Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Rich Halbert is a retiree who lives in the Edenton Cotton Mill Village in a home which he restored himself.  He is a Republican Candidate in the North Carolina Senate District 4.

Mr. Halbert is a former teacher who maintains his lifetime teaching certificate.  He is a former small business owner, operating a printing business for 8 years.  Finally, he is the retired former Director of International Operations for the Defense Mapping Agency.  He holds a BS Ed with a Mathematics major as well as a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).

Rich has been married to his wife Judy for 47 years.  He has a married daughter and a married son, both of whom live in Seattle, WA.  He has four grandsons and one granddaughter.  He attends St. Anne Catholic Church in Edenton.

He has been involved in numerous volunteer positions, including Scoutmaster, Swim Coach, Baseball Coach, and various positions supporting the Performing Arts.  He has competed in the local Senior Games for more than 10 years and occasionally competes in 5K runs.  This is his first campaign office.

The majority of North Carolinians (57%) agree with me that our state is headed in the WRONG DIRECTION!  Last year, during the worst unemployment in memory and the worst recession in 70 years Democrats raised your sales tax, income tax and business tax by $1.1 billion, one of the largest tax increases in NC history.  I will fight against and vote against ANY statewide tax increase.

This election is all about jobs.  Our taxes are the highest in the Southeast and among the highest in the country.  High taxes harm economic growth and cost jobs.  I will cut spending and reduce taxes in order to stimulate economic growth and job creation. 

The Democrats have been on a 30 year spending binge where state spending has grown by 300% while population growth has grown by only 60%.  This spending and taxing binge is UNSUSTAINABLE!  That's why they're holding on to your NC Income Tax refund.  They need your money!  I will fight to tie spending to population growth and inflation.

Democrat rule in Raleigh has resulted in the most blatant corruption in NC history.  The former Governor is under investigation, his top aid is indicted on 51 counts, his wife was fired from her high paying job ($170,000) at NC State University, the former Speaker of the House is in jail and the Senate President is under a cloud of suspicion involving questionable state contracts.  I can't be bought and I will work tirelessly to expose corruption and force accountability in state politics. 

Help me LEAD North Carolina in the RIGHT DIRECTION.  Help me CREATE JOBS.  Help me LOWER TAXES.  Help me stop the SPENDING MADNESS.  Help me clean up the Raleigh CORRUPTION MESS.  Join my campaign for Change you can AFFORD.