Candidates for N.C. General Assembly weigh in on immigration

Comments 8
October 21, 2010 5:10 PM

The Times-News asked candidates for local offices in November’s elections to answer our questions. We’ll run a question and answers from candidates in local races each day up to Election Day.

The Times-News asked candidates to limit each answer to 75 words. The newspaper made no changes to the answers. Previous answers will be compiled on our website, TheTimesNews.com.

This is the third of five questions for candidates for seats in the North Carolina legislature.

Incumbent Democrat Tony Foriest is facing off against Republican Rick Gunn and Libertarian Barry Coe for the state Senate District 24 seat. Incumbent Democrat Alice Bordsen faces Republican challenger Roger Parker to represent state House District 63. Republican incumbent Dan Ingle is running unopposed to hold on to his House District 64 seat.



Do you support an Arizona-style immigration law that would give police and deputies more authority to check the registry of people they suspect are in the country or state illegally?

(Alice Bordsen of Mebane has represented Alamance County in the N.C. House since 2002. She has worked as a media coordinator, university librarian, small business owner and real estate broker. She and her husband, Donald, live in Mebane and have two daughters and two grandchildren.) North Carolina has strengthened its immigration laws in the past few years to make it more difficult to get a driver’s license and to help local law enforcement agencies enforce our federal immigration laws. However, the key to a successful immigration policy is consistent federal laws and enforcement, not the patchwork approach we have now.

(Roger Kirk Parker has a background in business and finance and is retired from IBM Corp. and still does contract work with the company. He and his wife, Phyllis, live in Mebane and have three daughters, a son and three grandchildren. Another grandchild is expected this month.) Yes! If the federal government would do its job and protect our US borders, there would be no need for laws like Arizona. I also support our local law enforcement agencies to enforce Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(Barry Coe is retired from the Chapel Hill Police Department. He has owned and managed four clubs licensed by the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and has worked as a real estate agent and security employee at Elon University since 2007. Coe and his wife, Susan, live in Graham and have three children.) The negative results of "illegals" in any area are the same as any other criminal element that seek benefit from failed government policies. Without the lucrative profit of drug prohibition and welfare, these offenders would lose the incentives. Don't place a saucer of milk upon your doorstep and complain about stray cats in your yard!

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