Ben grew up in a small community in eastern North Carolina and attended college at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he graduated as a physical therapist. He and his wife live in Ashe County, where they have reclaimed a small farm. 

Ben is a retired physical therapist. He has held leadership roles in physical therapy professional associations, including serving as the President of the American Physical Therapy Association. His career in health care includes working in small community hospitals and being promoted to the Director of Rehabilitation. Later, he served as the executive director of the state’s PT Licensure Board in North Carolina.

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Ben Massey's campaign for state representative is his first run for public office. 

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Believes affordable housing is essential for economic stability and supports expanding housing options for local families.

Believes all residents deserve opportunities to improve their economic circumstances and supports diversifying and strengthening the economic base of small business, tourism, health care, trades, and small industry.

Believes farmers should be recognized as essential workers and prioritized in economic policy. Plans to work towards a better future for the local agriculture community.

Believes farmers should be recognized as essential workers and prioritized in economic policy, and plans to work towards a better future for the local agriculture community.

Supports policies to build social and technological infrastructure, create high-paying jobs, and address food and housing insecurity.

- Believes affordable housing is essential for economic stability and supports expanding housing options for local families.
- Believes all residents deserve opportunities to improve their economic circumstances and supports diversifying and strengthening the economic base of small business, tourism, health care, trades, and small industry.
- Believes farmers should be recognized as essential workers and prioritized in economic policy, and plans to work towards a better future for the local agriculture community.
- Supports policies to build social and technological infrastructure, create high-paying jobs, and address food and housing insecurity.

Economy

Supports renewable energy, conservation, sustainable agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and environmental justice.

Believes forests are "vital carbon sinks" and supports protecting and expanding forested areas to mitigate climate change. Encourages planting a tree for every tree cut and highlights local organizations available to help.

Believes forests are "vital carbon sinks" and supports protecting and expanding forested areas to mitigate climate change, and encourages planting a tree for every tree cut and highlights local organizations available to help.

Supports placing the environment above profits and transitioning to a "Clean Energy Economy." Believes in protecting natural beauty through comprehensive action and electing supportive leaders.

Supports placing the environment above profits and transitioning to a "Clean Energy Economy," and believes in protecting natural beauty through comprehensive action and electing supportive leaders.

Supports local adoption of clean energy options like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. Encourages the motto “Repair, Reuse, Recycle.”

Supports local adoption of clean energy options like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, and encourages the motto “Repair, Reuse, Recycle.”

Supports fuel efficiency, reducing mileage, ride sharing, and lowering emissions. Encourages supporting businesses with electric charging stations and clean energy options.

Supports fuel efficiency, reducing mileage, ride sharing, and lowering emissions, and encourages supporting businesses with electric charging stations and clean energy options.

Believes we should prepare for "extreme weather" by developing disaster preparedness plans, sustainable land use policies, and climate-resistant home modifications.

Believes in supporting neighbors with fewer resources to prepare for climate effects and reminding elected officials that environmental justice is a shared concern.

Supports small local farmers and organic practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience. Encourages supporting local Farmers Markets and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Supports small local farmers and organic practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience, and encourages supporting local Farmers Markets and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Believes climate policies must address the specific needs of Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga Counties to be effective. Supports reflecting the diversity of rural communities in climate policies to ensure no community is left behind.

Believes climate policies must address the specific needs of Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga Counties to be effective, and supports reflecting the diversity of rural communities in climate policies to ensure no community is left behind.

Believes small, individual actions to honor the environment can collectively have a significant impact. Supports personal and cumulative efforts to protect "Mother Earth."

Believes small, individual actions to honor the environment can collectively have a significant impact, and supports personal and cumulative efforts to protect "Mother Earth."

