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Michael earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. He is married to Heidi and together they have 4 children. He was appointed to the UNCW Board of Trustees in June 2019.

Michael is the founder of Lee | Kaess, PLLC, a law firm established in 2012. Additionally, Lee has served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Michael Lee currently serves as state senator in District 7. He was elected in 2014 and has served 4 terms.

Candidate website

Believes in reducing taxes and government regulation to promote economic growth and job creation. As a policymaker, implemented reforms leading to budget surpluses invested in schools, infrastructure, and people.

Believes in reducing taxes and government regulation to promote economic growth and job creation.

Supports balanced, fiscally responsible state budgets that fund core services, strengthen public education, and grow North Carolina’s economy.

Believes investments in infrastructure are essential for economic growth. Plans to allocate significant funds to local water projects, highway maintenance, and the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.

Plans to allocate significant funds to local water projects, highway maintenance, and the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.

Supports workforce development programs for Medicaid recipients to promote economic independence and reduce dependency.

Believes the success of economic initiatives relies on government funding and support from communities and businesses. Supports inclusive education and employment programs to utilize North Carolina's untapped workforce.

Supports employment programs to utilize North Carolina's untapped workforce.

Believes the film industry is vital to New Hanover County's economy through investments and job creation. As a State Senator, tripled the film incentive fund to attract more productions to Wilmington.

As a state senator, tripled the film incentive fund to attract more productions to Wilmington.

Supports increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. As a State Senator, established and co-chaired the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As a state senator, established and co-chaired the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

- Believes in reducing taxes and government regulation to promote economic growth and job creation.
- Supports balanced, fiscally responsible state budgets that fund core services, strengthen public education, and grow North Carolina’s economy.
- Plans to allocate significant funds to local water projects, highway maintenance, and the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.
- Supports workforce development programs for Medicaid recipients to promote economic independence and reduce dependency.
- Supports employment programs to utilize North Carolina's untapped workforce.
- As a state senator, tripled the film incentive fund to attract more productions to Wilmington.
- As a state senator, established and co-chaired the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Economy

As a Governor, empowered to shut down major polluters like Chemours and required them to provide permanent alternative water sources for affected entities.

Supported efforts to shut down major polluters like Chemours and required them to provide permanent alternative water sources for affected entities.

Supports comprehensive PFAS analysis and monitoring, coordinating with universities and establishing the NC PFAS Testing Network with significant funding.

Supports establishing a permanent state funding source for beach renourishment to protect coastal communities and enhance shoreline resilience.

Supports establishing a permanent state funding source for beach replenishment to protect coastal communities and enhance shoreline resilience.

As a State Senator, supported legislation for a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 for electric public utilities. Believes in using cost-effective and reliable methods to achieve environmental goals while keeping electricity affordable.

As a state senator, supported legislation for a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 for electric public utilities.

As a State Senator, supported the Water Safety Acts of 2021 and 2023 to enhance research, monitoring, and technology for clean water. Believes clean water is a fundamental human right and aims to set a global standard for environmental stewardship.

As a state senator, supported the Water Safety Acts of 2021 and 2023 to enhance research, monitoring, and technology for clean water.

- Supported efforts to shut down major polluters like Chemours and required them to provide permanent alternative water sources for affected entities.
- Supports comprehensive PFAS analysis and monitoring, coordinating with universities and establishing the NC PFAS Testing Network with significant funding.
- Supports establishing a permanent state funding source for beach replenishment to protect coastal communities and enhance shoreline resilience.
- As a state senator, supported legislation for a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 for electric public utilities.
- As a state senator, supported the Water Safety Acts of 2021 and 2023 to enhance research, monitoring, and technology for clean water.

Energy & the Environment

Believes abortion should be allowed under specific conditions: up to 12 weeks for any reason, up to 20 weeks for rape or incest, up to 24 weeks for life-limiting anomalies, and at any point for medical emergencies.

Supports access to abortion under specific conditions such as up to 12 weeks for any reason and at any point for medical emergencies.

Supports enhancing maternal and infant health by increasing Medicaid payments for obstetric care, expanding access to long-term contraceptives, and broadening Certified Nurse Midwives' practice authority. Allocates funds to expand the Safe Sleep North Carolina Campaign.

Supports enhancing maternal and infant health by increasing Medicaid payments for obstetric care, expanding access to long-term contraceptives, and broadening Certified Nurse Midwives' practice authority.

Supports deregulating healthcare by removing outdated certificate of need laws to increase competition, lower costs, and speed up access to essential services.

Believes in ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability for Medicaid expansion without compromising healthcare quality. Supports ending Medicaid expansion if federal funding drops below 90% or state funding is insufficient.

Supports ending Medicaid expansion if federal funding drops below 90% or state funding is insufficient.

