Kimberly Bost

I am a 25 year resident of Hickory. I moved to Catawba County as a designer with the hosiery industry in the late 90s, and have witnessed the changing landscape of our industry and workforce. I am an artist and I manage the farmers market here, but my favorite role is mom to my son Connor, who is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am active in my community and feel that we have a very special part of this state that needs enthusiastic and creative representation.

• All people in the 45th District deserve a voice and to be represented by their elected official. I will represent and listen to every person, no matter their background or political affiliation. We have more in common than what sets us apart. We need transparency in government, and for every citizen in the 45th District to have a voice about things that affect them, and what happens in our district.
• I am committed to ensuring that our public education system is fully funded and given the attention it deserves. By investing in our schools and prioritizing teacher pay, we can provide the next generation with the tools they need to succeed. A strong public education system is the bedrock of a thriving community and is an important factor in attracting companies to make our state their headquarters, bringing quality jobs to our area.
• Protecting personal freedoms is important to me, and is a cornerstone of our democracy. I believe that each individual should have agency over their own body. Women's reproductive rights are under attack, and it is crucial that we stand strong in defending the rights of all individuals to make decisions about their own healthcare. I will fight tirelessly to ensure that every person in this district has the freedom and autonomy they deserve.

Protecting and fortifying our public education system, guarding and expanding our personal freedoms, preserving our beautiful lands and taking care of our veterans.

Heather Cox Richardson's Letters From An American

Honesty, open minded-ness, care and respect for constituents of all points of view. A desire to be a clear voice for your community. I have positions on things, but I would listen and consider perspectives different from my own. We have become so divided as a nation. I feel we can come together in our smaller communities where we actually know and care about each other.

I am a good listener, and I care about people. I can build bridges. I love my community, and our state.

To listen to hear and advocate for the needs, best interest and development of the district and the state.

To make things better for people than when I came. To help North Carolina to move back in a direction that my child and his generation will be proud of.

The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature is one where they can each have things they want to fight for that they feel will benefit the electorate and the greater good of the state. They can disagree and come together to compromise and hammer out a plan that will move our state forward and make life better for our citizens.

Our state's biggest challenges over the next decade:
Coming together across the deep political divide. Restoring and enhancing our public education system to uphold our constitutional promise. Retaining and attracting good teachers for our young people.
Mitigating environmental disasters, cleaning up deadly man-made ones, and preserving the natural beauty of our gorgeous state.

No! I think we need fresh, creative perspectives! Politicians have a bad reputation thanks to the ones who take advantage of their position. We need more everyday people serving in our government, and fewer career politicians.

Yes! It is essential to work together to find common ground to move agendas forward and pass legislation that makes life better for North Carolinians. That is the job of the legislature, and what the taxpayers pay for.

I would want to follow in the model of Graig Meyer, Deb Butler, Marcia Morey, Sydney Batch, Jeff Jackson - to name a few - all members who are passionate about serving the people of this state, are actively involved and communicating with their constituency and working hard to solve problems and move our state forward.

Education/Higher Education Committee and Appropriations of same
Agriculture, Energy and Environment Committee Redistricting and Elections Committee
Senate Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee

Representatives must hold regular meetings with constituents and their dealings on behalf of the voters should be public record. There should be no reason to make things unavailable as the Republican Supermajority recently did in proposing a provision in the budget that would allow state legislators to exempt themselves from North Carolina's public records disclosures, laws meant to safeguard transparency, even after they leave office. This is simply unacceptable as it would enable the General Assembly to conduct much of the public's work in secret.

I am an artist, a mother and a concerned citizen. I love my community, and think the people we've elected to represent us in Raleigh can be making better decisions for us. For all of us. I have a child in his freshman year of high school. I want him to have a bright future in North Carolina. When I was growing up, my father ran a Presbyterian Camp. I learned, and we lived the simple values that you treat others the way they want to be treated, and you care for the least of these among us. You don't hear much about these values in politics these days, but I believe they should be our guiding lights. When we all do better, we all do better. I run our city's Farmers' Market where I get to work with and interact with local farmers and our district's citizens all the time. I also do freelance design work for our state's textile industry, having moved here with the hosiery industry in the nineties. I believe that a strong public education is the cure to all that ails us. That healthcare is a basic human right, and that a community with these things will also have well paying, fulfilling work for its people.

• I will focus on excellence in public education and treating our teachers well. Strong public education is the foundation for a thriving community.
• I will work to get everyone easy access to affordable health care.
• I will help create jobs and retool our region's industry to compete and succeed in the 21st century.

Ensuring all citizens' dignity by giving them the tools to live a happy life. Our state constitution requires every child receive a good public education. Strong public education makes a smarter, healthier and more innovative community. Good jobs, healthy populate and opportunity arrive when this is in place.

That people lose everything or die in this state because of medical bills is cruel and unnecessary. We can take easy steps to improve this by accepting the money we are already paying into the federal system in the medicaid expansion. We will still have a lot of work to do, but this simple act will save many, and create much needed good jobs.

Michelle Obama! Love her. She has class and is unapologetically herself. What a strong, fantastic human.

I think an elected official needs to be open minded and a good listener. She needs to represent the entire electorate. She may have her personal and party views, but considerations and decisions need to represent what is best for all the citizens.
The elected official should not have personal interests in the decisions being made, and if they do, know how to separate themselves from the decision.
The official must understand and care about their entire community. Not just the ones he relates to, or who vote for him.
Listen, be accessible and be a true representative of the people of your district.
We all want the same things. We just come at them in different ways.

I am a good listener. I care about people. I can talk about difficult topics with people I don't agree with.
I like finding common ground, and win-win solutions to difficult challenges.

To be accessible and listen. Then act in the best interest of your constituents and community.

That I helped make our state a better place for my son to live and thrive.

I think the first big thing I remember was when Elvis died. I was eight years old.

I worked at the Presbyterian Camp my father directed. I ran the canteen, at twelve years old. Ordered the merchandise, tracked inventory and handled the money.
I did this for two summers before I got my WSI (water safety instructor ) certification and became a lifeguard.

I loved the Harry Potter series. If I had to pick one, Book 5, Order of the Phoenix. The whole series was truly magical.

Katniss Everdeen. Rey.

"Raining on Sunday" by Radney Foster

No. I think we need a fresh crop of the people, by the people, for the people. It has become a career that regular people can't afford or don't want to do. We need real people serving us. Not career politicians.

Overcoming gerrymandering, and the damaging repercussions. All North Carolinians do not have a voice right now, and decisions are being made by the minority party that is in control for their own best interests, and not in the best interest of all North Carolinians.

One of active open communication and constructive compromise, for the best interest of the people..

Yes. I think the more you can see each other as people, and understand each others' point of view, the better legislation will result.

I would be interested in working on education, health care, the environment... there are so many opportunities! I would work wherever I was needed. I am passionate about so many issues our state faces!

Deborah Butler!!! Even before she became an international celebrity.
Graig Meyer. Marcia Morgan. My friends, Ashton Clemmons, Sydney Batch, Rachel Hunt, Christy Clark, Julie von Haefen. Ray Russel.

One step at a time.

A man whose daughter is struggling with opioid addiction. A woman who lost her daughter to opioids. And I have heard more than these. It is a heartbreaking problem here in the 96th.