- Supports renewable energy, conservation, sustainable agriculture, resilient infrastructure, and environmental justice.
- Believes forests are "vital carbon sinks" and supports protecting and expanding forested areas to mitigate climate change, and encourages planting a tree for every tree cut and highlights local organizations available to help.
- Supports placing the environment above profits and transitioning to a "Clean Energy Economy," and believes in protecting natural beauty through comprehensive action and electing supportive leaders.
- Supports local adoption of clean energy options like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, and encourages the motto “Repair, Reuse, Recycle.”
- Supports fuel efficiency, reducing mileage, ride sharing, and lowering emissions, and encourages supporting businesses with electric charging stations and clean energy options.
- Believes we should prepare for "extreme weather" by developing disaster preparedness plans, sustainable land use policies, and climate-resistant home modifications.
- Believes in supporting neighbors with fewer resources to prepare for climate effects and reminding elected officials that environmental justice is a shared concern.
- Supports small local farmers and organic practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience, and encourages supporting local Farmers Markets and eating more fruits and vegetables.
- Believes climate policies must address the specific needs of Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga Counties to be effective, and supports reflecting the diversity of rural communities in climate policies to ensure no community is left behind.
- Believes small, individual actions to honor the environment can collectively have a significant impact, and supports personal and cumulative efforts to protect "Mother Earth."

Energy & the Environment

Believes access to abortion, birth control, and gender-affirming health care are fundamental rights supported by the majority. Opposes government denial of these rights and commits to protecting the rights of women and LGBTQIA community members.

Believes "access to abortion, birth control, and gender-affirming health care are fundamental rights supported by the majority," and opposes government denial of these rights and commits to protecting the rights of "women and members of the LGBTQIA community."

Believes affordable access to health care is a right for all Americans, not a privilege for the few.

Believes, "affordable access to health care is a right for all, not a privilege for the few."

Supports comprehensive healthcare access, including abortion, birth control, and gender-affirming care for women and LGBTQIA individuals.

- Believes "access to abortion, birth control, and gender-affirming health care are fundamental rights supported by the majority," and opposes government denial of these rights and commits to protecting the rights of "women and members of the LGBTQIA community."
- Believes, "affordable access to health care is a right for all, not a privilege for the few."

Healthcare

Believes that choosing not to vote or remain silent risks losing "our power, our liberty, our voice, and the magic of democracy."

Believes in a democracy where "the people lead" by electing officials who prioritize the common good and value negotiation and compromise.

Believes the increasing number of unaffiliated voters sends a clear message about dissatisfaction with major parties.

Supports voter engagement by registering student voters, attending local meetings, and participating in precinct activities.

- Believes that choosing not to vote or remain silent risks losing "our power, our liberty, our voice, and the magic of democracy."
- Believes in a democracy where "the people lead" by electing officials who prioritize the common good and value negotiation and compromise.
- Believes the increasing number of unaffiliated voters sends a clear message about dissatisfaction with major parties.
- Supports voter engagement by registering student voters, attending local meetings, and participating in precinct activities.

Voting & Elections

Believes expanding gun access and resisting safety reforms increase gun violence risk. Supports the Second Amendment with restrictions to protect public safety.

Believes expanding gun access and resisting safety reforms increase gun violence risk, and supports the Second Amendment with restrictions to protect public safety.

Believes gun violence is a significant issue in North Carolina, costing the state $19.5 billion annually, with $471 million paid by taxpayers.

Believes gun violence is a complex issue but that the "ready availability of guns" is a significant factor.

Believes in the Constitution and the Second Amendment. Plans to work with communities to end gun violence because “We are Better Together.”

Believes in the importance of gun safety education, reflecting his upbringing around firearms. Supports responsible gun ownership and adherence to safety rules.

Believes in the importance of gun safety education, reflecting his upbringing around firearms, and supports responsible gun ownership and adherence to safety rules.

- Believes expanding gun access and resisting safety reforms increase gun violence risk, and supports the Second Amendment with restrictions to protect public safety.
- Believes gun violence is a significant issue in North Carolina, costing the state $19.5 billion annually, with $471 million paid by taxpayers.
- Believes gun violence is a complex issue but that the "ready availability of guns" is a significant factor.
- Believes in the importance of gun safety education, reflecting his upbringing around firearms, and supports responsible gun ownership and adherence to safety rules.

Public Safety

Supports strengthening public education at all levels, increasing teacher salaries, and reinstating the master degree differential. Opposes the expansion of the voucher system, calling it a "give away of our tax dollars" to private religious schools.

