AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
The Nov. 3, 2026, election for North Carolina House District 37 features candidates Erin Paré, the incumbent, and Winn Decker. The News & Observer asked all candidates in this race to complete a questionnaire to inform voters about their opinions on big issues.
Read more 2 places in NC rank among nation’s biggest ‘boomtowns.’ Why they stand out
Political party: Democrat
Age as of Nov. 3, 2026: 34
Campaign website: WinnForNC.com
Current occupation: Non-Profit Education Policy Director
Professional experience: Decker Strategies Consulting, Senior Manager at Common App, Director of Higher Education at The Hunt Institute
Education: Ph.D., Public Administration, N.C. State University, B.S., Chemistry, Rhodes College
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: It’s on Us — Regional Adviser and Campaign Manager, Youth Basketball Coach, Institute of Political Leadership Fellow
What do you see as the most important issue that you would have control over if you win, and what is your position on it? The General Assembly’s number one priority should be lowering costs. I would immediately support legislation to lower energy bills, starting with ending a recent law that has allowed Duke Energy to shift their costs onto residential customers. There will also be an opportunity to provide property tax relief, beyond a potential levy limit, which should include targeted relief for seniors, veterans and longtime homeowners facing out of control reevaluations.
Name one area where you disagree with your own party, and why: Democrats on the Wake County Commission recently voted to move forward with a merger between WakeMed and Atrium despite public concerns. We deserve more transparency from our elected officials about such a major move involving our community hospital and consumers deserve to be protected from increased premiums and prices for care. The majority of Democratic commissioners were wrong on this, and I won’t hesitate to call out elected officials on either side that put politics over community needs.
If a constitutional amendment passes, the 2027 General Assembly will decide how to limit local property tax increases. What is your position? My Ph.D. research on property taxes showed that balanced property tax limits are associated with increased economic growth and local governments operated well within those constraints. But those gains depended on the rate and design and the General Assembly has not proposed either. A broad one-size-fits-all approach may leave some taxpayers without relief. It’s crucial that we get the policy right for a levy limit to actually reduce tax bills while ensuring public safety and services are funded.
Should the General Assembly help fund a Major League Baseball stadium in NC, and if so, where? For three years, the General Assembly failed to pass a balanced budget. Our priority should be stopping wasteful spending, reducing costs, and funding health care and education. Costs of everything have increased, to include construction and transportation, and it’s easy to imagine how the price tag could spiral out of control. I personally love the idea of MLB coming to Wake County, but asking taxpayers to foot the bill for a stadium right now is not appropriate and not a priority.
How should the state regulate hemp and marijuana? A more coherent state policy is needed to provide stability to businesses and farmers and clear guidance for consumers. Current law gives North Carolina one of the more permissible hemp policies in the country. I believe there should be age restrictions for THC and products like kratom. Standards such as labeling and testing requirements on these products are needed. Ultimately I believe adults should be able to make informed and responsible choices about these products.
Should there be a state law about data centers, and what should it be? Local governments across North Carolina, including Holly Springs, have enacted moratoriums on new data centers in response to community concerns about power, water usage and noise. I strongly support bipartisan legislation like the Datacenter Transparency Act that would establish a moratorium on data center permits statewide pending a study on their impact and the creation of clear regulatory requirements including protection for taxpayers and neighborhoods.
Do you think the economy is getting better or worse in your district, and how? People’s pocketbooks are tightening and wages are not keeping up with the cost of housing or healthcare. Once stable expenditures like utilities and groceries are increasing. People’s commutes are longer while gas prices keep getting higher. My priority in the General Assembly will be lowering costs. I plan to ensure our economic growth is about creating a more livable community, not just numbers for a political talking point.
Read more As Hurricanes try to go back-to-back, advice from someone familiar who’s done it
Did you use AI to answer any of these questions? No.
