North Carolina begins its first phase of reopening today according to guidelines set out by Gov. Roy Cooper. Republican State Sen. Joyce Krawiec and her November opponent Democrat Terri LeGrand differ on getting back to business in a safe way.
The 31st District leans Republican and includes Davie and parts of Forsyth County.
Krawiec supports the governor's plans for reopening and believes Cooper and the Republican-led legislature are on the same page as far as how to do it safely.
One thing she'd like the governor to consider is a regional approach that would allow some lesser-hit counties to let businesses like salons and restaurants open more quickly.
“If some of those areas don't justify reopening then I think we should look at those areas that are ready that haven't been impacted very much,” says Krawiec.
Krawiec says she'd want to look at modeling trends before such a plan is put in place.
LeGrand says she's worried about political pressure to reopen too soon. She wants a data-driven approach to avoid a large second wave of the outbreak.
“A slow and methodical and safe and scientifically-based reopen is really what's best for people's health and safety and economy, I think,” says LeGrand.
LeGrand says she's worried that reopening too soon could overwhelm the health system. They also expressed an understanding of the fear and uncertainty people are feeling about how the pandemic has changed our world.
Krawiec says she's hoping there's pent-up demand among consumers that will help drive an economic recovery.
“I know it's going to take time, it's not going to be an easy process,” she says. “It'll take a long time to recover the losses that many have suffered, but I'm hoping it won't be as long as we would expect, that we'll be able to bounce back as quickly as we can.”
LeGrand says she's worried that public demonstrations urging reopening only put more people at risk.
“We have to understand that people are scared, this is an unprecedented time,” she says. “But the way they're going around expressing their views is dangerous.”
She says there are ways to speak out about the plan to reopen, but doing it in a way that endangers others is not right.
Both women also raised concerns about how hard it's been for unemployed people to get benefits.