Ballotpedia - Questionnaire
Answers to Ballotpedia's detailed questionnaire
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I have served as a leader in the public and private sectors for over thirty years in various capacities of management and administration. I have served in Mecklenburg and other southwestern counties as Guardian ad Litem District Administrator for abused and neglected children through the North Carolina Administrative office of the Courts.
I own and operate one business: Lillian Rosh LLC.
I serve on numerous boards and task forces, including the Chief Justice's Task Force on ACE's-Informed Courts.
I am the daughter of Christian career missionaries.
I firmly believe that America is by far the world's greatest Republic and the land of opportunity. Every American is given equal opportunity to excel and be exceptional. I am a strong political, social and fiscal conservative; pro-life, lower taxes, lower spending, balanced budget, increased American manufacturing, Christian family values, service to others and the invaluable role of education (math and science based).
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I am not a career politician, but I have worked as a leader in government, as well as in non-profits serving families and children in western NC for over 32 years.
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I'm interested in solutions that will fix our domestic and foreign policy problems. We need to secure our borders with military strength.
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We have to reduce our national debt so we can maintain our superpower status in the world. Part of this means that we must re-vitalize manufacturing and increase high-paying jobs in NC District 14. This increases our state and national GDP, which is what we have to do across the nation to reduce our national debt.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Return major decision-making authority in regard to K-12 education back into the control of state and local governments.
Energy - independence
Foreign Policy - Keep American citizens at the forefront when making any decisions about intervention in wars. Have a strong presence in global affairs so that the safety and security of our country is maintained at all times.
Control Inflation, balance the budget, have a plan for spending before the money is spent.
PRO-LIFE issues are of paramount importance. Federal monies are still being used to fund abortions. State representatives should make decisions about pro-life in accordance with the wishes of their voters.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I admire Mother Teresa, who I interned with in Calcutta and Delhi, India. I remember Billy Graham visiting India and touching Mother Teresa's feet, as is a customary show of great respect in India. In my life-long career of serving the most vulnerable of our state - our abused and neglected children - I have attempted to fashion my mindset and energies according to great servant leaders such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Thomas Sowell is a great Republican and author who speaks on economics and government waste, as well as on the social fabric of our society. Here are some books by Sowell: Basic Economics, Economic Facts and Fallacies, Inside American Education, and Social Justice Fallacies.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Ethical conduct which includes representing and speaking for the constituents of your district, which means communicating with the people that an elected official represents.
Transparency of your actions: your voting rationales, your alliances with lobbyist and other special interest groups.
Do not compromise on issues that your constituents want you to hold fast to. However, communicate with your district about how compromise on certain issues through strong negotiations, which is necessary in order to not continually end up in gridlock where nothing is finally accomplished.
An elected official needs to have the ability to listen, problem solve, and advocate for their constituents. They must also be responsible and show up to vote on the house or senate floor.
The elected official needs to put the welfare, safety, and security of their people first. This also means that they need to show up and be accountable for emergencies that take place in the district.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
- Active listener
- Strong advocate and loyalty towards those that I represent.
- Integrity
- Experience in the NC Courts
- Experience in a grassroots level
- Experience working with children and families; both at the grassroots level., as well as in leadership and management.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Statesmanship
Ethical conduct based in integrity and interests in putting constituents first.
Being present for votes on the floor and understanding the details of each bill or resolution that is being presented on the floor.
Communication with the district and other lawmakers.
Voting in the interest of the people they represent.
Being a problem solver and ending gridlock.
Dedication to their people regardless of party affiliation.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Create bills that promote the safety and security of our citizens. For example: working to secure our porous borders.
"Tear down this wall Mr. Gorbachev" - President Ronald Reagan to General Secretary Gorbachev - dismantling of the Berlin Wall. I was 21 years old.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
As an immigrant to the United States at the age of 18, I worked in my college cafeteria as a kitchen worker. I worked in this job for two years while attending college with a full-time course-load.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Gone with the Wind. I love the characters and the civil war setting.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Losing an infant child at 11 months old.
The US House has the power to impeach and expel other elected officials. They also have the ability to elect a president if no candidate is declared a winner.
They are truly the representative body for the constituents and their district.
The US House is diverse and has people from all parties and walks of life that come together to make decisions for the American people.
Is it beneficial - absolutely, it is beneficial to have previous experience in government. Is it necessary? - No.
I myself am very new to this field of elected office - having spent much of my career in the courts and reading legal documents. I very much appreciate the fact that experience in reading, understanding and writing bills and house resolutions is very important. The language contained in them is not simple to understand. It is a huge responsibility when one is representing hundreds of thousands of people in the home district and working to move their wellbeing forward. This is a far cry from discussing politics over dinner.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
To preserve our freedoms and educate our young in Math and the Sciences; we must increase our level of expectations and educational outcomes so we can compete with global competition.
Remain a sovereign nation, which means securing our borders.
Reduce the national debt.
Containing China’s Threat to the United States
Protecting America from Cyber Attacks
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
Yes, because it allows the legislator to focus on her job rather than focus her energies on campaigning for the next election.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
We need term limits for both the House and the Senate. Term limits are necessary so that new and fresh ideas are always part of our governmental cycle and efficiencies.
Career politicians have to keep campaigning and as a result have to satisfy special interest groups, rather than representing their people.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York. She is a leader and the chair of the House Republican Conference.
Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?
Do not compromise on issues that your constituents want you to hold fast to. However, communicate with your district about how compromise on certain issues through strong negotiations, which is necessary in order to not continually end up in gridlock where nothing is finally accomplished.
This is a huge priority for every elected official. Spending problems are out of control currently. Raising revenue in order to keep our GDP competitive on the global stage is paramount to keeping us as the #1 superpower in the world.
How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?
Our investigative powers should always be used in conjunction with holding our nation's leaders accountable. The citizens of our country deserve transparency, and this is only possible at times with due diligence and investigative work.
Ways and Means
House Appropriations Committee
Judiciary
Education and the Workforce
Small Business
What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?
I believe lawmakers should be transparent with how they spend the American people's money. The government should be responsible for wasteful spending. Citizens should have access to the information needed to see the monies coming into their legislator's pocket.
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Note: Joseph submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on January 25, 2024.