Ray Russell for NC House
Ray Russell for NC
Ray Russell for NC House  Ray Russell for NC
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Respect, Listen, Lead, is more than a motto.

It’s what Ray Russell does in Raleigh as your State House Representative for the 93rd District!  Thank you for your support!

Ray Russell works tirelessly for all of Ashe and Watauga counties, to ensure economic prosperity, protect our natural resources, promote quality education, and provide access to good healthcare.


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rayrussellfornc

Ray Russell
Don't let the Republicans get you confused! Be su Don't let the Republicans get you confused! 
Be sure to vote for the the Ray you know: Ray Russell.
Early voting starts on October 15th and goes till Early voting starts on October 15th and goes till October 31st and Election Day is on November 3rd. When you’re voting don’t forget to vote down the ballot and don’t forget to vote for state legislative races!
More information can be found at  https://rayfornc.com/vote/
I hope you'll be able to join me this Sunday with I hope you'll be able to join me this Sunday with Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Dr. Jen Mangrum and Treasurer candidate Ronnie Chatterji for a virtual rally hosted by NCAE. Link to register is in the bio!
I'm honored to be a recipient of the Green Tie Awa I'm honored to be a recipient of the Green Tie Award from the NC League of Conservation Voters!
I am honored to be joined by Governor Roy Cooper a I am honored to be joined by Governor Roy Cooper and Representative Rachel Hunt for a virtual fundraiser this coming Tuesday, October 6th.

Use the link in the bio to get your ticket to join us!
Instagram post 17858696168159994 Instagram post 17858696168159994
Ray meets people where they are without judgment, Ray meets people where they are without judgment, pretense, or pandering. If we can cut through the political noise and simply listen to the concerns of voters, then governing will be an ongoing, engaging conversation that will lead us to achieving common goals.
While serving the people of Watauga and Ashe county in Raleigh, Ray has done work to get his constituents the help that they need. Wether it be making sure a pothole gets fixed or helping someone get an unemployment check, Ray is on the job. Recently, as a way of making sure his constituents are informed about coronavirus and other relevant news, Ray has been sending out weekly newsletters. Making sure that the people of Ashe and Watauga county have everything they need to succeed is very important to Ray.
Respect is the cornerstone of every relationship. Respect is the cornerstone of every relationship. Treating each other as neighbors is where respect in politics begins. Regardless of our different backgrounds, there is more that unites us than divides us. Ray values the history and culture of the mountain communities that make the High Country “home”. For 20 years you've trusted me with the weather, and I will continue to be honest with you as your representative.
The 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 were the deadliest The 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 were the deadliest ever to occur on American soil. The plane hijackings that struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field killed nearly 3,000 people including 400 heroic first responders who fought to save lives.

The attacks dramatically changed the United States, ushering in an unprecedented level of security measures at home and started the War on Terror. But it also brought the nation together, unified in our grief and our resolve to treasure our freedom.

Although we cannot formally come together this year to remember, we will never forget those who lost their lives on that terrible day and those who have given their lives in the aftermath.
Ray Russell is passionate about democracy, decency Ray Russell is passionate about democracy, decency, and transparency.
 
Ray Russell is an advocate for fair, non-partisan redistricting. Politicians have been choosing their voters for too long, gerrymandering up North Carolina into districts so that the majority can be outvoted by a minority of voters. He co-sponsored four bills on this subject, but the Republican leadership never gave any of them a chance to be heard on the Floor of the NC House.
 
Ray Russell wrote the NC Sunshine Act. The People’s Official Business should be conducted in daylight, not in back rooms where a handful party bosses dictate what becomes law in NC. “Daylight is the best antiseptic.” North Carolina needs that antiseptic more than ever after many Raleigh Republican power-brokers have been convicted of fraud, corruption, misuse of campaign funds, and bribery during the past year.
 
For two years, Ray Russell has been a champion for Ashe and Watauga County citizens. He has helped countless constituents cut through bureaucratic red tape, get access to state services, advocated for fairness, and sought resources for local agencies and nonprofits.
 
Ray Russell is a communicator. He never “ran from tough votes”; Ray explained every controversial vote, often directly from the Floor of the House, through newsletters, emails, press releases, and social media. No one has conducted more Town Hall Meetings or worked harder to communicate with voters.
 
The simple story is that Ray Russell is a truth-teller. And he holds his colleagues to that same high standard. That level of honesty and integrity is what Ashe and Watauga County, North Carolina, and our country need from elected officials during difficult times with trust in short supply.
Ray has introduced several bills relating to the e Ray has introduced several bills relating to the enviornment. He was primary sponsor on several bills that take steps to combat pollution. HB 1110, PFAS Studies, would “direct various agencies to study matters associated with PFAS contamination.” PFAS are “per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances,” or C8. They include a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and several others. This bill would study PFAS contamination in the Cape Fear River. House Bill 566, or Polluter Pays, would require large polluters to pay an extra tax to help pay for management the contaminants. HB 632, called Hydraulic Fracturing/Statewide Ban, would ban hydraulic fracking in North Carolina. These bills are important pieces of legislation in the fight to address Climate Change.
Anyone who has lived in the High Country for a lon Anyone who has lived in the High Country for a long time can tell you that the climate is not the same today as it used to be. In his work with RaysWeather.Com, Ray Russell knows weather in the High Country and has followed the changes in our climate. We see these changes in a higher frequency of extreme weather events resulting in flooding and landslides. We see it in the ski industry, where seasons have gotten shorter. We have seen it in changes in the growing seasons for farmers.

