Greene, Gavenus discuss priorities in 85th District House race to represent McDowell County
Two candidates are seeking election to the 85th District seat in the N.C. House of Representatives. This district includes most of McDowell County.
The candidates are Republican incumbent Dudley Greene and Democratic challenger Suzanne Gavenus. The following are their responses to The McDowell News’ questionnaire.
Suzanne Gavenus
Gavenus
Name: Suzanne Gavenus
Party affiliation: Democrat
Address: Burnsville
Age: 61
Education and occupation:
I currently work as the director of counseling and wellness at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, where I provide strategic leadership for student wellness, counseling services, and college and career readiness. I’m a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience working in public education, mental health settings, health care, and community advocacy with students, families, and communities.
I am also a first-generation college graduate. After leaving high school to go to work and help care for my mother, I earned my GED and went on to pursue higher education and a career dedicated to serving others. I got here the hard way — GED first, then college, then graduate school — and that's part of why I believe so strongly in opportunity and in fighting for people, not politics.
What do you hope to accomplish once you take office? What are your goals?
My goal is to make the state government work better for the people who actually live here.
I want to bring a practical, common-sense voice to Raleigh and focus on the issues that affect families every day: helping our communities recover and become more resilient after Hurricane Helene, supporting public schools, access to affordable healthcare, housing people can afford, good jobs, and affordable, high-quality childcare options for families.
I also want to make sure our mountain communities have a real voice in decisions that affect them. That means protecting local control, listening to our communities, and making sure rural North Carolina isn't forgotten when decisions are made in Raleigh.
Most of all, I want to be the kind of representative who shows up, listens, works across differences, and follows through.
How would you represent the needs of this district in Raleigh?
I would represent this district by remembering that Raleigh works for us — not the other way around. And, maybe more importantly, that representatives work for all the people in their district, should be accountable to their constituents, and not make decisions based on any political party.
I would stay connected to the people, businesses, educators, healthcare providers, farmers, first responders, and local leaders who know these communities best. Before making decisions, I would listen to the people who will actually live with the consequences.
Our district is rural, mountainous, and unique. What works in Charlotte or Raleigh doesn't necessarily work here. We need someone willing to stand up for mountain communities while also building relationships across party lines to get things done.
I have spent my career bringing people together around difficult problems. I would take that same approach to Raleigh: listen first, find common ground where we can, and stand firm when our communities need an advocate.
What do you think are the important issues in this race?
The most important issues are the ones families and communities are dealing with every day.
Hurricane Helene recovery and building back with long-term resilience in mind will continue to be enormously important. Recovery isn't just about rebuilding what was lost. It's about making our communities stronger and better prepared for the next disaster.
Education is a major priority. Our public schools need adequate funding, and our educators need to be respected and paid competitively. All our children deserve the same, quality education as students in big cities. Our students deserve the same opportunities and the same high-quality education, as students in wealthier districts.
Healthcare is another critical issue, particularly in rural communities. We need to protect access to rural hospitals and healthcare providers and make sure mental healthcare is treated as an essential part of healthcare.
Affordability is also front and center — housing, childcare, healthcare, energy costs, and wages all affect whether working families can afford to stay and build a life here. Childcare affordability in particular is something I care deeply about, both as a parent and as someone who sees its ripple effects on families every day.
Beyond that, I'm also focused on protecting our natural resources and pushing back on unchecked data center development in our district, and on privacy and accountability when it comes to surveillance technology like Flock cameras.
And finally, I believe local control and responsible growth matter. Decisions about our communities should involve the people who live here. We need economic development that creates opportunity while protecting the mountains, water, farms, and quality of life that make this place home.
Please provide a general statement about yourself as you seek this office.
I’m running because I believe western North Carolina deserves a representative who will listen, show up, and put people ahead of party politics.
I’ve spent more than 30 years working with students, families, and communities, helping people navigate difficult circumstances and find practical solutions. I've seen firsthand what happens when people don't have the resources or support they need — and I've also seen what communities can accomplish when we work together.
My family has deep roots in service and in these mountains. I know what it means to work hard, to care for family, to start over, and to give back to the community that has given so much to you.
I'm not running to be another voice in the political noise. I'm running to be a strong, independent voice for the people of Avery, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.
I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can be fiscally responsible while investing in the things that make our communities stronger. And we can bring people together around practical solutions.
I'm rooted here. I know these communities. And I'm ready to get to work supporting our people and continuing to grow strong mountain communities.
Dudley Greene
Greene
Name: Dudley Greene
Party affiliation: Republican
Address: 636 Wyatt Drive, Newland
Age: 63
Education and occupation: Associate degree in criminal justice. Retired sheriff (McDowell County).
What do you hope to accomplish once you take office? What are your goals?
I will continue to be a common-sense conservative voice on the host of issues that face our state to keep us on a sound footing for business to thrive and families to live, work, and learn.
How would you represent the needs of this district in Raleigh?
I will stay on course to keep an open line of communication with local government and citizens to address challenges and take advantage of available opportunities to help assure our District benefits from its fair share of resources the state can provide.
What do you think are the important issues in this race?
Continued recovery of our District and region from Helene continue to remain top priority. Besides that, public safety, affordability of housing, healthcare, and living expense as a result of inflation, and support for a strong and sustainable workforce are all issues that continue to present challenges for our state.
Please provide a general statement about yourself as you seek this office.
As someone who was born, raised, and served the majority of a 30-year law enforcement career in our District, I believe my deep ties and record of public service position me to be a strong advocate for our needs. I consider the opportunity to represent our area a privilege and hope the experience I have gained in the position will allow me to be even more effective in another term and would appreciate your vote. In the meantime, please reach out by phone (919-733-5862) or email (Dudley.Greene@ncleg.gov) if my office or I can ever be of assistance to you.
