VERMANNO'S PLATFORM
I support universal healthcare because I believe that every American has the right to first-rate and affordable healthcare. With a universal healthcare system, Americans will be able to go to the doctor and have all their medical needs met (including dental, vision, and hearing) without worrying about medical debt. People will no longer rack up monstrous medical bills from hospital stays or pay heinous
prices for prescriptions. Universal healthcare will transform healthcare coverage for Americans, and it will end the unjust practice of medical bankruptcy. It is time for Americans to have the comprehensive healthcare coverage that they deserve. Universal healthcare will improve healthcare for all people. Currently, there are millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans because insurance is too expensive due to insurance company profiteering and excessive administrative costs. Universal healthcare will prevent insurance and pharmaceutical companies from stealing money from Americans on a private market. The current issues of our privatized healthcare system will not exist under a universal healthcare system. Universal healthcare will insure every American, and it will reduce costs for individual Americans as well as save the country billions of dollars on healthcare costs. Under the current system, the United States spends an outrageous amount
of money on inadequate healthcare compared to many European countries. Which is why universal healthcare is the answer. Americans deserve better!
Climate change is the single greatest threat to our planet. Every election cycle, we vote for career politicians who serve in the best interest of large corporations and the fossil fuel industry rather than their constituents who elected them. If we don't actively join the fight to save our planet, the effects of climate change will soon become irreversible. We must pass a Green New Deal to combat climate change
while also creating jobs that pay people a living wage rather than a starvation wage. I also support taking away subsidies and ending tax breaks for large corporations and fossil fuel companies that don't pay their fair share in taxes. I will also fight for a greenhouse gas emissions tax on fossil fuel companies that pollute our environment and go after corporations like Duke Energy. Who dumped millions
of tons of toxic coal ash into the Dan River here in North Carolina and raised prices on its customers to pay for the cleanup.
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Climate change affects all of us from the air we breathe and the water we drink to the safety of our neighborhoods. I've spent years standing up for communities at risk. Back in 2014, when Duke Energy’s coal ash spill threatened local rivers, I spoke out, demanding accountability and justice for those impacted. I continue to challenge the fossil fuel industry, pushing for real solutions that protect both people and the planet.
I believe in a future powered by clean energy. I'll work to expand renewable energy options, strengthen infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, and create more green spaces where people live and work.
I'll fight to ensure every community has access to clean air, clean water, and the tools needed to thrive in a changing climate. From supporting electric vehicle programs and better public transit to funding climate education and local innovation, I'm committed to building a sustainable and resilient future for everyone. I know that protecting our planet and supporting our communities go hand in hand. I'm ready to keep fighting for a cleaner, stronger, and fairer future, one that leaves no one behind.
Charlotte’s housing crisis is the result of years of outdated zoning laws, unchecked corporate buying, and weak tenant protections. My approach is built on practical, people-focused solutions that make housing more affordable and stable for everyone in NC House District 106. I support modernizing and loosening outdated zoning laws so we can build more attainable homes like duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes in areas where they’re currently restricted. This creates more diverse, affordable housing options and helps bring down costs for working families.
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I also believe we must place a cap on how much land and property large corporations can buy. When investment firms own thousands of homes, prices rise for everyone and families are pushed out of the market. Limiting corporate bulk-buying ensures that local residents, not Wall Street landlords, shape our neighborhoods. Alongside this, I am committed to ending predatory lease practices by banning hidden fees, unnecessary add-ons, and deceptive charges that make renting unpredictable and unaffordable. Transparency should be the standard in every lease agreement. Too many tenants are facing sudden and unfair rent hikes when renewing their leases—sometimes $200 to $400 increases with no improvements. I support reasonable limits on renewal rent hikes so families can stay in their homes without living in fear of unexpected displacement.
