Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

A native North Carolinian, Alice Graham Underhill was the son her father never had. She grew up attending political and government activities with her father, the late Jim Graham, Commissioner of Agriculture for 36 years. This was a tremendous learning experience for her. She learned that integrity, accountability and constituent service must be all important for an elected official.

A strong proponent of reform for openness, transparency, and ethics in government, she helped pass some of the strongest ethics in government, lobbying and campaign finance laws of any state. She was recently honored as one of thirty-two legislators receiving the 'Sunshine Award' for superior campaign finance reports from the watchdog group Democracy North Carolina.

Her first public office was as a member of the Craven County School Board in 1980-84. During this pivotal time, the Craven County and New Bern City School systems merged, creating a stronger educational system for Craven County students.

She is serving her fourth term as the representative for NC House District 3, (Craven and Pamlico Counties). Her legislative leadership is reflective of the issues to which she is committed: fiscal responsibility with tax dollars; excellence in education; accessible healthcare and mental health care; a clean healthy environment; reforms in ethics and transparency in government; and growing strong economy.

She has a BA in Education, a MA in History at the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill, and a JD at Campbell University School of Law. Her career has included being a teacher in Durham County Schools, manager of Safety and Training at Hatteras Yachts, instructor of Business Law at Craven Community College, and law librarian at Ward & Smith PA.

A resident of New Bern for 32 years, she and her husband, T. Reed Underhill, MD, are active members of Christ Episcopal Church. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

I have put fighting to help families and build a strong economy through job creation and small business growth during our state's current financial crisis at the fore front of my legislative work. I was a primary sponsor of legislation providing small business incentives and investments to get our economy back on track, as well as providing educational opportunities for job training.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, serving as a sub-committee co-chair of General Government, I was a leader in cutting waste and duplication of government programs. I led the way in cutting waste in state government - the biggest budget cuts in state history. At the same time, when other states were closing schools and laying off teachers, I successfully worked to save our education system and other necessary core services for healthcare, public safety, and a healthy environment.

I am an active supporter of legislation to protect and preserve our state's valuable resources. I have worked with local governments to address critical water and sewer needs, fund land preservation efforts and develop alternative fuel. Not only are clean water and air, open spaces and farmlands basic to our quality of life, they are necessary to economic growth. I serve as a co-chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and believe that the delicate balance of a healthy environment and a strong economy can be achieved.

It is my belief that legislators must be accountable, as well as responsible and forward thinking in their decisions. Those decisions must not short-change the future of North Carolina's families.