Rodney Pierce

As a representative of rural North Carolina, I believe economic development should strengthen a community rather than place disproportionate costs on the people who already live there. Data centers can bring investment and jobs, but communities should not be expected to absorb higher electricity or water costs, strain on infrastructure, environmental risks, or impacts on agricultural land without a meaningful voice in the process.

I would support stronger transparency and community input before major data-center projects are approved, along with making sure developers, and not ordinary ratepayers, pay their fair share of the infrastructure costs they create. We also need to consider water availability, energy demand, environmental impacts, and the long-term character of rural communities before approving projects.

Workforce preparation has to begin well before a student reaches a university. As a former classroom teacher, I believe we need to strengthen STEM education in our public schools while giving students meaningful pathways from high school into community colleges, apprenticeships, certifications, and four-year programs.

Community colleges should have the resources and industry partnerships necessary to train students for the jobs actually being created in North Carolina. Rural students should have access to those opportunities regardless of their ZIP code. We should also invest in teachers, lab facilities, career-and-technical education, and dual-enrollment opportunities so students can see a pathway from the classroom to a science, health, or biotechnology career.

Government has a responsibility to protect the public from health risks that individuals cannot reasonably address on their own. That means maintaining access to vaccines and preventive care, protecting drinking water from contaminants such as PFAS, addressing environmental hazards such as asbestos, and ensuring communities are prepared for emergencies.

I also believe public health policy should be grounded in sound scientific evidence while recognizing that people deserve clear information and a voice in decisions affecting their communities. In rural North Carolina, access is often the biggest challenge. It does little good to have a health resource available somewhere in the state if a family cannot reasonably reach it or afford it. We need to invest in the local health departments, healthcare workforce, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness that rural communities depend upon.

Trust is built through transparency, honesty, and consistency. Elected officials should not ask people to trust science simply because an official says so. We should help people understand how scientific conclusions are reached, what the evidence tells us, what remains uncertain, and why recommendations may change as new evidence becomes available.

As a former history teacher, I also know that people are more likely to trust institutions when they feel respected and heard. Scientists and public officials should engage communities directly, especially communities that have historically felt overlooked. We should create opportunities for scientists to communicate in plain language and for residents to ask questions without being dismissed.

My role as an elected official is not to substitute politics for science. It is to make sure people have access to credible information, that decisions are transparent, and that science is used responsibly in making public policy.