By Carrie Wellman
Wilmington, NC – All this week WHQR is asking candidates in two state house races five questions on some of the most pressing issues facing North Carolina. Focusing on the 18th District House race we start this morning talking about eminent domain.
Frankie Roberts
Republican Frankie Roberts stepped into the race with less than 100 days to campaign after his wife stepped out of the race for personal reasons.
Roberts is a native Wilmingtonian who runs a non-profit that finds homes and jobs for ex-offenders.
When asked if he supports a constitutional amendment banning eminent domain for the sake of economic development, Roberts says he would not ban eminent domain all together.
I think when we built I-40 people would say now that it was a good thing even if we had to use eminent domain with certain people where it went through their land.
Thomas Wright
Democrat Thomas Wrights is the incumbent and also a native of Wilmington.
He says there are laws on the book protecting residents from eminent domain.
The reason why I think it failed in the General Assembly in North Carolina, the devil was in the details and nobody was very clear on what those details were.
The 18the House District represents portions of New Hanover and Pender Counties.