I am running for NC House District 106 because I’ve lived through the consequences of bad housing policy, and I understand how deeply it impacts people’s lives. I’m not running for a title or a paycheck; I’m running to fix problems that have been ignored for far too long and to build a more fair, stable housing future for Charlotte. Housing should be the God-given right of every American citizen. Affordable housing should be within the reach of every single man, woman, and child in this country. However, in the same country that boasts 15.9% of the world's GDP, the city of Charlotte has forty-six thousand residents who pay more than 50% of their monthly income just to keep a roof over their heads. We are currently in need of 34,000 more affordable homes in this city just to satisfy current housing demands. The housing crisis is most definitely a clear and present danger, and yes, even in this crisis, there is opportunity
By investing our tax dollars now in our roads, bridges, and public buildings, we give unemployed workers a task for their skilled and underused hands. At the same time, we offer our children a purpose and a future a future they can be proud of. By taking our tax dollars and putting them to work repairing the bones of our state, we ensure that our future generations will have a strong foundation to build
upon tomorrow. Throughout our great city, our infrastructure is crumbling, and everyday citizens are paying the price for it. From roads that need to be repaired to improving our water quality and ensuring our citizens are getting the most out of public services that are paid for with their hard-earned tax dollars, at the same time we should be building upon our electrical grid and finding new renewable energy methods that are safe for the environment as opposed to coal and nuclear power plants.
If our state is to have any hope, if our nation is to have any hope, then our people must be allowed to hope. They must be given an honest wage, a living wage, and not be required to continue to struggle with two or three jobs just to make ends meet. Which is why I am dedicated to raising the minimum wage to $16 an hour, so that every citizen in our district, and in this nation can thrive again. Businesses around the nation have shown us the way, businesses like Best Buy raised their minimum wage to 15hr in August of 2020, Bank of America raised its wage to $25, and Costco who made the move toward raising their minimum wage to $17hr this year. Companies like these consistently cite employee retention, increased productivity, and even increased membership subscription and customer loyalty among the chief benefits. Bank of America has even gone as far as to hold its vendors accountable and requires them to pay their employees $15hr.
No one in Charlotte should be forced to live on the streets. Housing is a human right, and our city must treat it that way. My plan focuses on three key goals: putting housing first, investing in affordable homes, and providing the support people need to stay housed.
We start by expanding affordable housing and holding developers accountable to build it. Vacant buildings and underused properties can be converted into permanent housing, and community land trusts can keep neighborhoods affordable for the long term. At the same time, we must strengthen renter protections and provide rental assistance so families don’t fall into crisis in the first place.
Ending homelessness also means addressing the challenges that often lead people there.
We need better access to mental health care, substance use treatment, and wraparound services like childcare and job training. And we must raise wages and expand workforce opportunities so that no one working full time in Charlotte is one paycheck away from losing their home. This issue requires collaboration and accountability. I will push for stronger partnerships between city leaders, nonprofits, businesses, and faith communities, while ensuring transparency in how public dollars are spent. With the right leadership, Charlotte can build a future where everyone has stability, dignity, and a place to call home.
Public education is the great equalizer, and it must remain a promise to every family in Charlotte, not a privilege for a few. Every child, no matter their background or zip code, deserves the chance to learn in a fully funded school with teachers who are respected and paid what they’re worth. For too long, politicians have starved our public schools while funneling resources into privatization schemes that leave working families behind. I will fight to stop that. Instead, we must direct state resources into what works: smaller class sizes, safe facilities, modern technology, and programs in arts, music, and skilled trades that prepare students for both college and careers. At the heart of this fight are our teachers. They are the backbone of public education, yet too many are forced to work second jobs just to make ends meet. That’s unacceptable.
North Carolina should lead the South in teacher pay, not lag behind. Competitive salaries, strong benefits, and real respect for educators will help us recruit and retain the best teachers, which directly benefits our children. Fully funding public education is about more than classrooms, it’s about equity and opportunity. It’s about giving working families peace of mind, lifting entire communities, and ensuring the next generation can build a stronger North Carolina. When we invest in our students and pay teachers their worth, we invest in the future of Charlotte and our state.
