Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Education:

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama Juris Doctor. May 1977; Licensed: North Carolina, September 1977

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, August 1974

Legal Experience:

District Attorney 1999-Present
Fourth Prosecutorial District, North Carolina

• Elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
• Responsible for the disposition of all criminal cases in Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson Counties.

Assistant District Attorney 1977-1998
Fourth Prosecutorial District, North Carolina           

• Prosecuted criminal cases in District and Superior Court.

Intermittent US Civil Service Investigator 1975-1977

• Conducted background investigations for Federal Employment and Security Clearance.

Community Activities and Associations:

• Coached intramural basketball and soccer.

• Selected by Rotary International to represent eastern North Carolina in an exchange program to travel to Sweden to study the Swedish legal system.
• Parks Scholarship selection committee participant.
• Boy Scouts of America.
• Assistant Scout Leader, Troop 70.
• Chairman of Sampson County BSA.
• Served as a member of the Tuscarora District Board.
• Chairman of Sampson County Chapter of State Employees' Association.
• Member of the North Carolina Task Force on Domestic Violence.
• Served on various committees of the Conference of District Attorney's.
• Duplin County Chairman of the NC State Wolfpack Club.

Growing up in Sampson County, I began working at an early age on my family's small tobacco and produce farm in Turkey. When I wasn't working on the farm, I worked at my family's country grocery store. Early in life, I learned the values of faith, family, and hard work.

After graduating from high school, I attended North Carolina State University where I worked my way through college and then to Alabama for law School.

Since 1977, I have been fighting crime in our courts and now I'm retiring as District Attorney, and I'm running for the NC Senate to fix things in Raleigh.

My top priorities in Raleigh are to focus on new jobs, education and fighting to protect our farmer and agriculture businesses -- right here at home. We have seen difficult times before and we will weather this storm, but we need a leader in Raleigh who will work to bring together our assets and our strengths to move forward.

This campaign is about putting people to work and making government work more efficiently and effectively for the people they are supposed to serve. I understand our needs and I will deliver results as the next State Senator for District 10.