North Carolina is holding elections, including for executive offices, on March 5, 2024.
A number of candidates running in these elections completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Below is a selection of responses from a candidate who filled out the survey as of Nov. 14. To read the candidate’s full responses, click her name at the bottom of the article.
Republican Marlenis Hernandez Novoa is running for lieutenant governor, and the Republican primary is on March 5. Here’s how Novoa responded to the following questions:
What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
“Education, Children’s rights. Parent’s rights. These are key issues that concern all citizens of North Carolina.Equal Access for all North Carolina citizens for competent, professional, affordable health care.Access for all North Carolina citizens, higher education, job opportunities. Common sense approach to immigration. Address our agricultural needs.”
What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?
“The office of lieutenant governor offers the incumbent the option for oversight on legislative bills before the General Assembly, and working with the state auditor provides the incumbent the authority to require audits of expenditures, and along with other legislative issues affecting the farming and business communities throughout the state indicates that the office of the lieutenant governor can have a direct influence on the successful budgeting of state revenues and expenses. The position also offers the lieutenant governor direct input with the state Board of Education regarding the successful development and operation of community colleges and public schools. These are all responsibilities which I will aggressively address as lieutenant governor of North Carolina.”
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
“Foremost, a person elected to public office must demonstrate personal character traits of integrity. That speaks to being someone whose word can be trusted. It is also necessary an elected official to be well-informed about issues affecting his/her constituents, and to have an open and empathetic ear to their concerns. A public official must demonstrate professional management skills that ensures constituents that the official’s office is competent, well-run, and is fully engaged and involved with the most relevant issues affecting the state and its residents. Without these character traits and professional expertise, it is not likely that the elected official will effectively succeed in office.”
What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?
“Without question, the state cannot operate successfully without a balanced budget. The role of the lieutenant governor enables the incumbent to leverage the authority of the office to coordinate efforts across all other state offices to make sure that state revenues are properly budgeted and accounted for. As president of the state Senate, and as a member of the state Capital Planning Commission, the lieutenant governor has direct influence on the conduct and efficiency of these offices, and how the impact of those state operations affects the financial well-being of the state and its citizens.”
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
“Ronald Reagan came to my classroom when I was 5 years old.”
Click here to read the rest of Novoa’s answers.
If you’re a North Carolina candidate or incumbent, click here to take the survey. The survey contains over 30 questions, and you can choose the ones you feel will best represent your views to voters. If you complete the survey, a box with your answers will display on your Ballotpedia profile. Your responses will also populate the information that appears in our mobile app, My Vote Ballotpedia.
