Fred Smith, a gubernatorial candidate vying for the Republican nomination, hosted Barbecue No. 88 at Lincolnton Middle School Friday.

After participating in the healthcare debate on UNC-TV with his fellow candidates Thursday night, Smith returned to the campaign trail at Safari Miles Restaurant in Denver.

Smith's three-step health plan assumes the premise that "healthcare is not primarily the role of the government," adding that citizens have the primary responsibility in their own health.

After that premise, Smith said the steps are creating "a culture of health," creating "a consumer-driven healthcare system" and making "effective and efficient use of assets in our healthcare system."

To improve education, Smith said, the first priority is to "get disruption out of the classroom."

"Teachers are leaving because of disruption ... and the inordinate amount of time spent on paperwork," he said.

Smith also said North Carolina needs good teachers.

The solution:While North Carolina's population is growing, some states, like Ohio are "losing population but producing great teachers."Smith's idea is to recruit teachers from those states.

He also wants to "reduce the tax burden on the private sector" by reducing government spending so private businesses will have money to put into salaries rather than taxes.

"The private sector produces 83 percent of jobs," Smith said.

Though Smith is a professing Christian, he works to keep his faith separate from his political career.

"Any religious belief I have, I run through a prism to make sure that works with everything else," he said. "When I talk about marriage between one man and one woman, I do it because I think that's in the best interest of society."

While that is the same stance the Bible takes, Smith said, he bases that decision on his research - not his faith.

After his time at Safari Miles, Smith visited the Lincoln County Home Builders' Association and the Lincoln County Board of Realtors and toured the Lincoln County Industrial Park.

The LMS barbecue was open to the public.

Other Republicans vying for the party nomination are Mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and Salisbury attorney Bill Graham.

The Democratic candidates are Lt. Gov. Beverly Purdue and state treasurer Richard Moore. To learn more about Smith's campaign, see his campaign Web site, www.joinfred.com.

The article above by Rebekah Lewis was published in the Lincoln Times-News and can be found online HERE.