Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, has served in the Senate since he was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2015. He’s the chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and serves on committees ranging from redistricting to finance to health and human services spending.
Last year, he was one of four Senate Democrats who crossed party lines and voted for the original Senate version of the state budget bill. He also worked with Republican Sen. Jim Perry to co-sponsor the sports betting bill that passed the Senate as well as the “Derby Act,” which would pave the way for Kentucky Derby-style horse racing here.
What are the current and past jobs you’ve held outside of politics?
- Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist in Winston-Salem since 1991.
- Former adjunct professor at Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh
- Ministry and missions in the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, Korea, the United Kingdom and South Africa
What lessons from those roles have you applied to your elected position? I have learned that everything centers around relationships. You can always learn something from the people you work with. They can be wonderful resources.
If you could enact a single piece of legislation into law today, what would it be? I would enact automatic voter registration and free community college.
Where do you most enjoy taking an out-of-town visitor in your district? In no particular order, the places I would take an out-of-town visitor are Sweet Potato Restaurant, Village Tavern (Reynolda Village) and West End Cafe.
What is your favorite hobby outside of work? I enjoy music, concerts, deep-sea fishing, hunting, golf and attending Major League Baseball games.
Who do you most admire, and why? I admire Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. Harriet Tubman escaped slavery herself and then went back to save the lives of so many others, and she did so with sheer tenacity, guts, and will! Dr. Martin Luther King sacrificed his life for the benefit of others.
What is the best advice you have received about how to get legislation passed? Some of the best advice I have received on getting legislation passed is to pick your battles and make relationships. Like I said before, the people you work with can hold a wealth of knowledge. This means that working together with them, making strong relationships, and focusing on what you can truly get done is important.
