Since I’ve been in the legislature, John, I’ve seen us squander a lot of the financial opportunities we’ve had to really invest in our state. We’ve spent cash on absolutely everything even though we had the lowest interest rates in our history and a super high credit rating, and now we’re paying the price.
Our state is teetering on the edge of a crisis point where soaring interest rates and depleted coffers have left our state government completely unable to fund the services our people depend on.
We have a 25% vacancy rate for state positions—which shows as clearly as anything else that when we lack the capacity to fund competitive salaries, when we’ve made bad investments that prevent us from funding great benefits, we can’t hire. If we don’t do something to fix the situation soon, our state could really be in for a world of hurt.
Why am I telling you this? It’s not to scare you. But I was talking to a friend the other day and they told me something that gave me pause.
They said, “You know you’re running the most important Treasurer’s race in the country, right?”
I was a little surprised—I had to admit that I didn’t. But they were 100% right. Of the nine states that will elect new Treasurers next year:
- Only Washington has a larger pension plan than NC, and they’re a solid blue state where the incumbent Democratic will almost certainly cruise to reelection
- Only Pennsylvania is arguably as competitive as NC, but their State Treasurer manages a much smaller investment portfolio with fewer responsibilities
- No other state gives their Treasurer as integral a role in municipal finances and funding capital projects as NC does through the Local Government Commission
- In no other state is the financial situation as precarious and the stakes as high as NC
In other words, this race will be one of the most competitive in the nation, with some of the highest financial stakes, and the most ability to directly impact people’s lives.
That’s a lot of responsibility to shoulder—but it also means that if we do pull together, if we do put in the work, if we do win next Fall, then that’s a hell of a lot of good we can do for our neighbors.
Like nowhere else in the country, if we succeed here, we can make investments in our communities that will change people’s lives for the better. That’s a really special opportunity we’ve been given, to run in the most important Treasurer’s race in the country, and it’s one we can’t afford to squander.
With so much on the line, can I ask you to make a contribution of $25, $50, or anything you can afford? This is the most important Treasurer’s race in the country, and we’re not the only ones who know that—undoubtedly, the Republicans do as well. They’re going to throw everything they have at us to try and keep this seat, and we need to be ready to fight back with a message of hope and opportunity. John, can I count on you to give today?
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Thanks as always for sticking by me—together, I know we can make it across the finish line and deliver the opportunity and investment that every single North Carolinian deserves.
Talk to you soon,
Wesley Harris
Wesley Harris is a North Carolina native and the only PhD economist in the General Assembly. First elected in 2018, he has been fighting hard for the residents of southern Mecklenburg County and working to make our state the best place in the country to live, work, and start a family. Now, Wesley is running for Treasurer to make an investment in our state's greatest asset, it's people. Together, Wesley believes that we can unlock our potential and build opportunity for every North Carolinian.
www.harrisfornc.com
Paid for by Wesley Harris for NC
Wesley Harris for NC
P.O. Box 77764
Charlotte, NC 28271
United States
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