Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

My name is Mike Edwards, a resident of Graham County, NC. I was born in Graham County in 1952. I was a member of a military family during my early years and traveled throughout the US and Great Britain, until returning to Graham County in May 1972.

I graduated from Lakenheath American High School in Suffolk, England in 1971, completed my first year of undergraduate work with the University of Maryland's European Campus in 1971-72. I completed my BSEd. at Western Carolina University (WCU) at Cullowhee, NC in 1975, completed my MAEd. from WCU in 1980, and completed my certification in Public School Administration in 1996.

I am an educator by profession with 28 years of service upon retirement. I have served as a classroom teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, and district office administrator. I have also been a minister since 1984. And have done freelance grant research and grant writing along the way.

I'm married to Sharon Cable Edwards of the Stecoah Community in Graham County for 37 years now and have three wonderful children, Desire’, an attorney in Greensboro, NC, Robert,  finance director for Macon Citizens for the Handicapped in Franklin, NC, Janine, a student at Tri-County Community College, and Kevin, my son-in-law, CEO of TIMCO Corporation in Greensboro, NC. And last, but not least, Samantha, my precocious and beautiful granddaughter of two and half years of age, who probably knows me the best of all. What a blessing all of these are.

I have a great respect and admiration for the mountains in which I live and an even greater respect for the hardy, industrious, and good-hearted people of with whom I live in Graham County, NC.

Candidate Statement:

The times in which we as a nation are living are difficult in many ways. The circumstances we presently find ourselves facing came about through decision making by some who thought the decisions they made were good for our nation and others made decisions based on other less noble premises.

These "hard times" can be considered in two ways -- as a time of hopelessness or they can be seen as times of great opportunity. I have witnessed in my lifetime what this great country has done and can do during times of extreme adversity, adversity from within and without. And the greatness that was and is America is knit together with the thread of national unity, based upon founding principles that still guide those who will honor them.

As a democracy, we are governed "by the people".

The will and well being of the people really do matter.

Those elected are to serve the people and not a private agenda at the expense of the people.

The voter has responsibility to question, do research, and decide if the candidate is qualified.

Qualifications do count.

A successful candidate should be passionate about doing their best for the community that entrusts the elected office to them.

A candidate motivated by ego will tire quickly and become ineffectual.

I hold to these beliefs as I seek office in Graham County.