The SEANC View

On this special election edition, we welcome political strategist Flint Benson on break down North Carolina’s surprising results: Democrats won a large majority in the NC House while Republicans held the Senate, and key tax amendments left open major questions about revenue and services. The panel examines likely fights over the state budget, school vouchers, property-tax limits, leadership changes, Wake County races, and the surge in Gen Z and early voting — highlighting what to watch as lawmakers return to Raleigh.

In this episode, hosts Samantha Cline, Ardis Watkins and Suzanne Beasley sit down with former Representative Paul "Skip" Stam and Senator Graig Meyer to discuss two constitutional amendments on the ballot: a proposed income tax cap and a property tax limit. The guests, a Republican and a Democrat, explain their shared concerns about long-term revenue loss, regressive tax shifts, and threats to state services and employee pay. The conversation covers how the amendments could force governments to rely on sales, fees, and other regressive taxes, weaken local control, reduce reserves and borrowing power, and impact retirees, law enforcement, and emergency services. There is also an update on the Atrium-State Health Plan agreement and why board decisions mattered for plan sustainability. Listeners are urged to learn more, make a voting plan, and consider the episode’s recommendation to vote against the tax amendments; details about early voting and local endorsements are discussed.

Hosts Jonathan Owens, Ardis Watkins and Samantha Cline are joined this week by Department of Public Safety Interim Secretary Casandra Hoekstra for an in-depth interview. Hoekstra discusses agency leadership after recent reorganizations, staffing and recruitment challenges in juvenile justice and law enforcement, cybersecurity and AI use, and ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. Before the interview, we discuss SEANC's opposition to two amendments on the ballot in N.C. this year that will limit funding for public services. We also discuss the State Fair.

Thomas Friedman of the State Health Plan joins us to talk about why some Atrium facilities will be out-of-network for 2027, and how it will affect members and plan costs. The episode also covers the WakeMed–Atrium merger, community concerns, calls for public hearings, and what these developments could mean for state employees, retirees, and local healthcare access.

This week we discuss Atrium’s new “Affordability Protection Program,” which lowers out-of-pocket costs for members who stay with its doctors and hospitals without lowering the prices it charges the State Health Plan. Treasurer Brad Briner says if the program stays in place, it will bankrupt the State Health Plan. Every member will feel the strain through higher premiums, thinner benefits and less money for raises and COLAs. We also talk to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler about that behind-the-scenes work from state employees at the Department of Agriculture who plan and run the State Fair, as well the employees from other agencies, like the Department of Labor’s ride inspectors, who help keep fairgoers safe. He explains how those agencies coordinate before and during the fair, and what he wants the public to understand about the people doing the work. The State Fair runs from Oct. 16-25 at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Make plans now to attend.