Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Born and raised in N.C.
Public schools in Raleigh
B.S. Hampden - Sydney College, 1964
M.B.A Wharton School, University of PA, 1968
Wachovia Bank - Winston Salem Regional Head for Commercial Real Estate, 1970
Wachovia Bank - Raleigh Regional Head for Commercial Real Estate, 1971
Hunt Properties, Inc. - developed over 4000 multifamily housing units in southeastern US, 20 years
Raleigh Planning Commission - 1994 to 2000 (chairman for last 3 years)
Raleigh City Council - 2001 to 2004
NC Senate, District 15 - 2004 to Present (current Deputy Senate Republican leader)

Committees: Finance, Appropriations, Commerce and Transportation Oversight

Married to Frances (Duden) Hunt, 2 adult children

Other Activities:
City League Football and Basketball Coach
Raleigh Rescue Mission Board of Directors (Treasurer)

Bank Boards:
(1st Union Bank local board and Triangle Bank corporate board)
Camp Oak Hill Board (President)
Triangle Family Services Advisory Board
NC Museum of Natural Science Friends Board
Back Home Box Foundation Board (provides supplies to our troops in combat)

My emphasis continues to be passing legislation that requires or promotes 1) economic growth and job creation, 2) fiscal responsibility in state government spending, 3) openness in legislative and other government activities.  

1) Our economic growth and job creation is being stifled by our taxes which are the absolute highest in the southeast.  (Tennessee has a higher sales tax, but they have no income tax.)  Obviously the state's tax rate is a critical factor in determining whether or not an investment will be made or not; and whether new jobs will be added or not!

2) I have sponsored or co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to limit the growth of government spending to the sum of the rate of population growth and the rate of inflation from the previous year.  Excess revenues during times of economic prosperity would be required to be put into a "rainy day" fund for economic times such as we are now experiencing.  Now we are faced with about a $3 billion dollar shortfall for 2011 - 2012 with minimal reserves to cover it.  

3) We need to shine the light of day on legislative activities. Currently committee chairs and the President Pro Tem of the Senate can kill legislation at the committee level with no debate.  If a legislative bill has at least 10 co-sponsors, that legislation should receive an up or down vote in committee and if it passes, should receive a vote on the Senate floor. Not to do this keeps the public from knowing their legislator's positions on the issues.