Political party: Republican
Age as of Nov. 3, 2026: 48
Campaign website: erinfornc.com
Current occupation: Small business owner; Legislator
Professional experience: Owner, Play-It-Again Sports Holly Springs, Founder, Holly Strings Youth Orchestra, Senior Account Executive, Valis and Keelen, LLC – Public Policy Consulting Firm in Washington, D.C. I handled federal regulatory reform issues, working with Congress, White House officials, Fortune 500 companies and trade associations. Government Affairs Representative, NPES Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, Reston, Va. – I was the DC representative for the association.
Education: M.A., International Commerce and Policy, George Mason University, Arlington, Va. B.A., Government and International Politics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: House-appointed Member, N.C. Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission; Military Spouse, Family Readiness Group Leader, and Recipient of the Shield of Sparta Heroine of Infantry Award from the National Infantry Association for work supporting deployed soldiers in wartime; PTA President, Holly Ridge Elementary School; Founder, Holly Strings Youth Orchestra in Holly Springs; Vice Chair, Town of Holly Springs Board of Adjustment; Member, Triangle Community Church
What do you see as the most important issue that you would have control over if you win, and what is your position on it? Southern Wake County is a rapidly growing area. Transportation infrastructure, water/wastewater capacity, and energy demands are all top priorities and impact every District 37 resident. As an Appropriations Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee on the Energy and Public Utilities, and having been deeply engaged on these issues for years, I will continue to lead on making sure the costs of growth remain under control and southern Wake County has the resources it needs to grow responsibly.
Name one area where you disagree with your own party, and why: Not every Republican in the General Assembly supported a significant investment in raising teacher pay. However, I and other House Republicans fought hard for and won the largest teacher pay raise in 20 years and highest increase in starting teacher pay in 50 years.
If a constitutional amendment passes, the 2027 General Assembly will decide how to limit local property tax increases. What is your position? The General Assembly should enact reasonable limits on property tax increases to provide taxpayers with predictability in billing and affordability, while ensuring local governments have the revenue they need to provide services. The current senior/disabled homestead exemptions should be expanded using county AMI to better reflect cost-of-living. At the same time, the General Assembly should reform overgenerous exemptions for corporate nonprofits and close the “Blue Ridge Loophole.”
Should the General Assembly help fund a Major League Baseball stadium in NC, and if so, where? Yes, but only if the proposal ensures that the NC taxpayer receives a suitable positive return on their investment. A Major League Baseball stadium should be located in Wake County, of course!
How should the state regulate hemp and marijuana? The state should regulate hemp by providing age restrictions, testing requirements, marketing restrictions in order to keep it out of the hands of kids. As House Select Committee on Substance Abuse Chair in 2024, our committee recommended the state regulate the sale and distribution of hemp-derived consumable and kratom products, and schedule Tianeptine (”gas station heroin”) as a Schedule II controlled substance. I support medical marijuana, prescribed by a physician, for certain illnesses.
Should there be a state law about data centers, and what should it be? State law should require data centers to pay their own way rather than shift costs to families and small businesses. A good place to start is Senate Bill 730 “Ratepayer Protection Act” which passed the House. State law should require data center developers to cover the full costs of power generation, grid expansions and transmission line upgrades, as well as require closed-loop cooling systems. Data center developers should also be required to conduct local noise impact assessments.
Do you think the economy is getting better or worse in your district, and how? District 37 tells me about the high cost of groceries, gas and childcare, out-of-control property tax bills, and high power and water bills. Here’s what I’m doing about it: Passed legislation to reduce future utility bills by estimated $15 billion, sponsored a bill to eliminate the grocery tax, cut income taxes by 30%, increased childcare reimbursement rates and expanded the number of childcare slots, led the charge on property tax reduction and reform, secured over $70 million for District 37 water and roads.
Read more Coca-Cola killed two holiday sodas; one is making a comeback
Did you use AI to answer any of these questions?: No.
This story was originally published September 26, 2026 at 3:32 PM.