Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I was born in Mt. Airy, NC on February 20, 1952, the second child of John Wolfe, a retail furniture dealer and Eulala Wolfe, a homemaker.

I graduated from Mt. Airy Senior High in 1970, and left for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to pursue a degree in journalism. It was my intention to go into newspaper writing. But at college, I succumbed to the lure of broadcasting. I did graduate with a degree in journalism, but added a double major in Radio/Television/Motion Pictures.

From work at radio and television stations in North Carolina, my professional path took me to St. Louis, and then to CBS News, where I spent 20 years as a producer. I was based in Atlanta, Chicago, and London, and finally Washington.

In Atlanta and Chicago, I covered regional stories for the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. In London, I gained international perspective. I spent two tours in Bosnia covering the Balkan war there.

In Washington, I covered politics full-time - on Capitol Hill and the White House. I was the producer for Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer for a decade. We covered political races all over the country.

In 2008, I took an early retirement from broadcasting, and returned to North Carolina, which I love. I bought a house in Mt. Airy. I became active in local Democratic politics. I have the time, energy, and inclination to serve, and I filed for office.

I would like to say this is my first foray into politics, but I can't. In 1963, I was elected student body president of North Main Street Elementary School in Mt. Airy.

And so I find myself today a candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives from my native Surry County. I offered myself because I have the time, inclination, and talent to serve.

But moreover, I offered myself because I believe that Surry and Alleghany counties lack effective representation in Raleigh. In a squeaker of a contest in 2008, the district elected a far right-wing candidate who will not, apparently cannot, work across the aisle with the majority in the General Assembly.

The incumbent state representative has voted against funding for our public schools, for our community colleges - even for our law enforcement agencies.

While the unemployment rate in Surry and Alleghany counties has been rising steadily, she voted against a major jobs incentives bill just this summer - a measure designed to bring more than 1200 jobs to North Carolina.

Our public schools here are among the best in the state. I want to keep them that way.

Our two community colleges are the key to the future for thousands of local students. These institutions can prepare them for careers to come.

I'll support public education and community colleges in the General Assembly. I'll support tax incentives for companies that want to build and hire in North Carolina.

My voting record will be entirely different from the incumbent's.

And finally, unlike our incumbent, I have a heart. I believe that government exists, in part, to help people - to give them an equal, fighting chance to succeed.