By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
Dr. Howard Staley, a podiatrist from Chatham County, has filed as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Staley practices in Lee County. He filed last week and joins Lexington truck driver Duskin Lassiter as the first two official candidates running for the seat held by Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole of Salisbury.
The N.C. primary will be held May 6.
Other Democrats expected to file include Chapel Hill investment banker Jim Neal, state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro and Jon Ross Hendrix, a graphic artist from Winston-Salem.
Staley has listed the financing of health care for Americans, personal and national debt and immigration as some of his top issues.
As a self-employed medical provider, Staley says he has firsthand knowledge of health care financing from the perspectives of a patient, physician and employer. Staley says health care financing needs immediate attention at the federal level.
On his Web site, Staley says immigration always has been vital to the country’s growth.
“Today’s environment of terrorism has heightened the risks from undocumented foreigners entering the United States,” Staley said.
“We need to balance our need for immigrants with our issuance of entry documents, prevent further illegal entry across our borders and use all available means to document or deport illegals in our country.”
Staley contends it will be difficult to repay the national debt if Americans cannot pay their individual debt.
The fees and penalties added to the personal debt “are often unconscionable,” he said.
In recent remarks to Moore County Democrats, Staley said he views today’s politically divided U.S. Senate as a roadblock to progress on important issues such as less dependency on foreign oil, affordable housing and more sustainable health care coverage.
A New Jersey native, Staley moved to North Carolina in 1981 and has practiced in Rocky Mount, Cary, Sanford and Southern Pines. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and graduated from the Temple University College of Podiatric Medicine.
He and his wife, Helene, have three children.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.