At a Rockingham County candidate forum, Sam Page (the county sheriff running for North Carolina Senate Seat 26) and Seth Woodall (candidate for the North Carolina House, District 65) outlined priorities that were tightly focused on local public safety, education and economic development.

Page described his law-enforcement background and said he will bring that experience to Raleigh. "My name is Sam Page, and it's been an honor to serve you for the past 27 years," he said, adding he will fight to restore staffing, fund public schools and invest in inpatient mental-health capacity in the district.

Woodall, an attorney and parent of four public-school students, said teacher pay and retention are immediate priorities. He argued Rockingham County must be competitive with neighboring counties for teachers and described seeking state and federal grants, broadband and infrastructure investments as ways to attract jobs and raise the county’s economic standing.

On mental health and addiction, both candidates blamed the decline of inpatient and long-term psychiatric capacity for increased burdens on law enforcement and jails. Page supported a regional inpatient mental-health hospital and said "you can't arrest your way out of addiction," while Woodall called for funding public and private hospitals and agencies to expedite treatment.

The candidates also rejected casino proposals in Rockingham County and asked for more transparent, public processes before large rezoning or economic development plans move forward. Both urged voter turnout and promised to remain engaged with constituents if elected.

Next steps: both nominees will continue primary campaigning and outreach in the district; community leaders said they will watch legislative priorities for concrete proposals on school funding and mental-health infrastructure.