring students to outside organizations for abortion or gender-related services. Decisions involving medical care or deeply personal matters belong with parents and families, not school systems. Education should remain age-appropriate, transparent, and respectful of parental rights.

Strongly Agree

Clear expectations and appropriate consequences are essential to maintaining a safe, orderly learning environment. When discipline is consistent and fair, students can focus on learning, teachers can teach, and classrooms function effectively. Supporting discipline also respects parents, protects students and staff, and upholds high standards for behavior.

Strongly Agree

A strong education should include a thorough understanding of America’s founding documents, principles, and history. Teaching the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and civic responsibility helps students understand their rights and responsibilities and fosters respect for the nation that unites us.

Strongly Agree

Education decisions are best made at the state and local level, closest to parents, students, and teachers. Eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would reduce federal overreach and bureaucracy and return control to states and communities, allowing schools to better reflect local values, priorities, and needs.

Sexual education should be age-appropriate and focused on abstinence, consent, basic human anatomy, physical and emotional health outcomes, and an understanding of pregnancy and fetal development. Instruction should support parental involvement and avoid explicit content or topics better addressed by families.

Language Arts Mathematics Science American History Civics Personal Finances Physical Fitness Information Technology Vocational Learning Art & Music Foreign Language

Strongly Agree

Public schools should prioritize strong academic achievement while also helping students develop character traits such as responsibility, respect, and civic virtue. These qualities are essential for preserving American traditions, self-government, and a healthy civil society. Schools best serve students by focusing on education, character, and citizenship.

Strongly Agree

School choice empowers parents and encourages healthy competition that can lead to stronger educational outcomes. When families have options, schools are incentivized to improve academic performance, responsiveness, and innovation while remaining accountable to the communities they serve.

Neutral

I believe in the U.S. Constitution and the Second Amendment. School safety is critically important, and public school boards must have strong measures in place to respond to active shooter situations. However, at this time, arming trained faculty is not a decision I believe public school boards should make. That determination is more appropriate for private and religious schools, while public schools focus on other proven safety measures.

No

No

2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election 2022 Republican Primary 2022 General Election

Very Conservative

Strongly Disagree

Fairness, safety, and privacy matter. Women’s sports and sex-specific spaces exist to ensure equal opportunity and protection for biological females. Policies should preserve these spaces while treating all individuals with dignity and respect, without compromising the rights of women and girls.

I believe in God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, sharing one divine nature while remaining distinct. I believe in Jesus, His divinity, salvation by grace through faith, and the active presence of the Holy Spirit. My focus is on loving God, loving people, walking in His presence, worship, discipleship, and equipping for spiritual growth and wholeness. I believe the Bible is the Word of God.

Strongly Agree

Parents have the fundamental right and primary responsibility to direct their child’s health, education, and well-being. Government and schools should support parents through transparency, communication, and respect for parental involvement, not override families or substitute their judgment for that of parents.

Strongly Agree

I support the principle articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that individuals should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Schools should promote equal treatment, individual responsibility, and respect for every student while rejecting policies that divide students based on race.

Strongly Agree

I believe marriage is a sacred, God-ordained institution between one man and one woman. This definition is rooted in faith, tradition, and the best interests of families and society. Government should respect and protect this institution rather than redefine it.

Strongly Agree

Mental health conditions should be addressed with compassion, evidence-based care, and appropriate treatment. Affirming distress rather than helping individuals address underlying issues does not serve students’ long-term well-being. Schools should support students by working with parents and mental health professionals to ensure care that is responsible, ethical, and focused on healing.

Strongly Disagree

Schools have a responsibility to ensure library materials are age-appropriate and respectful of community standards. No book should be exempt from obscenity laws simply because it is labeled as having literary value. Parents deserve transparency and a voice in what materials are made available to children.

Strongly Disagree

Photo identification is a common-sense safeguard that helps ensure election integrity and public confidence in the voting process. Reasonable ID requirements protect the value of every lawful vote while still allowing states to provide accessible options so eligible voters can participate.