Two candidates are vying for an open seat in the N.C. House of Representatives District 20.
State representatives serve two-year terms and earn a base salary of $13,951.
In-person early voting begins on Thursday, Oct. 15 and continues through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Here are the candidates’ responses and their thoughts on current issues.
Candidate responses have been edited for style, grammar and length.
Tim Merrick
- Age: 68
- Occupation: Current school board member, retired chiropractor
- Education: New York Chiropractic College, 1991
- Political experience: New Hanover County Board of Education (December 2024 - present)
- Political affiliation: Democrat
Dane Scalise
- Age: 41
- Occupation: Small business owner
- Education: Freedom High School; University of North Carolina at Greensboro; University of North Carolina School of Law
- Political experience: New Hanover County Commissioner (2023-present, Vice-Chair since 2025); Deputy Commissioner, NC Industrial Commission (2016-2020)
- Political affiliation: Republican
What are the top issues facing your district?
Merrick: Affordability is the top issue facing our district. Working families are being squeezed by rising costs for housing, healthcare, insurance, and everyday necessities. At the same time, our state government isn’t delivering on the basics. North Carolina is phasing
out the corporate income tax while ranking at the bottom nationally in publicschool funding, and too often our laws protect powerful interests while families bear the costs. We need a state government that puts working families first by lowering household costs, investing in strong public schools and infrastructure, expanding economic opportunity, and demanding accountability for every taxpayer and ratepayer dollar.
Scalise: Affordability, accountability, and accessibility. Affordability is the most critical issue we’re facing right now. Families, seniors on fixed incomes, and nearly everyone else are all getting squeezed by rising costs and inflation. Alongside making life more affordable, we must also increase government accountability and provide better access to core services like education, clean drinking water, green space, and roads. We can achieve this by making sure government spends tax dollars honestly and effectively, with state spending decisions made in an open and fully transparent process.
What goals do you have for your district?
Merrick: My goal is to make our district a place where working families can afford to build a good life and where state government delivers on the basics. That means lowering pressures on housing, healthcare, insurance and utility costs; creating pathways to good-paying jobs; fully investing in our public schools; and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with growth while protecting our clean water and quality of life. It also means bringing greater accountability to Raleigh so taxpayer and ratepayer dollars serve the public interest not simply the interests of well-connected corporations.
Scalise: I want to bring my straightforward approach on county commission to Raleigh: hold the line on low taxes, demand transparency in spending, and make sure seniors, veterans, and working families aren’t left behind. I will work as a thoughtful representative seeking to unite the people of House District 20, regardless of political party. There are enough common-sense issues to address without focusing on what divides us. I’m a dad, husband, and small business owner, not a career politician. We need leaders in Raleigh who know what it’s like to raise a family and make a living in New Hanover County.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Merrick: I believe I am the best candidate for House District 20 because I bring practical experience, independence, and a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing working families. As a small business owner, I know what it takes to meet a payroll, manage rising costs, and make responsible financial decisions. I built my own home for my family, so I understand firsthand the costs and challenges of housing and development. I’m running to represent the people who live and work in this district, and my decisions will be driven by their needs not by the industries and special interests that hold influence in Raleigh. I will bring that independence, practical experience, and accountability to the General Assembly.
Scalise: I have a track record of real results, not just talking points and campaign promises. As county commissioner, I have delivered record funding to public schools and first responders, cut property taxes, eliminated wasteful government spending, preserved land for trees and parks, increased services for seniors and veterans, and defeated Chemours’ plan to bring GenX-contaminated wastewater into our community. I listen to citizens, work across the aisle, and get things done for the people I represent.
How will you tackle affordability?
Merrick: As a legislator, I can address affordability by creating policies to increase the supply of attainable housing, expand access to affordable healthcare, strengthen consumer protections and competition in insurance, and create more pathways to good-paying jobs. I can also push to fully invest in public education and infrastructure while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Our goal should be simple: make it possible for working families to afford to live, work, and thrive here.
Scalise: I’ll hold state government accountable to spend within its means, just as I have on the county commission. That means reevaluating the state tax code to provide real relief for taxpayers and cutting government waste and inefficiency. When people are getting crushed at the gas pump and grocery store, it is wrong for the government to reach further into our pockets for more. Every dollar taken from our citizens is a dollar they cannot spend on their families, invest in local businesses, give to charities, or save for the future.
How will you increase healthcare access in your district?
Merrick: Every North Carolinian should be able to get quality healthcare without having to choose between seeing a doctor and paying the bills. I will work to protect access to affordable coverage, strengthen and expand our healthcare workforce, invest in community and rural providers, expand telehealth and mental-health services, and lower barriers that keep patients from getting care. Healthcare access isn't just about having insurance. It means having a provider nearby, getting an appointment when you need one, and being able to afford the care you receive.
Scalise: This issue matters deeply to me. Every day in my small business I fight for working people and businesses to help them obtain better, less expensive healthcare coverage. As your representative, I’ll keep pushing to grow medical services here at home, so families don’t have to travel for quality care. I’ve been a strong advocate for UNCW’s medical school and for reducing the bureaucracy and red tape that keeps medical providers from expanding their offerings in our community. More options and more providers mean better access and better outcomes for our community.
What's your plan to improve infrastructure in your district?
Merrick: We need infrastructure that keeps pace with the Cape Fear region’s rapid growth, but we also need to make sure we are investing in the right projects. My priorities include securing a long-term solution for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, repairing and maintaining the bridges serving our beaches, and expanding access to clean, reliable drinking water for communities outside CFPUA’s service area. I will support transportation investments that meaningfully improve safety and congestion while ensuring major projects are evaluated for their impact on surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, taxpayers, and our quality of life.
Scalise: Needed infrastructure projects must be started promptly and finished quickly. There’s no good reason why a single project should take 20 years to complete. During my tenure, the county commission has moved more quickly than ever to expand CFPUA access to northern New Hanover County so that residents have clean drinking water. I also helped deliver two new fire stations to serve District 20 neighborhoods just this year. State infrastructure projects need the same level of commitment and focus. I’ll fight hard to bring state resources home, so our roads, water systems, and emergency services are second to none.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Meet the candidates for NC House District 20
