To the Editor,

With vastly different congressional district lines, the “new” 9th District deserves leadership that is completely in tune with its values.

Across North Carolina and in the 9th District, voters have shown more than ever recently that they are fed up with what’s going on in Washington. And it’s no secret why.

Our national debt exceeds $19 trillion and federal unfunded liabilities have soared to over $120 trillion.

It seems the White House has no real plan to defeat ISIS, and agencies like the IRS and the EPA are grossly out of control. Obamacare’s costly impact on the health-care system and high taxes are placing a substantial burden on working families and businesses.

I am a pastor, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. I could easily stand idly while I watch our nation continue down this path, but for these reasons, I choose not to.

Our next generation is why I have decided to enter the race for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in the Republican primary.

We need leaders who will refuse to back down under pressure from party leadership or special interests. We need leaders who will fight for a balanced budget instead of tax and spend politics that are mortgaging our next generation’s future.

We need leaders who speak up for our family values that are under attack like never before.

Our current 9th District representative has voted for two debt ceiling increases, the last of which raised the debt ceiling by a massive $1.5 trillion and increased federal spending by $112 billion.

My pledge to voters of the 9th District is this: I will be a voice for a strong national security to ensure our nation’s safety against terrorism. I will fight for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. I will say no to Common Core and yes to more local control of our schools. I will be a voice for our shared conservative values and I will not trade political gamesmanship for real, substantive solutions.

I would be honored to earn your support and your vote on June 7.

Mark Harris

Republican candidate

U.S. House 9th District