Melinda is from Johnson City, Tennessee. She attended East Tennessee State University. She is married to her husband, John, with whom she has 2 sons. 

Melinda previously worked as a quality manager at MCI Corporation. 

LinkedIn

Melinda Bales currently serves as a Huntersville Town Commissioner. She was elected to this position in 2011. She previously served as the Mayor of Huntersville. She was elected to this position in 2021 and served for 1 term. 

Candidate website

Plans to reform the state's transportation funding mechanism and expedite infrastructure projects to improve economic conditions.

Plans to change the state transportation funding process by depending less on gas taxes. 

Wants to develop strategies to complete infrastructure projects more quickly.

- Plans to change the state transportation funding process by depending less on gas taxes. 
- Wants to develop strategies to complete infrastructure projects more quickly.

Economy

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

Energy & the Environment

Said, "I am personally pro-life... I do not believe that there is a perfect solution, but I do believe the answer lies somewhere between 12 and 20 weeks... The important piece to me is ensuring that the exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and child remain the law of the land."

Supports limited access to abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Said, "I am personally pro-life... I do not believe that there is a perfect solution, but I do believe the answer lies somewhere between 12 and 20 weeks... The important piece to me is ensuring that the exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and child remain the law of the land."

- Supports limited access to abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Said, "I am personally pro-life... I do not believe that there is a perfect solution, but I do believe the answer lies somewhere between 12 and 20 weeks... The important piece to me is ensuring that the exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother and child remain the law of the land."

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Wants high schools and community colleges to form relationships with businesses to develop job training programs.

Wants the highest performing technical high schools to provide job training in business sectors based on the student's individual interests.

- Wants high schools and community colleges to form relationships with businesses to develop job training programs.
- Wants the highest performing technical high schools to provide job training in business sectors based on the student's individual interests.

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Melinda Bales

Beth holds a bachelor's degree in theatre from Davidson College. She is married to her husband, Tim, with whom she has 5 children.

Beth currently works as a writer and editor for her own freelance writing business. She also works as a communications and event manager at Main Street Books. She previously worked as a teacher at The Loomis Chaffee School and at the Woodlawn School. 

Ballotpedia, Beth Gardner Helfrich

Beth Gardner Helfrich's campaign for state representative in District 98 is her first run for public office. 

Supports infrastructure and policies to accommodate district growth, including transportation solutions, expanded public works, and housing options for small businesses and new opportunities.

Wants to ensure infrastructure and policies are able to meet the demands of potential growth. 

- Wants to ensure infrastructure and policies are able to meet the demands of potential growth. 

Promises to advocate for cleaner air and water.

- Promises to advocate for cleaner air and water.

Supports expanding access to quality healthcare, childcare, and reproductive care, including abortion care.

Promises to work towards expanding access to quality healthcare. 

Supports abortion access and promises to make efforts to expand reproductive care.

- Promises to work towards expanding access to quality healthcare. 
- Supports abortion access and promises to make efforts to expand reproductive care.

Believes voter suppression, gerrymandering, and power grabs harm democracy and damage trust. Plans to serve with "accountability, transparency, and honesty."

Promises to uphold accountability, transparency, and honesty in office. 

Opposes efforts to restrict voting and gerrymandering maps.

- Promises to uphold accountability, transparency, and honesty in office. 
- Opposes efforts to restrict voting and gerrymandering maps.

Promises to order gun policies be implemented that increase child safety at school and home.

- Promises to order gun policies be implemented that increase child safety at school and home.

Believes strong public schools are essential for strong communities. Supports fully funding public schools and expanding early childhood education.

Plans to fully fund public schools and provide more support for early childhood education. 

Believes "intellectual freedom and quality education are sacred rights." Supports fair pay and respect for teachers and staff to reflect their professionalism and importance.

Believes "intellectual freedom and quality education are sacred rights." 

Promises to work towards expanding childcare.

- Plans to fully fund public schools and provide more support for early childhood education. 
- Believes "intellectual freedom and quality education are sacred rights." 
- Promises to work towards expanding childcare.

As of June 14, 2024, Beth Gardner Helfrich’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Beth Gardner Helfrich

- 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