Johnnie Jones

Party:

Democrat

Incumbent:

Age:

Previous experience in elected office:

None

Occupation:

Retired from the film and motorsports industry

Description:

Jones describes himself as a “simple, hard-working guy.” His key concerns are the “economic hardships” that residents face, AI data centers that “deplete water systems and deforest every acre of land they buy,” and school vouchers which he sees as “one of the biggest threats to our public education.” He is also a former union member and believes that workers have a right to fair wages.

Other personal:

Jones lives in Davidson. He is married and has two adult children and four granddaughters. He retired to care for his wife following a cancer diagnosis.

Candidate Website

Questionnaire from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Note: The responses below from the candidate have not been edited.

Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).

67 years old. HS Diploma, Training in many different fields over 40 + years. Davidson NC

Cabarrus County

Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share any experience in an elected role that would be relevant to voters.

Because I’m just a blue-collar worker who has work hard on my life and I understand what it takes to make a living to be able to afford things in life. I believe that folks are ready for just a regular every day candidate to represent them in Raleigh.

Tell us about 2-3 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.

In 1994 I began my own upholstery business, which I ran until 1997. Then transitioned it into manufacturing, thermal heat protection for racing. In in 2001 while continuing to do the thermal heat protection, we combined with the company called safety solutions and started manufacturing head and neck restraints. For race drivers. In 2006 I was asked to help build props for a television commercial. Which turned into me joining the local union IATSE Local 491. And became a prop master for several movies and multitudes of commercials

What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the first six months if elected?

To try to put our economy on the right track to recovery so the folks can afford to live in North Carolina and not have to work three or four different jobs in order to be able to buy groceries by gas and pay for utilities

Cabarrus County’s economy depends on a strong and available workforce, yet employers continue to face challenges related to child care access, education pipelines, and labor shortages. How would you use your role in the General Assembly to support workforce participation and long-term economic competitiveness in our region?

I would make sure that the minimum wage bill that’s been sitting in Raleigh for almost 2 years now would move the direction towards being passed so that workers would have a viable working wage. To be able to afford childcare. I also believe the companies should understand in order to keep a good workforce. They’re gonna have to pay a good living wage.

As Cabarrus County grows, continued investment in transportation, water and wastewater systems, and technology infrastructure is critical. What priorities would guide your approach to state infrastructure funding, and how should the state partner with local governments to support growth?

I believe that our infrastructure is Paramount and Cabarrus County. That having good roads, good bridges, good water and sewer should be put in place first. For years, this has been done backwards. We build housing communities we build apartment complexes. Warehouses and department stores. And then the infrastructure comes later, which is totally reverse of what should be done.

State policies often have direct impacts on local governments and school systems. How would you approach legislation that places new responsibilities on local entities, particularly when those responsibilities are not accompanied by recurring funding?

For 15 years now we have seen a super majority Senate and majority majority legislators. Strip millions of dollars from our public school system. And give it away to privately well funded schools. These are taxpayer dollars that should stay in the North Carolina public school system.

State regulations shape the business environment for employers large and small. How would you evaluate whether regulations are achieving their intended purpose without creating unnecessary costs or barriers for businesses?

I believe that we’ve had a catastrophic failure in the North Carolina legislative building in Raleigh. We’ve given great tax breaks to large corporations and in some cases don’t even live in this state but receive these tax breaks when we’re letting small business man and woman be over text and under support.

Over the next several years, what state-level policy decisions do you believe will most influence Cabarrus County’s ability to grow, attract investment, and maintain a high quality of life?

I believe that our education system should start training programs to train the students so that when they graduate from high school here in Cabarrus County that they can be prepared for a life ahead. So they can go to college or w

take on a vocation and learn a trade. And bring those college educations are there skill trades back into Cabarrus County