priorities
Here’s what Lynne’s fighting for:
EDUCATION
North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in education funding, 43rd in overall teacher pay and 39th in starting salary, leading to high turnover and ongoing staffing shortages. Lynne will fight to fully fund public schools and push back on the continued diversion of $1.3 billion in taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers. She’ll also work to rebuild and modernize schools damaged by Hurricane Helene, ensuring students and teachers have safe, functional classrooms equipped for the future.
FARMERS & AGRICULTURE
When Hurricane Helene hit, WNC farmers lost critical fencing, equipment, and infrastructure. Lynne will push for targeted disaster recovery grants to help them rebuild barns, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and more. She’ll also fight for policies that protect family farms, strengthen local markets, and preserve our agricultural way of life because rural resilience starts with supporting the people who grow our food.
VETERANS
Western North Carolina is home to one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the state, yet many still struggle to access the care and support they deserve. Lynne will expand rural healthcare options through mobile units and telehealth partnerships, so no veteran has to drive hours or wait months for basic care. She’ll also support expanded transportation assistance, ride-share programs, and improved access to VA travel grants. And for caregivers, Lynne will fight to strengthen respite programs, peer support networks, and rural mental health services because these aren’t luxuries, they’re lifelines. We owe our veterans more than words. We owe them action.
SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY
Small businesses make up 96% of all businesses in Western North Carolina, yet many were left without meaningful state or federal support after Hurricane Helene. While some received help through SBA loans or nonprofit grants, too many are still struggling to reopen, rehire, or rebuild. Lynne will fight to expand access to state-led recovery programs and push for targeted grants that support storefront repairs, equipment replacement, and revitalization of local business districts. She’ll also work to simplify the application process for state assistance, so small business owners aren’t forced to navigate red tape just to survive. Because when small businesses thrive, our entire community thrives.
RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, federal funding for broadband in rural WNC was pulled, leaving many families, veterans, and small businesses disconnected. Lynne will champion legislation to fast-track broadband expansion and give local governments the power to treat the internet like the essential utility it is. Every home, no matter how remote, deserves access to reliable, high-speed internet for education, healthcare, jobs, and emergency response.
Why Hurricane Helene Relief Matters
North Carolina has allocated nearly $2 billion in state funding to support recovery from Hurricane Helene—focused mostly on rebuilding and stabilizing communities. But urgent needs remain unmet, especially when it comes to grants for small businesses in Western North Carolina.
The truth is, without the federal aid we were promised—but still haven’t received—our region’s recovery simply hasn’t kept pace with the scale of the devastation. It’s time for focused, fast-moving leadership to deliver the support our people and local businesses need to fully rebuild and thrive.