Experienced Statesmanship: Ted Davis for NC House

Reuel Sample:
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Reuel Sample:
Experienced leadership and a proven record of getting things done. I am honored to be joined on the NHC GOP podcast today by Representative Ted Davis. Ted, how are you this evening?

Ted Davis:
I’m great and I hope you are as well.

Abortion

Reuel Sample:
Couldn’t be better. It’s another great day in North Carolina. We’re going to get right into it and we’re going to talk about an issue that is that that has been on people’s minds who don’t want to talk about the economy. We’re going to talk about abortion real quickly. Let’s get you on the record. What is your stance on abortion here in North Carolina? Are you going to outlaw it completely?

Ted Davis:
Abortion is a very personal moral issue.

Reuel Sample:
Yes.

Ted Davis:
And there are people on the extreme left that want to have an abortion up until the day a baby is born. You’ve got extremes on the right that don’t want to allow women to have an abortion at all. I believe in the law. I am a follower of the law. I’m a retired attorney and I was a state and federal prosecutor before that. So in looking at the law, I support what the law is in North Carolina right now, and that is if a woman desires to have an abortion up to the first 20 weeks, which is in the second trimester of pregnancy, and she can have an abortion. But after that, I believe in reasonable restrictions. And those reasonable restrictions are rape, incest or unviable fetus or danger to the health of the mother.

Reuel Sample:
Which is what most Americans and most North Carolinians would favor is reasonable restrictions and reasonable access to abortion.

Ted Davis:
So most of the women that I have talked to have come up to me and told me that they heard my stance at the power breakfast we had recently downtown, that they support that position as long as you’ve got reasonable restrictions. And I think those that I mentioned are after the first 20 weeks.

Reuel Sample:
We talked about or you mentioned those who are on the extreme left. You sponsored and helped sponsor a bill that that if a child survived the abortion process, would make it illegal to allow that child to die. And it was vetoed by the governor.

Ted Davis:
That is correct.

Reuel Sample:
And you shared with me before the podcast, and I’d like you to share it again. Is that what was the reaction by the Democrats in both chambers of the legislature when he vetoed that bill?

Ted Davis:
The instance that I’m going to be referring to was when the House voted on whether or not to override the veto. I know at that time I recall specifically Harper Peterson, who at that time had defeated Michael Lee in the previous election. It was the senator from this from this district, came over with some other Democratic senators to see how the vote was going to go. And when the vote came down, the override failed. And when the results were shown, the Democrats literally got up, cheered, high fived each other. To me, it was the most despicable thing that I have seen since I’ve been in the General Assembly. High fiving and cheering over the fact that a baby is going to die because the abortion was unsuccessful.

Reuel Sample:
So right now because of the of the governor’s veto and because you could not get it overridden, it is legal for a child who survives abortion to be left to die.

Ted Davis:
Correct.

Reuel Sample:
I don’t care where you are on the spectrum, I would think most people would think that’s monstrous. I think that’s just amazing that we allow that to happen.

Ted Davis:
Well, I certainly do.

High Inflation and Keeping Taxes Low

Reuel Sample:
Yeah. I appreciate you talking about that a little bit. Let’s talk about the economy. One of the things that that you and your fellow Republicans are going about doing and talking about is how to fight inflation and the rising prices of everything that we’re seeing. What are your plans for the high price of gas, the high price of of living that we’re seeing that’s affecting us here in North Carolina?

Ted Davis:
Some of the things that the Republicans have done since we’ve been in the majority that will help to address the inflation that we’re experiencing under the Biden administration is the fact that, number one, we have capped the income tax rate in North Carolina. We have capped the gasoline tax in North Carolina. We have capped the sales tax in North Carolina. All these things being done. So there’ll be a stopping point where people will not have to worry about, oh, my God, this north high gas tax, are they going to raise the gas tax on me and make gas more expensive than it’s already in? Same thing with sales tax as it relates to groceries and things that family needs. Same thing with taxes. So I look at those things as very positive actions by the Republican led General Assembly to help address what we’re going through right now with inflation. And in addition to that, during the last budget, we passed a 1 billion with a B dollar fund to in anticipation of a recession coming. So if that recession hits, we’re already going to have $1 billion set aside to help people in this state face that economic crisis.

Reuel Sample:
Because of your efforts, North Carolina is considered to be one of the best places to do business. And we’re being recognized for that. You have been endorsed by the NFIB, the National Federation of Independent Business, and by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce for your position on jobs and your position on small business.

