Hubbard, a native of Wilkes County, spent 40 years in journalism at the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, which his grandfather founded in 1932. In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully for the 94th District seat in the N.C. House of Representatives. Hubbard has served on the board of Wilkes Recovery Revolution, the Wilkes Child Abuse Prevention Team and the Wilkes Prison Ministry. He and his wife, Shari, live in Wilkesboro. They have three daughters and two grandchildren.
Our Q&A with Chuck Hubbard
NC Health News reached out to Chuck Hubbard multiple times. While he indicated he would answer our questions, he did not send them. So, we researched Hubbard by searching social media, going to events, tracking his public comments, searching his campaign websites and conducting searches of other media outlets.
What would be your plan for ensuring the future security/ strength of Medicare?
Hubbard did not respond to this question. On his campaign website, he called programs like Medicare crucial and said he will “fight against any attacks” on it.
What would you support in Congress as a plan to help control health care/ pharmaceutical costs?
Hubbard did not respond to this question. In a June interview with Fox 8’s Bill Buckley, he said he believes there should be a public choice option for health care with the cost based on a sliding scale. “I think that having the government negotiating on medicine costs … and on the cost of health care will bring this down. But we’re spending way too much for not very much in return.” On his campaign website, he wrote that “nobody should struggle to get access to health care,” and “nobody should have to worry about paying enormous medical bills and there should be a hospital within a short drive of every community.”
Where do you stand on time limits for Medicaid and work requirements for the program?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
What can the federal government do to support rural hospitals?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Where do you stand on restoring funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program?
Hubbard did not respond to this question, but on his campaign website he said, “In our modern economy, we must ensure access to high-speed broadband.”
PFAS contamination is a country-wide issue; How do you balance public safety and business interests with this issue?
Hubbard did not respond to this question. He answered a general question on the environment for the Vote411 Voter Guide: “Overall, I support efforts to move toward more environmentally friendly policies and believe we need to act now on climate change.”
Is the federal government ready for the next pandemic? Why or why not?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
In 2009, Congress required more transparency from hospitals on their charitable work. Do you think the federal government should enforce stricter requirements for nonprofit hospitals to justify their tax exemptions? Why or why not?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.
Where do you stand on federal abortion limits? What gestational limits, if any, would you set?
Hubbard did not respond to this question, however, he has said in media interviews that Roe v. Wade should be codified into law. On his campaign website, he said: “Abortion is an issue that should be discussed in a doctor’s office between a patient and their doctor. There’s no room for the government in that conversation. Abortion is a medical procedure and should have been codified into law nationally long ago.”
How can Congress improve access to child care? What states are leading the way that you think could be a good federal model? What are your thoughts on the EITC/child care tax credit?
Hubbard did not respond to this question, but he answered several questions about child care in a candidate survey for the North Carolina Early Education Coalition. He said that he would ensure that the government helps to fund and incentivize early learning programs and he would support increasing funding to maintain and expand the federal pandemic-era program that helped child care providers pay teachers more. He also told the nonprofit that he would “encourage government programs that help fill in the gaps and incentivize more child care facilities.”
What steps would you take to improve access to mental health services and to address the opioid overdose crisis?
No response available. NC Health News could not find anything in the public record on this topic.