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As someone who grew up in a working-class family and attended public schools, I understand how essential a strong education system is to a child’s future. Every young person deserves equal access to opportunity, regardless of their ZIP code or background. Yet North Carolina has consistently failed to meet its constitutional responsibility to provide every student with a sound, basic education. For years, lawmakers have underfunded classrooms, diverted public dollars into unregulated private voucher programs, and undermined the work of teachers and school staff. The Leandro decision made it clear that the state is falling short. I am running because District 106 deserves a representative who will fight for fully funded public education and stand up for students, families, and educators.
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Fully Funding Public Schools and Honoring the Leandro Plan
North Carolina cannot build a stronger future without investing meaningfully in its public schools. I support implementing the entire Leandro Plan and restoring stable, adequate funding to every school district. Our schools need increased per-student investment, modern classroom materials, safe facilities, and updated technology to compete with the rest of the country. High-need and underserved communities must receive additional support to ensure the statewide promise of equal opportunity. Every school should have essential staff such as counselors, nurses, social workers, and mental health professionals. Funding public education is not optional; it is both a constitutional mandate and a moral responsibility, and I will work tirelessly to ensure our schools finally receive what they need to serve every child effectively.
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Paying Teachers What They Are Worth
The strength of our public schools depends on the teachers who show up every day for our students. Yet North Carolina continues to lag behind national averages in teacher compensation, which forces many educators to work second jobs or leave the profession entirely. I support raising teacher pay to competitive and livable levels that reflect the importance of their work. North Carolina must also eliminate the cap that blocks veteran teachers from receiving pay raises after fifteen years. Experienced teachers provide stability, mentorship, and guidance for students, and they should not be penalized for their dedication to the profession. When we pay teachers what they are worth, we strengthen retention, boost morale, and build stronger school communities.
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Ending the Expansion of Private School Vouchers
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The unchecked expansion of private school vouchers has diverted hundreds of millions of dollars away from our public schools and directed taxpayer money toward private institutions that are not held to the same standards of transparency, accountability, or student access. This weakens the foundation of public education and widens inequities across the state. I oppose further voucher expansion and believe taxpayer dollars should remain in public schools, which serve every student and operate with oversight and fairness. Public funds should support institutions that reflect public values and responsibilities.
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Preparing Students for College, Careers, and Trade Schools
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Every student deserves a pathway to success, whether that path leads to a four-year university, a community college, an apprenticeship, or a skilled trade. North Carolina must expand career and technical education programs, strengthen partnerships between high schools and community colleges, and develop workforce pipelines that prepare students for well-paying jobs in growing industries. By investing in both college readiness and trade programs, we give students the flexibility to pursue the future that is right for them. Education should open doors and create opportunity, and I am committed to building a system that prepares every student to succeed in the world they choose.
Our criminal justice system should protect and serve all members of our community fairly and equitably. I'm committed to creating a Charlotte where justice is not determined by race, income, or zip code, and where public safety and community trust go hand in hand.
My plan focuses on three priorities: ending mass incarceration, promoting fairness in policing, and supporting rehabilitation and reentry. We must reduce reliance on incarceration for non-violent offenses and invest instead in diversion programs, mental health care, and substance use treatment.
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Policing in Charlotte should be accountable, transparent, and community driven. That means implementing stronger oversight, independent review of misconduct, and community engagement to build trust between law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve.
Also, to ensure that everyone who has served their sentence can successfully reintegrate into society. That includes expanding reentry programs, job training, education, and housing support so returning citizens have the tools to succeed, reduce recidivism, and contribute to our community.
In the North Carolina General Assembly, we’ve had far too many career politicians who continue to serve in the best interests of their campaign donors and larger corporations rather than serve their constituents that elected them into office. Our state legislature is currently made up of most politicians that have been in office for decades and passing bills that benefit only the rich and wealthy rather than the working and middle-class people of our state. It’s long overdue that we enact term limits on our state legislature that will create more competitive elections, end the greed for power, end the corruption of establishment politicians, restore trust in our elections, and do away with the status quo. I will fight for term limits to give every aspiring leader in North Carolina a chance to enact real change, not out of
fear of running against an entrenched incumbent who has been holding onto their political office for decades. Term limits will also get rid of the chokehold that the fossil industry and Corporate America have on our state government.