Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I was born and raised on a farm in southeastern Georgia as the oldest in a family of four. I received a B.S. in Chemistry from Georgia Southern College (now University) and entered the textile industry. My last position in the field was as the Product Development Chemist for Hanes Hosiery in Winston-Salem, NC.

I was the co-owner with my husband of a chain of hairstyling salons for over ten years. Before election to office in 2006, I worked for over 16 years with the John Locke Foundation, a North Carolina public policy institute.

My political career spans over 18 years of grassroots county volunteer activities, including Chairman of the Wake County Republican Party. The last four years I have served as the State House Representative for District 40 which is northern Wake County.

During my last term I was a member of a number of committees, including Health, Education, Commerce, Science and Technology (committee Vice Chairman), Juvenile Justice, Appropriations, and Local Government. I also served on the House Select Committee on High Speed Internet Access which studied a number of issues related to internet service and distribution throughout the state.

My husband, Alex, and I have been married 38 years and are parents of two children. Our son, David, is a corporate attorney in New York, and our daughter, Katherine, is a high school English teacher in Wake County.

The challenges that face elected officials in 2011 also offer opportunities. With an economy in distress, the primary focus must be on expanding our economy and creating high quality jobs for our citizens. Controlling state spending, lowering debt obligations, removing onerous regulations, and cutting taxes will all play a part in the success of growing our economy.

To ensure a growing economy we must improve our highways, bridges, and overall transportation infrastructure. This will require expenditures be directed to improving safety and easing congestion.  

We must pursue an agenda that will strengthen our families and give them more control over their lives. This includes the availability of school choice for the education of their children and the protection of their property from involuntary annexations and condemnation abuses.