Ted Davis:
That’s correct. As far as the economy, one thing well, several things that Republicans have done is we reduced course personal income tax rate. We have reduced the corporate income tax rate. We have reduced and streamlined the franchise procedure when you go to the start of business. All of these things, we’ve done reasonable regulatory reform to get rid of a lot of unnecessary regulatory hoops that you had to go through in order to do a business while still protecting our environment. All of these things together has made North Carolina extremely business friendly. And Forbes magazine, as well as two other national economic entities, all three have ranked North Carolina as the number one place to do business in the United States of America. And I’m extremely proud of that. We have business coming in constantly. We have businesses that are here that are expanding. Sometimes we lose some possibilities that we might have. It’s very competitive. You get incentives involved and one state might offer better incentives than the other, and it’s all about the bottom dollar. So go elsewhere. But when you look at where we are and what we have done, I am so proud to have been a part of that since I’ve been in Raleigh.

Growing Small Business

Reuel Sample:
Well, it’s not just the state of North Carolina. We’re experiencing that that economic attraction here in New Hanover County as well. They’re coming here as they’re coming here in New Hanover County because of all because of this pro-business structure that you and your fellow Republicans have put in place.

Ted Davis:
Well, and it’s a wonderful place to live. That’s why my wife and I, when we finally decided where we wanted to go to raise our family, it was Wilmington. I wouldn’t have thought of any other place. I love Wrightsville Beach. My family had a cottage there when I was growing up, and I was fortunate to be able to spend my summers there. I love Wrightsville Beach. I love all the beaches in New Hanover. We’ve got Carolina Beach, Kurie Beach, great beaches. And we got so many tourist attractions. I mean, golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields. I mean, it’s a great place to live and raise your family.

Scare Tactics and Liberal Lies

Reuel Sample:
We’ve been talking to a variety of candidates here on the podcast. And over and over again, we’ve been talking about this particular campaign season. This year, it has gotten nasty, especially here in New Hanover County. You have you have been doing this for a while. You’re an experienced statesman. This has got to be one of the nastiest campaigns that you’ve been in.

Ted Davis:
Without question. The sad thing that we have today is this, say, for instance, you and I were going to run against each other and.

Reuel Sample:
I would never I would never do that. I never want to go up against you head to head.

Ted Davis:
I know better than that. But really, it would if we start it out. Instead of you saying my name, Reuel Sample, this is why I want to be your representative. This is why I feel like I could be the best candidate for you to select, to be a representative, yada, yada, yada. No, the first thing you do, just like my opponent right now, my liberal opponent. Oh, you failed in New Hanover County. Ted Davis is awful. Ted Davis hadn’t done this. Ted Davis hadn’t done that. Ted Davis does this. Ted Davis does that. And it’s a hard pill to swallow when you and your wife or your children or other loved ones are sitting there watching the television and they hear this and they know it’s lies and they know it’s not true and they don’t realize it, but it’s being done to mislead others, to make them think that that’s the despicable person that you truly are. Without looking at my record, without going to my campaign site and looking at all the different things I’ve done since I’ve been in Raleigh, you know, all the committees, I’ve been on all the chairmanships, I’ve been on all the awards I’ve gotten, you know, etc., etc., etc., to see what kind of person I really am. And it’s all a big scare tactic that the Democrats are doing, especially this election cycle, because of the situation with the super majority.

Reuel Sample:
I liked your term scare tactic because. Because they use topics such as abortion. Topics such as chasing business away just to scare people. And if you look at your record and if you look at the stance that you and your fellow Republicans are taking is that nothing is farther from the truth is that it’s that you are pro-business and the truth is out there.

Ted Davis:
Well, you mentioned the NFIB earlier. They give a recognition for pro-business every two years. I’ve gotten it every time that they’ve given it since I’ve been around. The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce gives a jobs champion award each year. I’ve gotten it every year. I’ve been involved. I’ve gotten awards because of my help with the film industry, tourism. I mean, I’m all about business. I’m all about helping people here get jobs. Because when you get jobs, you earn an income. You’re not a drag on the taxpayers. You know, you’re not on welfare, you’re out there working, you’re earning money. You’re proud of yourself. You know, and you support your family, you provide for your family, and it makes you a real asset to our community.

Reuel Sample:
And you’re putting that money back into the economy.

Ted Davis:
Exactly. They buy groceries, they buy cars, they buy homes. They do this, they do that. And you’re exactly why it’s a trickle down effect.

The Best Candidate for New Hanover County

Reuel Sample:
Why are you the best candidate? You’ve been asked that before, but why are you the best candidate for this?

