This is a time when many elected officials are finally paying attention to your opinion because they’re hoping to garner your vote.  Here are three questions you can ask candidates who are running for the state legislature this year (they’re best if put into your own words).  Look below for some ideas about contacting the candidates.

1. North Carolina seems to be losing its natural areas at an catastrophic rate.  I’m concerned that North Carolina’s natural beauty, which makes our state such a popular destination, is in danger of being lost to overdevelopment.  Would you support letting North Carolina voters decide the importance of this issue through a land and water bond to protect our state’s natural areas?
2. I’m worried about my power bill.  The power companies are regulated and so what they charge us is set by law.  But the current law allows Duke and Progress to pass on to customers like me the full capital costs of new plants, and increases in fuel costs, and to take a guaranteed profit margin on top of that.  I’m concerned that in this system, Duke and Progress have no incentive to minimize costs; they just pass the costs of new coal and nuclear plants and fuels costs on to me.  But I’ve read that efficiency is a lot cheaper.  If elected, what will you do to keep utilities from choosing expensive electricity generation options and passing the costs on to me, when there are other, cheaper options out there?
3. I’m concerned after hearing several reports that mercury has contaminated a large number of fish in North Carolina.  This neurotoxin is not only a health danger for a developing fetus whose mother consumes tainted fish, but could also damage the state’s vibrant fishing industry. A recent EPA study found that most mercury pollution comes from nearby coal burning power plants. Several states are calling for 90% reductions in mercury emissions from power plants.  If elected, will you work to stop mercury that’s coming from North Carolina’s 14 coal fired power plants? 

Some ways to get in contact with candidates for the state legislature:

• Get a list of candidates at the State Board of Election website: http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/

Find candidate contact information and websites at North Carolina political parties’ websites:

• NC Democratic Party: http://www.ncdp.org/candidates2006
• NC Republican Party:  http://ncgop.org/home/candidates.asp
• Third parties: NC Libertarian Party: http://www.lpnc.org/, NC Green Party: http://www.ncgreenparty.org/  

Click here to get our tips on writing a letter to the editor and to send your letter to your local newspaper:

• Letter writing tips: http://www.ncconservationnetwork.org/action/letters
• Contact information for state newspapers:  http://www.ncconservationnetwork.org/action/ltecontact