Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Born and raised in the foothills of North Carolina, Susan attended the North Carolina School of the Performing Arts and attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College.  She performed in summer stock, dinner theatre, professional musical theatre, and radio and television commercials.

She and her husband, Larry, have directed the Christian Training Center International, a ministry to families and young people, for nearly three de-cades. She is currently writing a book entitled, "An Unexpected Life," telling of her childhood and growing up years in America. An avid community volunteer, she has recently received  the esteemed "President's National Volunteer Service Award." Susan's life and work are based around the conservative Christian values that Western North Carolinians hold dear. Susan serves on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women where she chairs the "American Exceptionalism" Committee.

Susan is currently a candidate for the North Carolina Senate hoping to represent our 50th District. She and Larry have lived in Franklin for twenty-eight years. She is the mother of four children, and the grandmother of three.

Candidate Statement:

My Platform:

1. Restore Honor to God and Country -- The absolute necessity for American Exceptionalism to be returned to our schools and public square.
2. Reduce Taxes--There are only ten states with higher taxes than North Carolina. The high corporate, sales, (6.9%) and income tax makes it difficult to compete against neighboring states, stifling our economic growth. We have lost over 400 businesses in the last few years.
3. Redirect Educational Priorities -- Fifty-eight cents of every dollar goes into Education, yet one-third of our students do not graduate from high school.
4. Restrict Governmental Controls -- Forced annexation and forced mandates deplete the security the Constitution grants us. We have not had a restructuring to reduce the size of government in N.C. since 1972. It has been long over-due to change the careless overspending going on in our legislature. We need a Republican majority in the State Senate
5. Reassure Private Property Owners -- New regulations concerning private property in the shape of environmental, health, or eminent domain issues continually bring insecurity to our property owners.
6. Re-enforce Legal Immigration Laws -- North Carolina has become an inviting place for those who do not legally belong within our borders. Driver's licenses, healthcare, and casual dismissal of the law face us every day. Our elected officials need to take immediate action!
7. Reinstate Integrity Instead of Corruption -- Two Democratic Legislators, the Speaker of the House, and the Agriculture Chairman were expelled from the Legislature and are serving prison sentences.
8. Rebuild a Culture that Values Life -- We, as a State, do not forget life, whether it be in the womb, in our hospitals, our elderly, or our soldiers.
9. Restructure Job Opportunities for North Carolina Workers -- 250,000 North Carolinians are unemployed.  Illegal workers have reduced earnings for U.S. workers by $1700. North Carolina's high taxes have forced established businesses to leave our state and halted new businesses from entering.