Name: Mary Beedle

Age: 72 until Oct 19

Race: NC House of Representatives District 79

Party: Democratic

Website: marybeedle.com

Biography: Candidate Mary Beedle, MSN

Another choice has arrived for North Carolina House District 79. I am Mary Beedle, a newly retired Nurse Practitioner. I am running to become a strong voice for Women’s Rights, and I hope to expand education about Women’s Health needs.

I support the protection of our rights, protecting our public schools and improving teacher retention. In rural areas, student education suffers due to limited access to broadband. We need to fix this problem to guarantee a good economic future for all our children.

I come from a family of ten children and left my hometown, Chicago, at 18. From that experience I learned the importance of communication, negotiation, and cooperation to get things accomplished. I completed my Nursing and BS in Health Education Degrees and went on to a Master’s Degree in Nursing. As a mother, grandmother, and Nurse Practitioner, I have supported family planning, contraception, and reproductive education. The General Assembly needs qualified professionals when making reproductive and health policies.

I will be a voice for a wide variety of people. Limited Spanish is my second language, learned when I was a missionary in Guatemala.

I now own my home in Washington, NC with a short walk to the River.

My sailing experiences; my community health concerns; my knowledge of environmental protections; my commitment to quality education in our public schools; my love of the beautiful natural aspects in North Carolina, lead me to run for office against a man who is not committed to the social benefits for the variety of cultures contained in District 79.

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I feel that I offer a more rounded view of the District I will serve. It gives me the opportunity to engage others to participate in the future choices and enlist, especially young people, to create a place they want to stay in. My opponent is out of touch, especially when it comes to women’s rights.

If you are elected, what will be your top priority in office?

Protecting Women’s Health Rights, Public School Fairness, Environmental Safety for our Health and Educating about the effects of the environment on their health.

What is the top challenge facing North Carolina, and how would you address it?

Working across cultural differences in politics and religion that prevent constructive solutions. I have ideas that would be more along the lines of research with a core focus groups that represent different factions to commit to explore beliefs, and working on addressing biases and exploring where they came from. This group could present their finding to the community and see if the experiment helps in any way. Simple ideas can create small moves. Change happens. It is how we decide to embrace it, that makes all the difference in our daily lives. There are many challenges to address but having basic communication is key. The needs of a District must come from the people exploring what they really need. It takes a village. The Native American tribes often asked the Grandmothers. A person does not have to be born in a place to know the needs.

What is an issue in North Carolina you feel not enough people are talking about it? How would you use the power and influence you’d have in this position to address it?

When Technology Fails how are we prepared. When Disaster Strikes preparedness as individuals and families.

How do you work with others you don’t agree with?

I listen and respond. I respond with Respect.