Former NC Rep. Frank Sossamon advocates cutting taxes – and local services – at Granville Hispanic Outreach event
I showed up to the “Welcome Community Event" organized by Ed Sosa of Granville Hispanic Community Outreach, thinking I would have an opportunity to meet members of Granville County’s Hispanic community and hear their concerns. What I found instead was more of a campaign event featuring Chris Stock, Republican candidate for North Carolina Senate District 18, and Frank Sossamon, Republican candidate for House District 32, both in Granville County. The two candidates participated in a discussion moderated by Dalton Clark, Managing Director of External Affairs for Americans for Prosperity’s North Carolina chapter.
The June 24 event was co-hosted by Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative. Both are libertarian-leaning organizations funded in part by the Koch family, with The LIBRE Initiative focused on appealing to a Latino audience. About 50 people attended the event, which was part of Americans for Prosperity’s “Reignite The American Dream” tour.
Both candidates focused their remarks on their commitment to constituent services, sharing several anecdotes about helping individuals navigate problems during their time in the general assembly, Stock as a legislative assistant, and Sossamon as a representative. They didn’t focus heavily on policy ideas, though both expressed support for two proposed constitutional amendments that would cap state income taxes and limit local governments’ ability to levy property taxes.
Stock said, “When you leave government unchecked to raise your taxes, they will,” adding that the constitutional amendments would “put a measure of checks and balances” on local governments.
Sossaman said local governments have to learn to live within their means. “If you have to cut services, then cut services.”
Neither candidate offered specific ideas for what services should be cut.
Stock faces incumbent Democrat Haseeb Fatmi, and Sossamon faces incumbent Democrat Bryan Cohn this November. Both races are among the most competitive in the state.