Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Thank you for your interest in my campaign.

I have served in the NC House of Representatives since November 1999.  Currently, I serve as a chair of  the House Finance Committee, a vice chair of Judiciary II, and as a member of the Rules Calendar and Operations of the House, Health, Juvenile Justice and Aging Committees.  I also serve as a co-chair of the Legislative Study Commission on Urban Growth and Infrastructure Issues. 

I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, Phi Beta Kappa, with an AB degree in Political Science in 1981 and graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986.  Before moving to Cary in 1991, I practiced business law in a large Boston firm, and later served as the Legal Services Coordinator at the Women's Center in Raleigh. 

I live in Cary with my husband, Bruce Hamilton and our 17 year old daughter.  Our 20 year old son is a college junior. 

In the community, I enjoy visiting schools and talking with students about state government.  I have served as a school volunteer, a Board member of Summit House and a SAFEchild volunteer.  My hobbies include swimming and baking, and I love to read aloud to children.

It is an honor to represent the people of Wake County in the North Carolina House. I look forward to continuing to make North Carolina an even more desirable place to live, work, and do business. Your support and vote in the November election will allow me to keep working on these vital issues:

Jobs & the Economy:

NC ranks as one of the best places to do business. We must continue to invest in our infrastructure:  workforce training, transportation, high-speed internet and water and sewer capacity.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. To stimulate job creation, we should continue to support business incubators and develop better technical assistance to small businesses, including increased access to credit. When economic incentives are used, I will continue to advocate for transparency, strong claw-back provisions and performance standards.

Education:

Great schools and world-class, affordable community colleges and universities are critical for a competitive workforce. Strategic planning and investment in education will attract business and industry. I will help improve public education, with a focus on:

• Attracting/retaining excellent teachers
• Keeping students in school
• Investing in STEM education and academically gifted programs
• Training for workers seeking new skills

Quality of Life:

A good quality of life is critical to our well-being.  I will continue to advocate for disease-prevention initiatives and essential services for children, seniors and people with disabilities/mental illness. I support consumer protection, corporate responsibility, ethics reforms and open government. And I will keep promoting community sustainability measures, including:

• Clean air and water standards
• Open Space preservation and additions to our state parks
• Improvements to our area's transportation network, e.g. public transportation, bike paths and pedestrian safety
• Sustainable energy initiatives
• Wise water use, e.g. conservation, alternative water supplies, assisting local governments with water planning and promoting regional cooperation