CANDIDATE PROFILE: Republican Deborah Cochran for 2020 NC Lieutenant Governor

RALEIGH – The field for the open N.C. lieutenant governor seat in 2020 is filling out nicely, with a handful of candidates on either side of the aisle aiming to replace outgoing Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. First in Freedom Daily will be profiling a few of these candidates that may deserve a second look by conservatives, and we start with the first Republican to declare her intentions: former Mount Airy Mayor Deborah Cochran.

Currently a business teacher at J.F. Kennedy High School in Winston-Salem, Cochran served as mayor of Mount Airy from 2009 to 2015. Prior to being elected mayor, she was a City Commissioner for the City of Mount Airy, following years of broadcast experience in radio.

FFD: What made you want to run for lieutenant governor?

DC: A teacher, aware of my political background, strongly suggested that I should run.  She said, “you have a heart for God and man.”  She is a registered Democrat, and I am Republican. She is working tirelessly for me. People over politics. I made the announcement to run at the Teacher March in Raleigh on May 16, 2018.

Cochran asserts that her background and experience qualify her for the role of lieutenant governor. While she has a growing coalition of ‘Dems 4 Deb’ supporters, she is a proud conservative Republican.

That brings us to her campaign platform, which includes a focus on government accountability as she touts her record of lowering property and water rates while serving as a City Commissioner and mayor of her hometown.

“Government must be efficient and accountable,” Cochran says.

As for the rest of her platform, she says it is made up of what matters most to North Carolinians:

“Economic development.  People want to work and have purpose.  I will focus on existing businesses including agriculture and recruiting new industries.  As mayor, I flew to West Memphis to recruit an industry with locations in California, Arkansas and other states.  That came about after I answered the telephone in the mayor’s office.  The businessman said when he calls the mayor in California, he gets a return call 5 months later. 

Voice for education.  We are educating future generations to be career and college ready with employability skills. The 21st Century workplace is technology driven with global competition. 

Health advocate – NC is 2nd in the Nation for opioid deaths.  Help must be available for substance abuse and mental health concerns.

Public Safety – Keeping citizens safe and protecting our neighborhoods. I am a strong supporter of law enforcement.  I myself have my Concealed Carry permit. [..]”

Cochran was the first Republican to announce her 2020 bid for lieutenant governor. As we inch closer to 2020 and issues are framed within the lieutenant governor’s race here in the Old North State, we’ll bring you more perspective from Cochran and other conservative candidates.

Stay tuned.