Graham (Rockingham County forum) — Sam Page, a 27‑year sheriff with a long law‑enforcement career, and Seth Woodall, a local attorney and House candidate, used a local candidate forum to outline state-level priorities for Rockingham County, focusing on mental‑health capacity, education funding and infrastructure.

Page, who is running for the North Carolina Senate, framed his candidacy around public safety and community service and said he supports building regional inpatient mental‑health capacity in the district. "We need a regional...mental health hospital for inpatient care in this district, either in Guilford or Rockingham County," he said, arguing that inpatient beds and better services would reduce jail and emergency‑room strain.

Seth Woodall, running for the North Carolina House, emphasized teacher pay and workforce development: "We need to increase teacher pay...we need to fully fund our public schools," he said, and proposed collaborations among high schools, community colleges and business to strengthen the local workforce. Both candidates called for pursuing state and federal grants, including infrastructure funding for water, sewer and broadband.

Both candidates opposed a casino development that had been discussed previously in the county, criticizing lack of transparency and urging public input or a referendum if such a project returns.

Why it matters: Funding decisions at the state level affect Rockingham County services and fiscal planning. Candidates tied concrete local needs — inpatient mental-health beds, teacher pay and infrastructure — to state budget and grant opportunities, promising to press those priorities if elected.

The forum did not include votes or official action; it was a campaign event for candidates seeking state legislative seats.