Whatley emphasizes jobs, public safety and military support during Kinston campaign stop

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley told supporters during a Kinston meet-and-greet at Lovick’s Cafe that his campaign is focused on jobs, public safety, lower costs and support for North Carolina’s military community.

“What I see in every single community, in every single conversation that we have, is people want somebody who’s gonna fight for them,” Whatley said. “I’m gonna fight for your family, I’m gonna fight for your community, and I’m gonna fight for this state.”

Whatley said he believes North Carolina needs economic policies that create “more jobs, better jobs,” while lowering taxes and costs for families.

“We want people to make more and to keep more,” Whatley said during an interview with Neuse News. “These are things that drive every family’s kitchen table conversations, which are very real.”

Whatley also said public safety would be a priority, saying communities need to keep children safe, support law enforcement and keep criminals behind bars. During his remarks, he criticized former Gov. Roy Cooper over prisoner releases.

“We’ve got to make sure that criminals are behind bars, and that we back the blue, and we’re gonna keep our kids and our communities safe,” Whatley said.

Whatley also pointed to North Carolina’s large military and veteran population. He said nearly 100,000 men and women in uniform are based in North Carolina and said the state is home to about 720,000 veterans.

“We need to do more than just thank them,” Whatley said. “When they made a commitment to us to go serve, we made a commitment to them.”

Whatley said that commitment should include helping veterans transition out of military service and into civilian careers or retirement.

During his remarks, Whatley described his upbringing in Blowing Rock, a small town along the Blue Ridge Parkway. He said he grew up going to church, school and work, and got his first full-time job at 14. He later attended college, graduate school and law school.

Whatley also spoke about his wife, Susie, and their three children, saying he wants young people across North Carolina to have access to the same opportunities he had.

“That’s the American dream,” Whatley said. “Get an education, get a job, get married, get a house, raise kids in the same secure environment. That’s what I’m fighting for.”

The event was held at Lovick’s Cafe, which Whatley described as an anchor of the downtown community. He said small businesses and agriculture remain cornerstones of North Carolina’s economy. Lovick’s Cafe is celebrating its 85th anniversary.

“This is what we’re fighting for,” Whatley said. “This is a family-owned business, 35 employees, the anchor of the downtown community.”

Whatley plans to visit Greene County and Jones County as part of his campaign outreach in eastern North Carolina.

In Greene County, Whatley said he expects to meet with farmers to discuss agricultural issues, including taxes, trade and regulatory policies.

“At the end of the day, agriculture is a business,” Whatley said. “It is $111 billion in the North Carolina economy due to agriculture and agribusiness, and that really matters.”

Whatley said he views food security as part of national security and said farms must be able to succeed across generations.

“We can’t start importing all of our food,” Whatley said. “We need to grow it here.”

Whatley closed his remarks by asking attendees for their support and encouraging them to talk with friends, family, coworkers and church members about the election.

“We need a fighter for North Carolina,” Whatley said.