Supports strengthening public education at all levels, increasing teacher salaries, and reinstating the master degree differential, and opposes the expansion of the voucher system, calling it a "give away of our tax dollars" to private religious schools.

Opposes school vouchers, describing them as a "systematic re-segregation and privatization" of public schools. Plans to discuss the impact of the "Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program" on low-income families starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

Opposes school vouchers, describing them as a "systematic re-segregation and privatization" of public schools, and plans to discuss the impact of the "Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program" on low-income families starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

Believes diverting $134 million from the NC public school budget to vouchers, with 88.83% going to religious schools, undermines public education.

Believes in educating the public about the risks of school vouchers and the importance of funding public education.

Believes many private schools "legally discriminate based on religion, disability, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, academics, and lifestyle."

Believes in advocating for equitable access to quality education for all students. Opposes measures that undermine public education and perpetuate disparities.

Believes in advocating for equitable access to quality education for all students, and opposes measures that undermine public education and perpetuate disparities.

Believes private schools should not be required to meet accreditation, curriculum, or teacher certification standards. Opposes mandates for private schools to provide transportation, English language instruction, or special education services.

Believes it's a problem that "private schools have no requirements for accreditation, curriculum, or teacher certification, and are not required to provide transportation, English language instruction or special education services."

Believes in creating a future where every child can thrive in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

- Supports strengthening public education at all levels, increasing teacher salaries, and reinstating the master degree differential, and opposes the expansion of the voucher system, calling it a "give away of our tax dollars" to private religious schools.
- Opposes school vouchers, describing them as a "systematic re-segregation and privatization" of public schools, and plans to discuss the impact of the "Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program" on low-income families starting in the 2024-2025 school year.
- Believes diverting $134 million from the NC public school budget to vouchers, with 88.83% going to religious schools, undermines public education.
- Believes in educating the public about the risks of school vouchers and the importance of funding public education.
- Believes many private schools "legally discriminate based on religion, disability, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, academics, and lifestyle."
- Believes in advocating for equitable access to quality education for all students, and opposes measures that undermine public education and perpetuate disparities.
- Believes it's a problem that "private schools have no requirements for accreditation, curriculum, or teacher certification, and are not required to provide transportation, English language instruction or special education services."
- Believes in creating a future where every child can thrive in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Education

As of June 14, 2024, Ben Massey’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Ben Massey

Ray is a native North Carolinian who resides in Blowing Rock with his wife, Melissa. He has an adult daughter.

Ray has a background in the hospitality sector, having managed restaurants and owned the Blowing Rock Inn. He is also active in the tourism industry and serves on the North Carolina Travel and Tourism Board.

Ray Pickett currently serves as a state representative for District 93. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his first term.

As a state representative, voted to invest in rural healthcare and economic development.

- As a state representative, voted to invest in rural healthcare and economic development.

As of June 14, 2024, Ray Pickett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in North Carolina elections.

- Supports ensuring that only U.S. citizens can vote in North Carolina elections.

Supports law enforcement agencies, saying, "We need to back our law enforcement, not defund them."

- Supports law enforcement agencies, saying, "We need to back our law enforcement, not defund them."

Believes in strong higher education policies. As House Representative, serves as chair of the House Standing Committee on Education – Universities.

Believes in strong higher education policies, and as state representative, serves as chair of the House Standing Committee on Education – Universities.

Supports funding schools to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

- Believes in strong higher education policies, and as state representative, serves as chair of the House Standing Committee on Education – Universities.
- Supports funding schools to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.

Supports securing the Southern border, saying, "The border crisis has put North Carolinians in danger while placing a strain on our state's schools and social safety net. If Governor Cooper fails to take action, we are prepared to pursue legislative options to mitigate the effects of the border crisis and its threat to North Carolina's public safety."

- Supports securing the Southern border, saying, "The border crisis has put North Carolinians in danger while placing a strain on our state's schools and social safety net. If Governor Cooper fails to take action, we are prepared to pursue legislative options to mitigate the effects of the border crisis and its threat to North Carolina's public safety."

Ray Pickett

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 129 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina House of Representatives