Supports enhancing mental health services for youth by funding a new state-of-the-art UNC Children’s Behavioral Health Hospital.

Supported enhancing mental health services for youth by funding a new state-of-the-art UNC Children’s Behavioral Health Hospital.

As a State Senator, expanded Medicaid coverage to adults aged 18-64 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Supports workforce development programs for Medicaid recipients to achieve economic independence.

As a state senator, expanded Medicaid coverage to adults aged 18-64 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level.

As a State Senator, passed the Care for Women, Children, and Families Act, updating abortion laws and enhancing maternal and infant health. Sponsored the NC Compassionate Care Act, advocating for medical cannabis legalization for debilitating conditions.

As a state senator, sponsored the NC Compassionate Care Act, advocating for medical cannabis legalization for debilitating conditions.

- Supports access to abortion under specific conditions such as up to 12 weeks for any reason and at any point for medical emergencies.
- Supports enhancing maternal and infant health by increasing Medicaid payments for obstetric care, expanding access to long-term contraceptives, and broadening Certified Nurse Midwives' practice authority.
- Supports deregulating healthcare by removing outdated certificate of need laws to increase competition, lower costs, and speed up access to essential services.
- Supports ending Medicaid expansion if federal funding drops below 90% or state funding is insufficient.
- Supported enhancing mental health services for youth by funding a new state-of-the-art UNC Children’s Behavioral Health Hospital.
- As a state senator, expanded Medicaid coverage to adults aged 18-64 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level.
- As a state senator, sponsored the NC Compassionate Care Act, advocating for medical cannabis legalization for debilitating conditions.

Healthcare

Ballotpedia

As a state senator, sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 356, which would implement a photo ID requirement for voting in elections.

- As a state senator, sponsored Senate Bill (SB) 356, which would implement a photo ID requirement for voting in elections.

Voting & Elections

Supports broadening satellite-based monitoring for violent and repeat sexual offenders, increasing penalties for assault on pregnant women, and establishing a misdemeanor offense for domestic violence.

Supports law enforcement and enhancing public safety measures. As a State Senator, invested billions in infrastructure projects benefiting North Carolina communities.

Supports law enforcement and enhancing public safety measures.

As a state senator, sponsored SB650 which would make it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or weapon of mass destruction during a felony or felony attempt.

- Supports broadening satellite-based monitoring for violent and repeat sexual offenders, increasing penalties for assault on pregnant women, and establishing a misdemeanor offense for domestic violence.
- Supports law enforcement and enhancing public safety measures.
- As a state senator, sponsored SB650 which would make it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm or weapon of mass destruction during a felony or felony attempt.

Public Safety

Supports enhancing mental health support in schools by expanding the School Health Personnel Allotment and funding additional positions.

Supports creating programs that empower individuals with IDD, improve employability skills, and provide essential on-the-job training and apprenticeships.

Supports creating programs that "empower individuals with IDD, improve employability skills, and provide essential on-the-job training and apprenticeships."

Supports modernizing education through competency-based STEM programs, enhancing practical skills and real-world applications.

Believes in improving K-12 reading proficiency, as evidenced by significant gains in North Carolina's kindergarteners. Supports policies that enhance early childhood education and reading skills.

Believes in improving K-12 reading proficiency, as evidenced by significant gains in North Carolina's kindergarten students.

Believes in working with all levels of the education system to equip North Carolinians with tools and training for the 21st-century economy. Supports collaboration across early childhood, K-12, community colleges, and universities.

Supports collaboration across early childhood, K-12, community colleges, and universities.

Believes in enhancing child care support by updating reimbursement rates and modifying tuition reimbursement for low-income children. Supports greater access and affordability in child care services.

Believes in enhancing child care support by updating reimbursement rates and modifying tuition reimbursement for low-income children.

As Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, secured multi-billion dollar increases in education funding, expanded school choice, raised teacher salaries, and revolutionized literacy programs.

As chairman of the Senate Education Committee, secured multi-billion dollar increases in education funding, expanded school choice, raised teacher salaries, and revolutionized literacy programs.

Believes community colleges are crucial for job training and continuing education. As a legislator, allocated additional funding for childcare services and codified the Short-Term Workforce Development Grants Program to support adult learners.

As a legislator, allocated additional funding for childcare services and codified the Short-Term Workforce Development Grants Program to support adult learners.

As a State Senator, sponsored the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education, health, privacy, and safety.

As a state senator, sponsored the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education, health, privacy, and safety.

