Ballotpedia, Benton Sawrey

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Narron Wenzel, Meet Benton Sawrey

Benton holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from North Carolina State University and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He lives in Clayton with his wife and children. Benton's family are active members of Horne United Methodist Church. He previously volunteered on the board of trustees at Johnston Community College. 

Benton currently works as an attorney at Narron Wenzel, P.A.

Benton Sawrey currently serves as a state senator in District 10. He was elected to this position in 2022 and is serving his first term. He ran for state senator in District 11 in 2016, but he did not win. He served on the executive committee as general counsel for the Johnston County Republican Party.

Candidate website

Supports phasing out North Carolina’s personal income tax to reward work and return money to citizens.

Supports policies that aim to eliminate state income taxes. 

Supports "job training and apprenticeship programs" to address labor issues and boost the economy.

Supports job training and apprenticeship programs. 

Supports farmers and agribusiness, calling farming "Johnston County’s most important business."

- Supports policies that aim to eliminate state income taxes. 
- Supports job training and apprenticeship programs. 
- Supports farmers and agribusiness, calling farming "Johnston County’s most important business."

Economy

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

Energy & the Environment

Opposes abortion and supports pro-life legislation in the North Carolina Senate.

Healthcare

Supports transparency in election administration and accurate voter rolls to ensure confidence in the electoral process.

Supports transparency in elections and wants state election administration to ensure voter rolls are accurate. 

- Supports transparency in elections and wants state election administration to ensure voter rolls are accurate. 

Voting & Elections

Supports providing all necessary resources to police and first responders, opposing efforts to de-fund them.

Supports providing sufficient resources for police officers and first responders and opposes efforts to de-fund law enforcement. 

Believes our Second Amendment rights are under attack and will defend them, opposing any attempts to limit hunting and fishing in North Carolina.

- Supports providing sufficient resources for police officers and first responders and opposes efforts to de-fund law enforcement. 
- Opposes gun control.

Public Safety

Supports school choice, advocating for education savings accounts for homeschooled students and expanding the opportunity scholarship program.

Supports job training and apprenticeship programs to provide local opportunities for good-paying jobs. As a board member at Johnston Community College, backed initiatives to expand these programs statewide.

Wants to expand job training and apprenticeship programs in the district. 

- Supports allowing school choice. 
- Wants to expand job training and apprenticeship programs in the district. 

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Facebook

Benton Sawrey

Benton Sawrey is a third-generation graduate of North Carolina State University and attended law school at the University of South Carolina. He and his family reside in Clayton, North Carolina, where they are active members of Horne United Methodist Church. Benton is married, has children, and his family has a long-standing presence in Johnston County.

Benton Sawrey is a small-town attorney who assists small-business owners and farmers with transactions, regulatory, and tax issues. He has previously worked in the North Carolina Senate with its current leadership. Sawrey is a graduate of North Carolina State University and attended law school at the University of South Carolina.

Benton Sawrey has been active in Republican politics since 2005, starting as an intern for the North Carolina Republican Party. He has served on the executive committee as general counsel for the Johnston County Republican Party. Additionally, he has experience working in the North Carolina Senate with its current leadership.

Supports saving $1.2 billion in taxes for families and small businesses and accelerating cuts to North Carolina's personal income tax from 4.5% to 2.49%.

Supports reducing regulatory burdens on farmers and agribusiness. As a local advocate, worked with Johnston County officials to align land records with the Farm Act.

Supports reducing regulations on farmers. As a co-sponsor of the 2023 Farm Act, worked to reduce unnecessary regulations on North Carolina's farmers.

Believes in increasing accountability and protections in election laws. As a State Senator, co-sponsored S.B. 747 to overhaul North Carolina's election laws.

Supports increasing law enforcement salaries and cracking down on fentanyl distribution and obscenity. As a legislator, voted to expand a pilot program on firefighter cancer insurance.

As a State Senator, co-sponsored and voted to repeal North Carolina's Jim Crow-era pistol purchase permit system.

Believes in repealing pistol purchase permits.

As a State Senator, voted to codify workforce development grants, fund community college facilities, and increase salaries for high-demand fields.

As a State Senator, co-sponsored legislation and voted to extend the opportunity scholarship program to all students in North Carolina.

The candidate's website says, "NC Senate Passes Parents’ Bill Of Rights"

- Your State Senator participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 50 members of the North Carolina Senate. The North Carolina Senate is the upper house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Senator 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 Senator can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Senator 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.
- The State Senator is elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.