Cabarrus County’s Senate District 34 candidates want tax cuts, higher teacher pay
To help inform voters in the March 3, 2026, election, this candidate questionnaire is available to be republished by local publications in North Carolina without any cost. Please consider subscribing to The Charlotte Observer to help make this coverage possible.
This story focuses on the election for the North Carolina Senate District 34 Republican primary, which features incumbent state Sen. Chris Measmer and former state Rep. Kevin Crutchfield. The district covers all but a small section of southern Cabarrus County.
The Charlotte Observer asked all candidates in this race to complete a questionnaire to inform voters about their opinions on big issues facing voters.
Kevin Crutchfield
Political Party: Republican
District number: 34
Age as of March 3, 2026: 65
Campaign website: votekevincrutchfield.com
Current occupation: CEO - Casco Signs, Inc CFO The Crutchfield Group, LTD CFO Crutchfield Farms Inc CEO Tradin It UP, LLC Managing Partner Castaway Properties LLC.
Professional experience: 13 Years IBM Corp, 1 year Cabarrus Plastics, 35 years business owner of multiple businesses. 2 years NC house Representative
Education: College- UNC Charlotte
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. • United States Sign Council - 6 Years active Board Member • Southern States Sign Council - 4 Years Active Board Member President • Cabarrus County GOP Executive Board Member • Rowan Cabarrus Community College Foundation Board • HTA Board Member • Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) • Winecoff Rec, YMCA Kannapolis - Coached youth athletics for Baseball, Soccer, and Basketball • Donated services and signs Habitat for Humanity, Community Free Clinic, CCM , Special Olympics
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Affordability is the number-one issue in Cabarrus County. We’re growing fast, and families are getting squeezed. Every decision should pass the kitchen-table test: lower taxes, less red tape, and policies that grow paychecks. And as we grow, we must keep up with roads, schools, and infrastructure—so families aren’t paying more for a government that’s falling behind
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Teacher pay is a recruitment and retention issue, and NC is behind. Starting pay is around $41,000 today, even with planned increases reaching the high-40s. That puts us near the bottom nationally and behind our neighboring states. I support a competitive, responsible pay scale to start and for mid-career teachers and veteran educators. Additionally, I am an advocate of restoring master’s pay as advanced training and experience should be rewarded.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Passing a state budget on time is a basic responsibility, not an option. When I served in the House, I made sure I was in the budget room throughout the process, served on the budget conference committee, and helped pass a budget that cut taxes, grew revenue, and lowered the tax burden on families and businesses. I fully support requiring a budget. If I ran my small business the way the General Assembly has operated this session, missing deadlines and lacking a clear plan, it would not survive.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? Yes, I support continuing to lower North Carolina’s income tax rate, but it must be done responsibly. We have to balance tax relief for families with the need to fund core government functions and fairly compensate the more than 70,000 state employees who keep agencies running. That means pairing tax reductions with fiscal discipline and innovative revenue sources, like regulated sports betting, so we can keep taxes low without shortchanging essential services.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? In some areas, yes, but overall the state is not using taxpayer money as efficiently as it should. Agencies and employees are doing good work, but excessive waste results from overregulation, weak accountability, and inadequate oversight. The governor oversees key executive agencies and is responsible for managing those dollars effectively. Taxpayer money is not a blank check to grow bureaucracy. I have seen permits stalled at DEQ not because of safety or science, but politics.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? Under the right Controls of Medical Professionals and tight regulation I support the medical professional’s ability to prescribe the use of treatments they believe will best suit the patient and their conditions. Medical Marijuana could be one of those treatments. It’s between the patient and their doctor.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? The biggest barrier is a shortage of providers and services. And as our population grows in rural and underserved areas. Too many families struggle to find timely care because of limited provider availability, rising costs, and long travel distances. To address this, I support policies that strengthen and retain our health care workforce, expand access to telehealth, and ensure providers are fairly reimbursed so services remain available locally.
Chris Measmer
Political party: Republican District number: 34
Age as of March 3, 2026: 38
Campaign website: www.votechrismeasmer.com
Current occupation: Restaurateur
Professional experience: Small Business Owner
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science
Please list any notable government or civic involvement. Previously served as a Cabarrus County Commissioner, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? Public safety and security. Cabarrus is a suburb of Charlotte where we are seeing an increase in violent crime which can spill into our county. I voted for Iryna’s Law which will ensure jail cells are no longer a revolving door for violent criminals. I will continue to collaborate with law enforcement and the District Attorney to address and resolve public safety issues.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Starting pay should be $50,000. Future raises should be determined by performance, duties and education.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Currently we have an operational budget, but I will continue encouraging leadership of both chambers to reach a swift agreement, and one which includes a reduction of income taxes and elimination of budgetary waste.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? The income tax was already reduced to 3.49% for 2026 and I support an elimination of this tax on the identified graduated scale.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? Ongoing auditor reports make clear that identifying government waste remains critical. The DAVE Act has enabled investigations uncovering inefficiencies costing taxpayers billions of dollars.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? I support more research on the impacts of medical marijuana before further action.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? High costs prevent many from accessing healthcare. I voted for the SCRIPT Act which increased drug price transparency and protected independent pharmacies from unfair practices. Repealing Certificate of Need laws would boost competition, lower prices, and allow rural communities to open more medical facilities—reforms I strongly support.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
