Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

NC Representative Rick Glazier is presently serving his fourth term in the North Carolina General Assembly. Rick is an employment and labor law attorney with a personal background of neighborhood involvement and extensive public service.

Rick received his JD from Wake Forest University in 1981. He is a Visiting Professor in Criminal Justice at Fayetteville State University and has been teaching pre-trial law at Campbell University School of Law for 13 years. He previously taught criminal justice as an adjunct professor at FTCC and NC State.

For over 25 years, Rick has dedicated himself to the betterment of his community. He is a six-year veteran board member of the Cumberland County School Board, serving two years as Chairman. Rick is past-president Beth Israel Synagogue, where he taught Sunday school for many years. He was recently named to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and serves on the NC J.O.B.S. Commission.

He is currently serving as the Chair of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. He is the Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House, the Joint Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management and the Judiciary II Committee, as well as serving as a member of several other standing and interim committees including the Health, Military and Veteran's Affairs and Mental Health and Financial Institutions committees.

His recent honors include a 2009 "Sunshine Award" for Campaign Transparency from Democracy North Carolina and 2009 Legislator of the Year Autism award from the Autism Society of North Carolina.

He has been married to Lise, an art teacher at Hope Mills Middle School, for 30 years. They have two children; Philip, a CPA, and Megan, a hotel conference and event planner, who both live in Washington D.C.

For eight years it has been my great privilege to serve the people of Cumberland County and District 45 as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. 

Throughout the past eight years, I've dedicated myself to the issues of accessible, affordable health care, preservation of our state's natural resources, justice for all our citizens and quality education for every child.  I have sponsored legislation to support our military, protect our drinking water, prevent school violence and bring smart economic development to our state. I will continue to focus on these issues and bring my experience to bear on the complex issues that face North Carolina and District 45.

I currently have the honor of serving as the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. As an educator, the husband of a public school teacher and a six-year veteran of the Cumberland County School Board, I am acutely aware of the needs and challenges facing our schools, and I am dedicated to delivering on the promise of a sound basic education to every student in North Carolina.

As the Chair of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, I've investigated corruption in state government, recommended tougher reporting requirements and sponsored legislation that has increased transparency and accountability.

As we cope with the effects of the economic crisis, I've sponsored legislation to give meaningful assistance to working families, prevent foreclosures and help small businesses, and I've fought to protect public education and worker retraining programs at our Community Colleges.

I am truly privileged to represent Cumberland County, and I undertake the duties of my office ever vigilant of the fact that I have been granted this opportunity by the grace of my fellow citizens. I will continue to work diligently, effectively and honorably on behalf of the great people of this district.