Judy Justice, a Dare County Democrat, is seeking to represent the 6^th District in the North Carolina House of Representatives, saying the Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly is not doing enough for education and the environment.

Justice, a retired educator and former chairwoman of the Dare County Democratic Party, is seeking the legislative seat now held by Rep. Paul Tine, who is not seeking re-election. In January, Tine changed his party affiliation from Democratic to unaffiliated. Washington resident Ashley Woolard, a Republican, also wants to replace Tine in the legislature.

Justice ran for the state Senate in 2014. Her bid was unsuccessful. Justice said she had been considering running for the District 6 seat ever since Tine changed his party affiliation.

“I was, like other Democrats in District 6, very disappointed. In fact, I campaigned for him. It was like a slap in the face. … In fact, I was, in a sense, looking forward to, if I needed to, run against him because of some of his stands on unemployment and other issues that affect District 6,” Justice said.

“There are a number of things, but probably unemployment, the lack of opportunity. Part of the education challenge is — Dare County itself is blessed, but the other counties in the district, their educational systems don’t have the resources. Since Raleigh has decided to cut back so much on what’s needed in order to have a successful education system, which is an important opportunity for our kids and our future, I think that really needs to be focused on,” Justice said about key issues facing the district.

Other important issues that need be addressed properly are education, infrastructure and protecting the environment, she said.

Justice is not a supporter of offshore drilling.

“I am absolutely against it. There have been studies that have shown it brings in a lot less money that it costs to follow through with it, and the possible destruction to our tourist industry is not worth it,” Justice said about offshore drilling along the North Carolina coast. “Any jobs that would be generated would be generated in Virginia. The whole idea about the current government in Raleigh backing this up is counterproductive to the people of North Carolina. So, I’m against it.”

Justice believes the state’s “regular citizens” are not being represented well by the status quo in the Legislature.

“The main reason, seriously, that I’m running is because people in Raleigh need to reflect the needs of the people who pay taxes and are citizens of North Carolina. Currently what’s going on in Raleigh is there’s a group of mainly lawyers and businessmen — and mainly men — that are making decisions that are ideologically based and really negatively affecting the regular citizens in District 6. That’s one of the main reasons I’m running. People need a voice that represents their interests,” Justice said.