Ted Davis:
Well, that’s kind of a loaded question, but I think really, seriously, if you look and all you got to do is go to my campaign website teddavisfornchouse.com. I’m an open book. It tells you everything about me and everything I’ve done since I’ve been in Raleigh. And I look at experience. I look at leadership and I look at a proven record of being able to get things done. I mean, as I stated earlier, I was a chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. I know how local politics work. I’ve been chairman of 14 different committees since I’ve been in the House, and I’m the chairman of the Judiciary right now. I know how politics work in state government and having served in both of those capacities, not only do I know how to get things done, I have developed very strong relationships, not only people locally, but also with people in Raleigh and statewide, which has helped me to introduce so many bills that I’ve gotten voted into law to help me get the millions upon millions of dollars of appropriations that I’m able to give for New Hanover County, for instance, helping with the movie industry, getting the $31 million grant program and making it recurring meaning every year and keeping it there.

Ted Davis:
There have been attempts to get that taken away, and it’s kind of comical around the House because the appropriations chair sometimes will just say when they see me come and say, well, you know, I think we’re going to do something with that film grant knowing that it’s going to get my goat because, I mean, I’ll fight for that and I’ll follow that sword anytime. But really, I think all of that is very important because it shows that I don’t just talk the talk. I have truly walked the walk and I have a record of doing that. You know, as a candidate, you can sit and say, Oh, I’m going to do this and I’m going to introduce that and I’ll get this done. I’ll get that done. Let’s just talk. You know, I can sit there and say, well, you know what, I’m going to go to Europe next week. Well, that sounds good, but I may not go. Maybe that’s a weak analogy, but I’m trying to get the point across. Talk is cheap. You’ve got to have a track record. You’ve got to have a proven record. And I’ve got that.

Reuel Sample:
And you’ve got the relationships. You’ve got the infrastructure. You’ve got. You’ve got the knowledge of how to get things done. And those relationships really are important in government.

Ted Davis:
Because I can’t tell you all the appropriations I asked for. And that last budget I got every single one. The last part of why I was successful in that is because a lot of those chairs of those appropriation committees have handled the different types of appropriations you’re asking for. Have at one time or another has something before me and my Judiciary Committee or another committee that I was chairing, and I’ve helped them out. And that’s why when you go to Raleigh, if you jump up and down, really, you’re not going to get anything done. If you go up and be civil and act like a statesman and work with others, you don’t have to agree with everybody all the time. The Republicans. I don’t agree with the Republicans that don’t agree with me. But the point is, we’re civil about it. We’ve worked together, work across the aisle, and you can get things done. And when you help others, when your time comes up, they will help you. And that takes a lot of work because you have to develop those over a period of years. And I’ve been able to do that. I’m very proud of having been able to do that. I don’t soapbox very often. I really do. And I don’t toot my horn very often. People tell me I don’t do it enough. And maybe about this podcast I’m doing a little bit, but that’s not why I’m up there. I’m up there to help people. That’s why I ran for office. That’s why I’ve been in office. And I enjoy it the most. When somebody comes up to me and says, Davis, I really appreciate what you did.

Reuel Sample:
Not every Republican in New Hanover County can vote for you. What district are you in and what what does that encompass?

Ted Davis:
You know, I tell people jokingly that whoever drew these maps was like a drunken sailor, because they were. And I mean, I’ve been moved around some. I’m now in the newly drawn district 20. They’re 19 precincts in there.

Reuel Sample:
We have these district maps over on the on the New Hanover County GOP website. It really is a really a strange looking district. You’re all over the place. I’m in your district, I’m happy to say, but it’s all over the place.

Ted Davis:
Maybe I’ll get one vote, you and I.

Reuel Sample:
You certainly will get my vote. How can people get in touch with you? How can they support you and your campaign and keep in touch with what you’re doing?

Ted Davis:
Sure. I can’t say enough to anybody that wants to know about me to please go to my website that I mentioned earlier teddavisfornchouse.com because like I said, it’s an open book. If any one chooses to contribute their welcome to do so. We’re kind of late in the game but quite frankly, running for office is very expensive. I’m going through now paying for TV ads and mailers and things like that. They’re welcome to call my legislative office in Raleigh. They’re welcome to email me on my legislative email address. I’m. I’m accessible. Talk to me. Yes.

Reuel Sample:
Early voting starts October 20th. That’s two days away from the recording of this podcast. And so if make sure that you get out and vote, if you don’t know where your precinct is located, please check out the New Hanover County GOP website. It’s all there. And please check out Ted Davis’s website for all the things that he’s doing. Ted, so good to talk to you. Thanks for joining us today.

Ted Davis:
Thank you, sir. It was my pleasure and I appreciate it.

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