Michael Lazzara
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Lazzara
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Senate, Dist. 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Harry S Truman College, Chicago IL, GED, 1981
WORK & MILITARY
USMC, CPL, 1982-1986
AFFILIATIONS
Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce, Chairman
Jacksonville Onslow Military Affairs Committee, Chairman
North Carolina League Of Municipalities, President
North Carolina Housing Finance, Board Member
Onslow Water and Sewer Authority, Board Member
Coastal Carolina Community College, Trustee Board Member
Transportation Development Authority, Chairman
Tourism Development Authority, Chairman
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Council Member, 14
Mayor Pro Tem, 12
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
George Cleveland (2019); Gregory F. Murphy (2019); Harry Brown (2018); Thom Tillis (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, North Carolina should repeal its law allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
It should be allowed If the mothers life is in danger and there is no other option.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of church and state means to me that government should not regulate where or how people worship and what religious beliefs they should have. Worship should be decided by the individuals and that right should always be protected.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Healthcare reform has been a disaster and the costs for those who had private healthcare prior to the affordable healthcare act was more affordable. Healthcare cannot be solved by the government alone. It will take significant reform in many areas of healthcare. I believe in competitive capitol healthcare and that the competition among providers can potentially drive costs down, but we need lower prescription pricing, procedure pricing, and simply complete reform. Affordable Care Act is not sustainable.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
State, sheriff and local law enforcement agencies should be required to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Program to enhance the safety and security of their communities to identify and detain aliens.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who complies with the current requirements and follows the legal process should be allowed. This great country has many immigrants that came to this country the right way and have been assets to our communities. They own small business, they have been tradesman, they have served in our military, they are coaches, volunteers, they have been the fabric of America. I do not support illegal immigration.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There should be no restriction on legal gun ownership. Mental health and justice reform are needed to reduce the strain on public safety.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Broadband expansion is a priority. Many children who live in rural areas do not have access to adequate broadband in order to do their homework. Broadband is not a luxury anymore it is a utility and we must work to bridge the urban rural gap. Legislation allowing our local governments to use sales tax to offset property tax increase by voter referendum. Economic distribution for our rural areas who desperately need it.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I have served in local government for fourteen years and all of our meetings and workshops are televised, and can be viewed at our City of Jacksonville web site www.jacksonvillenc.gov where my voting record can be evaluated. I have adopted budgets every year with over 20 hours of deliberation each year and that can be viewed on the web site I listed prior. I serve on the ONWASA board of directors, and all of those meetings are televised. I have chaired many boards and committees and They are also televised. My long record of voting and positions can give anyone a clear indication of my conservative values. I have also been a small business owner for thirty one years years.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served as an elected member of the Jacksonville city council for fourteen years. I have been selected by my peers as the Mayor Pro Tem for twelve years. During that time I have been the Chairman of the Transportation Development Authority that coordinated and planned many of the road projects in Jacksonville and Onslow County we enjoy today. I am the Chairman of the Tourism Development Authority that reinvests in our community. I have served as a board member of Onslow Water and Sewer Authority for most of my elected time and instrumental in coordinating county wide water and sewer delivery. My most recent leadership role was being elected as the President of the North Carolina League of Municipalities who represent 540 cities and town in North Carolina. I served for two years, during that time I worked on policies issues that cities and towns are faced with every day and advocating on their behalf. I am prepared to lead at the state government representing Jones and Onslow Co.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I support our 2nd amendment, I support pro life, I am a conservative, I am a veteran, I support a balanced, state budget, I support our farmers, I have an appreciation for our natural resources, I support a strong military, I support our school system (K through 12) and community colleges, I support recreational and commercial fishing. They say history Is the best indicator for the future, I urge you to look at my history of work in elected office, and you will know how hard I will work on your behalf when elected as your North Carolina Senator for the 6th District.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Parents should have the right to know what schools are teaching their children about sex and LGBT issues and should have the right to opt their children out of any instruction to which they object.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have been a Catholic my whole life. I served as an alter boy in grade school and lay leader in the Marine Corps. I am a member of the Knights of Columbus and I rely on my personal relationship with Jesus Christ every single day. I personally pray every day, before every meeting, and with every decision I make in life.
