Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

State Sen. Marc Basnight, a Democrat from Dare County, was first elected to the N.C. Senate in 1984 and is now serving his thirteenth Senate term. The longest-serving legislative leader in North Carolina history, he is serving his ninth term as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, a leadership post he has held since 1993. Basnight represents Senate District 1, which covers almost all of North Carolina's barrier islands, from the Outer Banks to the Albemarle Sound and Chowan River.

A leading voice for environmental stewardship in the General Assembly, Basnight established some of North Carolina's most progressive environmental initiatives: The Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the state's first and only dedicated source of revenue that preserves environmentally sensitive areas; and the Clean Water Responsibility Act, which aimed to stop river pollution from all sources.

Basnight is one of higher education's strongest supporters. During his legislative tenure, the 16 University of North Carolina campuses have remained the nation's premier public university system, while the state's community college system is the nation's best in job training. Basnight led the Senate's efforts to reduce class sizes in kindergarten classrooms statewide and in struggling schools to make sure at-risk students get the individualized attention that will help them learn.

Senator Basnight is a small-business owner himself and has made job-creation a hallmark of his Senate service. When not at the legislature, he can usually be found at his family's restaurant, Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe in Nags Head.

As we recover from the national recession, North Carolina is on the brink of some major changes - and if the voters of the First District will give me the honor of another term in Raleigh, I can be a part of making those changes occur.

Improving math and science education, updating the state's economic development model, giving relief to struggling small businesses, and promoting growth in the "green economy" all are things North Carolina must do to compete globally for jobs and opportunity. Our economy is finally getting better, but recovery is coming slowly. Over the long term, we need to improve our state's ability to compete for high-tech, knowledge-based jobs. Strengthening science and math education must be a priority.

I believe that small businesses - which create 7 of every 10 new jobs in the state - should have lower taxes and less bureaucratic interference from government. For the businessman, weaving your way through the government's red tape can be a frustrating and often expensive adventure. Small business is the heartbeat of our economy, and we need to do what it takes to help them survive these tough times, and get back on the road to prosperity.

We must also think about our environment. As people learn more about recycling, or about using less plastic and energy, we must consider that green jobs could be our economic future. Our coastline is a renowned tourism destination and if we don't take care of it, one day we will lose a critical piece of our economy.