Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Life-long resident of Wilkes County, born and raised in the Hays community. Associate of Arts degree from Wilkes Community College and a B.S. in Business Administration from Appalachian State University. Completed a 30 year military career employed full-time by the North Carolina Army National Guard, retiring in 2003. Employed 4 years with the Homeland Security Branch of North Carolina Emergency Management from 2003 to 2007. Married to Barbara (Harrison) for 26 years and have a son (Ben) age 24, and a daughter (Caroline) age 21.

My 34 years of public service, first in the military and subsequently in the Homeland Security Branch of North Carolina Emergency Management has given me the experience and the proficiency to make large, complex organizations responsible at the state and federal levels. As the 94th District Representative to the General Assembly in Raleigh, I will apply these skills to promote economic development by supporting existing employers and by encouraging entrepreneurial activity in Wilkes County. I support putting our teachers back in charge of the classroom. Our military veterans and their dependents deserve adequate and accessible family support, and I will work to improve state-wide access. Our soil, water, and forest resources are critical to sustaining quality of life for Wilkes County and their preservation is a priority goal of my campaign. You can Depend on Pendry for accountability in State government.