Climate Change has implications for every sector of our economy. Every year of delay makes Climate Change issues more expensive and more difficult to address. North Carolina, along with the rest of the country, must: 1) recognize the problem, 2) conserve and add efficiency, 3) make the transition to clean energy sources over time, and 4) rethink community planning, transportation, and other infrastructure in order preserve our planet for coming generations.

These initiatives can be taken without damaging our economy. In fact, North Carolina has opportunities to grow its economy by making strategic investments and empowering scientist and entrepreneurs to address Climate Change problems. On the other hand, ignoring the problem will eventually devastate our economy. North Carolina can be a leader if state government will make wise choices..
Ray has been a computer science professor at Appal Ray has been a computer science professor at Appalachian State University since 1991 and previously worked as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth and Freed-Hardeman Universities. His wife, Rhonda, spent 20 years as a preK and kindergarten teacher, mostly in Avery and Watauga Counties. She’s also served on numerous boards and committees related to child development in the High Country. Rhonda is now a lecturer at Appalachian State. They both believe deeply in the value of education, investing their lives and careers in fostering a high standard of education and a supportive environment for their students to learn and grow.
The past ten years have not seen much of a change The past ten years have not seen much of a change when it comes to teacher salaries in North Carolina. In the 2008-2009 school year, a teacher with a bachelors degree and 25 years of experience would earn $52,500. Teachers with a masters degree and 25 years of experience would earn $57,810. In the 2018-2019 school year, ten years later, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree and the same experience earns $52,000, and one with a masters degree earns $57,200. Not only did yearly salaries not improve, they even dropped slightly. Several benefits have also been stripped from NC teachers in the past decade, including losing graduate degree pay bumps as well as longevity pay.
The coronavirus pandemic has created problems in e The coronavirus pandemic has created problems in every aspect of daily life. Education is no exclusion. The fall semester for North Carolina public schools is starting soon and teachers will be returning to the classroom or teaching virtually. Our teachers will be facing unprecedented challenges and in some cases taking risks. It has never been more clear how important teachers are and how much support they need. However, even before the pandemic, we have not been giving our teachers the support they need and deserve. Teachers in North Carolina have an average yearly salary of $53,940 as of 2019 according to the National Education Association. This puts us at 30th in the country in terms of how much we pay our teachers. Now more than ever, our teachers deserve the appreciation they’ve been entitled to through more than our words and get them the pay that they deserve.
Tonight, August 10th, my campaign is joining with Tonight, August 10th, my campaign is joining with Democratic district 45 state senate candidate Jeanne Supin to host a candidate forum for our slate of court of appeals candidates. We will be joined by candidates Patricia Shields, Chris Brook, Lora Cubbage, Gray Styers, and Reuben Young.
The NC Court of appeals is a statewide court that plays a crucial roll in our state's judicial process. The forum will be moderated by Watauga county attorney Andrea Capua.
You can register for the event at the link in the bio
Ray is a big advocate for increased funding for ou Ray is a big advocate for increased funding for our schools. In May of this year, he was a primary sponsor on House Bill 1130, which aimed to increase school funding and get a step closer to fulfilling the guidelines set by the Leandro decision. This bill was paired with House Bill 1129, which would approach improving education from a different angle, creating new programs and changing some restrictions put onto public schools. HB 1130 would increase supplemental funding for low income schools, increase teacher’s wages, and fund programs to improve the schooling experience for students and teachers.
School funding is an important issue to confront, School funding is an important issue to confront, especially in North Carolina. It has been proven that when schools have more funding, there are higher graduation rates, students have more opportunities to explore their passions, and teachers have more resources available to give their students these opportunities. Even after the teacher strikes in 2018, funding has only risen by 3% as of 2019. There has even been legal precedent for increasing funding for schools specifically in North Carolina. The Leandro decision is a case from 1994 where the State Supreme Court affirmed the right of all children residing in North Carolina to “a sound basic education.” The WestEd report, released in December 2019, determined that $8 billion was needed to be invested in North Carolina schools over the next eight years in order to meet this constitutional requirement. After the publication of the WestEd report, Ray was one of the primary sponsors of one of the two implementation bills, HB 1130, to wholly implement the recommendations of the report and would begin the process of providing funding to meet the goals of ensuring a sound basic education for all. This bill has been held in committee by republicans since its introduction.
Medicaid Expansion would be a huge boost to rural Medicaid Expansion would be a huge boost to rural hospitals. Rural hospitals in areas where Medicaid has been expanded are 62% less likely to close. Medicaid expansion ensures that rural hospitals are compensated for the work they do. Because of this, expansion has has been proven to be effective in stabilizing rural hospitals. Hospitals are important to our rural community and keeping them funded is integral to keeping our communities stable. By refusing to expand Medicaid, Republicans are forcing North Carolinians to pay 1.7 billion per year in taxes without receiving any benefits.
Besides improving access to health care, medicaid Besides improving access to health care, medicaid expansion would be a big economy boost. It would create estimated 363 more jobs in Ashe and Watauga County. These jobs reach beyond healthcare, including construction jobs, retail, management services and many more. Along with creating jobs, it will create a $88 million economic boost for Ashe and Watauga Counties. Medicaid expansion will lower the cost of health insurance for uninsured North Carolinians and also give consumers more options of health insurance to choose from.This was the very first bill that Ray sponsored after he got elected, following his campaign promises with action.  With more funding, rural hospitals will be more financially healthy. This helps our citizens stay healthy as well as attracting homeowners and business to the area. By refusing to expand Medicaid, Republicans are forcing North Carolinians to pay 1.7 billion per year in taxes without receiving any benefits.
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