Kevin Crutchfield

Questionnaire from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus

Note: The following responses are verbatim from the candidate and have not been edited.

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

Born 4-2-1960

College Graduate UNC Alumni

CFO for Casco Signs, Inc. in Concord NC

CEO for Crutchfield Farms in Midland NC

CEO for The Crutchfield Group. LTD Midland NC

Reside in Midland NC with My Wife Cheryl

Father of 3 Grown Men, Father-in-law to 3 great women, and 9 Grandchildren

Former Member of the NC House of Representatives 23-24

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.

I have served 1 term in The NC House and achieved great success for my district. My resume, including my professional and political careers have prepared me to be successful for the constituents of my district and North Carolina. I have the experience and track record to go to work immediately on their behalf. I have the time in my schedule to fully engage in this responsibility. There is not a member on my community more qualified than Kevin Crutchfield.

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.

1) Passed into law HB31 The Hope Act to strengthen anti human trafficking laws to protect victims and prosecute offenders. This bill passed without opposition in a record time frame.

2) Passed Legislation to protect older citizens from potential fraud

3) Started and currently run 5 successful North Carolina companies

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

Extend Protections for Victims of Human Trafficking beyond the hope act.

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?

From talking to local childcare providers, they have seating capacity but not the administrative staff to fill the seats effectively. We must work to study these requirements and make changes that will not affect the quality of care but allow us to use the capacity we have. The Federal attention to fraud in this arena must be uncovered and addressed. It undermines the confidence the taxpayers have in the system. Continued attention to high quality education to solve the workforce pipeline issues is paramount. There are changes coming from a federal level concerning the department of education. The changes are big and I am anxious to see these changes role out in application

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?

As a representative, I worked with our delegation to return more than 185 Million Dollars for just this purpose. I would continue that effort. Working with our local government officials, strategic investment of those appropriations is vital as they best understand the areas we need to focus on.

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?

First word, Collaboration. During my time as a representative, whenever these type issues come up, I would meet with and talk to the people involved to understand the impact of such legislation. Resulting in crafting legislation that seeks to solve the problem without creating an unfunded mandate. I will say that sometimes local governments can create systems of government that overregulate and negatively affect business that may need work to resolve. But it is all about working together for the benefit of all North Carolina Taxpayers.

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?

As a small business owner of multiple companies, I experience firsthand the impact of excessive regulation. I will always evaluate weather proposed regulation would have a negative impact on the business environment. I will be a warrior to reduce unnecessary regulation that would kills jobs. Of course, this takes collaboration with the regulators and the business community to understand the impact regulation will have to craft legislation to avoid that.

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?

Incentive investment and taxation will most influence the ability for Cabarrus County to grow. Cabarrus is quickly becoming a suburb of Charlotte. While many do not want to hear that, it's coming. Cabarrus is 2nd out of 100 counties in current and projected growth. Its clear from my time in the house that the senate is on a path to continued reduction of state income taxes. As business owner, I have experienced the collection and redistribution of sales tax collected across the state. What I know for sure is the state and Cabarrus county will continue to battle balancing taxation, investment and growth. It's a problem we are blessed to have. I am hopeful in this battle as long as we have lawmakers focused making NC better for its citizens and businesses.