Sydney Batch
Office
Running for State Representative, North Carolina, District 37 (2018)
Biography
A new day. A new voice.
As a family law attorney and child welfare advocate, she fights every day for families across Wake County who are worried about their future. Whether stressed about sending their kids to a good public school, paying back their student loans, or affording quality health care and finding a good, well-paying job, too many people feel the deck is stacked against them.
Despite these struggles, Sydney has observed that many common values bind us. People want affordable, accessible health care, quality and affordable education, safe air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a fair paycheck. Most of all, they want their children to live a more prosperous life than they have.
Sydney decided to run because she wants to make a difference for those people who feel stressed, and to work with them through our common shared values to make a better Wake County. There’s no doubt that the challenges facing us are great. However, so is our will. She humbly asks for your support.
Experience
Sydney Batch is a lawyer, social worker, and child welfare advocate who was raised in North Carolina. Sydney received her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she remained for her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Social Work. Following law school, Sydney entered private practice with her husband, J. Patrick Williams. They opened their law firm in Raleigh in 2005 and primarily practice in Wake County.
Sydney is actively involved in a variety of committees and organizations involving both family law and juvenile matters. She is a former board member for the Women’s Center of Wake County and is a current board member for the Julia Crump Foundation. She also volunteers for The Child’s Advocate, a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Sydney and Patrick have lived in Wake County for eleven years. In her spare time, Mrs. Batch enjoys reading, traveling, quilting, watching football, and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Source: Sydney Batch.com
Priorities
Support a Strong Public Education for Every Child In North Carolina
Schools. While our schools look different in our 100 NC counties, we need to ensure that every child is able to learn and achieve her highest potential in an environment that has all of the basic resources students, teachers and administrators need. Enrichment classes, such as art, physical education, and music should not be eliminated from the curriculum. Our children have a constitutional right to a free, public education. I greatly benefited from my NC public school education from elementary school through my two graduate degrees. I now have a child enrolled in public schools. I see the struggle for resources today that were not there in years past. From the state level, we must collaborate and strategize with counties to strengthen every school system in our state.
Students. Education is the great equalizer. Our tradition and reputation for providing the highest quality education has been slipping in recent years as a direct result of lawmaker’s policy and funding decisions. North Carolina ranks 44th in the country in per pupil funding. ALL of our children need to be on the top of our priority list because they are our future workers, parents, and community leaders. Having a robust educational foundation supports current and future jobs and careers North Carolina needs.
Teachers. We must support and incentivize our teachers to do what they do best—educate our children. Teacher pay needs to be increased to at least the national average. They need flexibility to engage students to learn the critical thinking skills to succeed in our 21st century world. They should not be forced to teach to a test. Too often, teachers are underpaid, over-regulated, and overworked. They need to be paid a fair and competitive salary for their work and dedication to the ever changing educational needs of our children.
Protecting Our Environment
Every person deserves to breathe clean air and have safe, drinkable water. This should not be a privilege, but a right. Our government has a unique and non-delegable role to play in ensuring a safe and protected environment. For too long now, Republicans have allowed corporations to increase and pocket their profits while forcing taxpayers to clean-up after their environmental damage. As one example, Republicans have refused to hold Duke Energy accountable for the coal ash spill of 2014 and passed the costs on to taxpayers. North Carolinians deserve better from corporations and from our elected officials who are often looking out for their interests rather than the public at large.
Affordable Health Care
As a small business owner, I provide health insurance to my employees because I believe it is the right thing to do. Therefore, I know firsthand the high cost of providing healthcare insurance and the ever increasing premiums and prescription drug costs. Legislators have to find a way to make sure everyone has access to affordable healthcare that includes preventative care and incentives for wellness.
Higher Wages
The minimum wage needs to be a living wage. I support a community’s ability to set minimum wages to address and meet the needs of their own citizens.
Affordable Housing
We must find a way to increase affordable housing options throughout our state—but especially in our urban areas. State Government must work with local governments and the private sector so that our lower wage earners can live and play in the same community in which they work.
Broadband Expansion & Access
Expand High Speed Broadband. Increasing access to high speed broadband internet across the state will incentivize innovation and help bridge the Rural-Urban economic divide. One simple and efficient way to accomplish this is by lifting the ban on municipalities’ ability to install and operate their own locally controlled, net neutral broadband.
Access to Substance Abuse Treatment
As an attorney, I see the harmful impact substance use and abuse has on an individual, family, and community. I’ve worked with many people who want to obtain sobriety and are ready to participate in treatment programs that have a proven track record. Unfortunately, very few people are able to access treatment because they do not have insurance, or they do not have the assets to pay privately. Like every other state facing the opioid crisis, we must fund treatment programs for those North Carolinians who want to tackle their addictions and live a life of sobriety.
Source: Sydney Batch.com
Sydney Batch
...
Office
Running for State Representative, North Carolina, District 37 (2018)
Biography
A new day. A new voice.
As a family law attorney and child welfare advocate, she fights every day for families across Wake County who are worried about their future. Whether stressed about sending their kids to a good public school, paying back their student loans, or affording quality health care and finding a good, well-paying job, too many people feel the deck is stacked against them.
Despite these struggles, Sydney has observed that many common values bind us. People want affordable, accessible health care, quality and affordable education, safe air to breathe, clean water to drink, and a fair paycheck. Most of all, they want their children to live a more prosperous life than they have.
Sydney decided to run because she wants to make a difference for those people who feel stressed, and to work with them through our common shared values to make a better Wake County. There’s no doubt that the challenges facing us are great. However, so is our will. She humbly asks for your support.
Experience
Sydney Batch is a lawyer, social worker, and child welfare advocate who was raised in North Carolina. Sydney received her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she remained for her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Social Work. Following law school, Sydney entered private practice with her husband, J. Patrick Williams. They opened their law firm in Raleigh in 2005 and primarily practice in Wake County.
Sydney is actively involved in a variety of committees and organizations involving both family law and juvenile matters. She is a former board member for the Women’s Center of Wake County and is a current board member for the Julia Crump Foundation. She also volunteers for The Child’s Advocate, a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Sydney and Patrick have lived in Wake County for eleven years. In her spare time, Mrs. Batch enjoys reading, traveling, quilting, watching football, and spending time with her husband and two sons.
Source: Sydney Batch.com
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Priorities
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Social