Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Martha Alexander is currently serving her ninth term in the North Carolina General Assembly. She represents District 106, a portion of Mecklenburg County, in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

In the House of Representatives, she serves as a Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as a member of the following committees: Education, Health, Judiciary I, and Mental Health Reform, where she serves as Vice Chair. She also serves on the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on State Funded Behavioral Health Services for the Active and Retired Military and Their Families, and the Equal Access to Justice Commission convened by the Chief Justice of North Carolina, among others. She is active in the National Conference of State Legislatures where she has served as chair of a standing committee and as a member of several committees.

A native of Florida, Representative Alexander earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and earned a Master in Human Development and Learning from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Martha serves as a Trustee of the Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church. She has been a deputy to three General Conventions of the Episcopal Church and is active in the Diocese of North Carolina where she serves on the Standing Commission, as well as on the North Carolina Companion Link Committee - Botswana. She serves as one of the Vice-Chairs of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and is a member of the World Service Council of the YWCA and is member of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center Advisory Council in Charlotte.

She is the mother of two and the grandmother of five.

Over the past eighteen years I have been privileged to serve my district and the State of North Carolina in the North Carolina General Assembly. The legislature is a place of rules, bills and people. The rules are both formal and informal and the bills vary from very simple to complex issues which affect the citizens of North Carolina. Basically, a legislator is involved not only with their constituents but other citizens across the state, as well as legislators in both parties, advocates, lobbyists and the general public. I have endeavored to do my job to the best of my ability.

I am concerned that those with mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems receive the appropriate treatment. I am concerned that the criminal justice system needs to be strengthened and more financial resources are needed in that area. I want to ensure everyone is able to receive a fair and just hearing, no matter their income. All need access to justice. Education begins at birth and I have worked to ensure our public schools, community colleges and universities are adequately funded and there are appropriate ratings for child care centers. I also think that there needs to be quality technical education available in order for us to be able to meet the demands of businesses. Health coverage should be available for every woman, child and man. And -- our environment is very precious and must be preserved, not only for those of us living now, but for future generations.

Above all -- human dignity must be preserved and justice served.