- Supports enhancing mental health support in schools by expanding the School Health Personnel Allotment and funding additional positions.
- Supports creating programs that "empower individuals with IDD, improve employability skills, and provide essential on-the-job training and apprenticeships."
- Supports modernizing education through competency-based STEM programs, enhancing practical skills and real-world applications.
- Believes in improving K-12 reading proficiency, as evidenced by significant gains in North Carolina's kindergarten students.
- Supports collaboration across early childhood, K-12, community colleges, and universities.
- Believes in enhancing child care support by updating reimbursement rates and modifying tuition reimbursement for low-income children.
- As chairman of the Senate Education Committee, secured multi-billion dollar increases in education funding, expanded school choice, raised teacher salaries, and revolutionized literacy programs.
- As a legislator, allocated additional funding for childcare services and codified the Short-Term Workforce Development Grants Program to support adult learners.
- As a state senator, sponsored the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education, health, privacy, and safety.

Education

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

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Michael Lee

Michael earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. He is married to Heidi and together they have four children. He was appointed to the UNCW Board of Trustees in June 2019.

Michael Lee currently serves as state senator in District 7. He was elected in 2014 and has served four terms.

As a State Senator, tripled the film incentive fund to attract more productions to Wilmington.

As a State Senator, established and co-chaired the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

- Believes in reducing taxes and government regulation to promote economic growth and job creation.
- Supports balanced, fiscally responsible state budgets that fund core services, strengthen public education, and grow North Carolina’s economy.
- Plans to allocate significant funds to local water projects, highway maintenance, and the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund.
- Supports workforce development programs for Medicaid recipients to promote economic independence and reduce dependency.
- Supports employment programs to utilize North Carolina's untapped workforce.
- As a State Senator, tripled the film incentive fund to attract more productions to Wilmington.
- As a State Senator, established and co-chaired the Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to improve employment and educational opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Supports strengthening protections against sexual and domestic violence.

- Supports enhancing mental health support in schools by expanding the School Health Personnel Allotment and funding additional positions.
- Supports creating programs that "empower individuals with IDD, improve employability skills, and provide essential on-the-job training and apprenticeships."
- Supports modernizing education through competency-based STEM programs, enhancing practical skills and real-world applications.
- Believes in improving K-12 reading proficiency, as evidenced by significant gains in North Carolina's kindergarten students.
- Supports collaboration across early childhood, K-12, community colleges, and universities.
- Believes in enhancing child care support by updating reimbursement rates and modifying tuition reimbursement for low-income children.
- As Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, secured multi-billion dollar increases in education funding, expanded school choice, raised teacher salaries, and revolutionized literacy programs.
- As a legislator, allocated additional funding for childcare services and codified the Short-Term Workforce Development Grants Program to support adult learners.
- As a State Senator, sponsored the Parents' Bill of Rights to enhance parental involvement in education, health, privacy, and safety.

Michael Lee is married to Heidi Wooten Lee, and they have four children: Miles, Sydney, Sam, and Sawyer. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a B.A. in 1991, and later graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University School of Law with a J.D. in 1997. Information about where they live and what church they attend is not provided.

Michael Lee is the founder of Lee | Kaess, PLLC, a law firm established in 2012 with offices in Wilmington, Raleigh, and Dallas, specializing in commercial real estate, trusts and estates, land use, and litigation. He has been recognized as the 2020 Best Lawyers 'Lawyer of the Year' for Commercial Real Estate in Wilmington. Additionally, Lee has served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Senator Michael Lee has served four terms in the North Carolina Senate and is currently running for re-election. He was appointed to the UNCW Board of Trustees in June 2019. His tenure in office has included a focus on education, environmental issues, and economic development related to the film industry in Wilmington.

Believes in fiscal responsibility, tax cuts, and investments in education, infrastructure, and healthcare to ensure prosperity for North Carolinians.

Believes unemployment claims in North Carolina have surged over 5,000% during the Coronavirus pandemic, resulting in significant job losses.

Believes in "providing workforce development as a pathway to independence." Supports policies that address labor issues, trade, taxes, small business, and regulation to strengthen the economy.

Supports efforts to mitigate PFAS in drinking water and find solutions to remove and destroy these chemicals.

Supports modernization and efficiency through investments in election infrastructure, streamlining environmental permits, addressing PFAS in water, and establishing an independent Office of State Fire Marshal.

Supports regulatory enhancements requiring electronic submission of NPDES permit applications to ensure public disclosure of pollutants.

Supports a "bold 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030."

Supports investing "$2 billion for Water and Sewer Infrastructure."

Supports strict safety regulations for abortion procedures, limiting them to hospitals after 12 weeks.

Believes healthcare expansion is financially prudent and ensures no additional burden on taxpayers. Supports funding the state's share of costs through hospital assessments.

The candidate's website says, "Upholding Medical Care Standards for All Newborns"

Believes the science of reading is crucial for education success. Supports the LETRS program to train K-5 educators in effective reading strategies.

- 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.