CARRBORO — State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird is vowing “to bring transparency in budget negotiations and more open deliberations of public bills” if re-elected to an eighth term in the 23rd District of the state Senate.
In announcing her candidacy for another term on Wednesday through a news release, Kinnaird also pledged “to build on the success of the voter-owned elections to further reduce the influence of special interest money.”
A former four-term mayor of Carrboro, teacher and attorney, the Carrboro Democrat called her Senate representation of Orange and Person counties “a privilege and a great honor.”
Kinnaird was last re-elected in 2008 with a 51,739 to 18,780 vote margin over Republican challenger Jon G. (Greg) Bass.
The filing period for the May 4 primary begins Feb. 8. The General Election is Nov. 2.
“I look forward to the opportunity to continue working for them to provide meaningful legislation that affects the way we live and to help solve my constituents’ problems in dealing with the state bureaucracy,” Kinnaird said in the written statement.
Her Senate committee assignments include co-chairwoman of Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety, co-chairwoman of Mental Health and Youth Services and vice-chairwoman of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources.
She also serves on the Senate committees on Finance, Health Care and Judiciary I, and she’s a member of the Select Committee on Economic Recovery.
In addition, she serves on the State Energy Policy Council, the Environmental Review Commission and the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Her seniority and leadership allow her to shape broad public policy.
“This last term has been a challenge for the state budget, just like it has for families throughout the state, but I have been able to provide the leadership to write and guide legislation benefiting every person in the district and in the state,” Kinnaird said.
“Building on my past work, I want to further encourage the development of alternative energy and energy efficiency to improve our people’s health and economic security. The mental health crisis is not yet behind us, and I want to improve the situation as best we can in these lean times,” she said.
“There is also more to do to help our families and youth in their interactions with state agencies and the completion of a system-wide electronic criminal justice network will help prevent dangerous criminals from getting lost between agencies in the system. Most importantly, we must embark on tax reform to make the system fair while providing necessary services to our citizens in severe economic and fiscal downturns,” she said.
