Moore County candidates disagree over marijuana in GOP primary for open House seat
To help voters learn which candidates are on their ballot and where they stand on important policy issues, The News & Observer is publishing candidate questionnaires in all state and federal races in North Carolina on the March 3, 2026, ballot.
Below are the candidates running for NC House District 51 who responded to our questionnaire in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.
District 51 is located in Lee and Moore counties and is currently represented by Rep. John Sauls, a Republican who is not seeking reelection.
There is a Republican primary for the seat between Sherry Lynn Womack and Charles Taylor.
Sherry Lynn Womack
Age as of March 3, 2026: 62
Political party: Republican
Campaign website: https://www.sherrywomackfornc.com/home
Current occupation: Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel; public servant
Professional experience: Sherry Lynn Womack is a 33-year U.S. Army veteran and retired lieutenant colonel with combat service in Afghanistan and Iraq. She served as an emergency medicine physician assistant and North Carolina social services commissioner. She has served 10 years on the Lee County Board of Education and currently serves as board chair. She is a mother of five, a grandmother, and is committed to her faith, family, and service to North Carolina.
Education: Sherry Lynn Womack is a graduate of the Command and General Staff Officer Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, and completed an emergency medicine fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington. She holds a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska, a Bachelor of Science in physician associate studies from the University of Oklahoma, and an associate degree in occupational science from Austin Peay State University.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Womack served four years as a North Carolina social services commissioner for the 2nd Congressional District. She has served 10 years on the Lee County Board of Education and currently serves as chair. She is a member of the North Carolina School Boards Association Legislative Committee and advocates for parental rights, faith-based initiatives, veterans, and children. She is active in community programs supporting families and seniors, including summer food services.
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? The most important issue in District 51 is meeting children’s educational needs through meaningful school reform. These reforms strengthen the workforce and ensure students are career or college ready. Sherry Lynn Womack supports parental choice in education while keeping public schools strong. She will defend local control, accountability, and fiscal responsibility to ensure every school reaches its full potential.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Teachers are a vitally important part of our workforce. They deserve pay and benefits commensurate with their work schedule and responsibilities. Starting teacher salaries should be in the $50,000-$55,000 range, with veteran teachers earning in the $80,000-$95,000 range. Pay should reward experience and excellence, and be sufficient to provide for a family.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Sherry Lynn Womack supports the timely passage of a balanced biennial budget, with appropriate fiscal adjustments each year. Failing to complete this responsibility is unacceptable. The state budget must fully fund essential operations while remaining fiscally sound. Womack emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and fiscal discipline, and supports cutting waste, protecting essential services, and ensuring government serves the people faithfully and conservatively.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? Sherry Lynn Womack supports the current legislative plan to gradually reduce North Carolina’s income tax to zero through sustained economic growth. She also supports capping annual increases in local ad valorem taxes to protect fixed-income families, homeowners, and those working to build long-term financial stability.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Sherry Lynn Womack believes the state must continually reassess spending priorities to reflect fiscal realities. Essential services such as education and workforce development, law enforcement and public safety, and critical infrastructure must be prioritized. She supports stronger stewardship of taxpayer dollars through regular audits and reassessment of state programs and capital projects.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Sherry Lynn Womack supports legal medical marijuana for patients with serious or chronic medical conditions when prescribed by a licensed physician. Medical decisions should be guided by science and patient need, not politics. A carefully regulated program can provide relief, protect patients, and maintain appropriate medical oversight.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? Barriers to health care access in my district include provider shortages, our rural demography, burdensome certificate of need rules, and general affordability of health care services. Sherry Lynn Womack supports growth of local clinics and incentivizing providers to support underserved areas. Health care should be accessible and efficiently administered, with minimal regulatory interference from government.
Charles Taylor
Age as of March 3, 2026: 56
Political party: Republican
Campaign website: taylorfornc.com
Current occupation: Businessman
Professional experience: TV producer; real estate investor; manufacturing executive; consulting; entertainment management
Education: B.A., mass communications, Campbell University
Please list any notable government or civic involvement.: Sanford city councilman, 18 years
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Bringing good-paying jobs and improving the quality of life in Lee and Moore counties is most important. I will eliminate wasteful spending, invest in infrastructure and education, and keep taxes low to accomplish these goals.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? I believe that teachers should be paid as professionals and should receive regular cost of living increases.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? I would encourage our legislative leaders to work closely together for the betterment of all North Carolinians.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? Yes. Many other states have a 0% state income tax, and we should continue cutting our state income tax to remain competitive.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? We need to be continuous in ensuring that wasteful spending is eliminated.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? No. I support the established law.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? The cost of health care is too high. I favor a market-based approach to lowering the cost of health care so it’s more accessible to all.
This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Moore County candidates disagree over marijuana in GOP primary for open House seat."