Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Bill Graham is a successful attorney and businessman who formally announced his candidacy for Governor of North Carolina on May 17, 2007.  
 
Bill was born on November 25, 1960, in Concord, North Carolina.   He grew up in Dunn, North Carolina.  He attended Dunn High School and Catawba College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Bill received his law degree from Antioch University, spending one year as a visiting student Wake Forest University School of Law. Bill currently lives with his wife, Shari, and their two kids, in Salisbury.  

Bill Graham has a resume that includes being a prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney, working on the staff of Senator Jesse Helms, and being a partner at the Wallace and Graham Law Firm.  Bill is also a successful businessman, formerly owning an ammunition manufacturer and is currently launching an insurance product that will assist the American worker in the event that they lose their job.
 
Bill coordinated with North Carolina Conservatives United to organize an effort to stop the gas tax from increasing.  The measure saved a projected $200 million of the North Carolina taxpayers’ money so far.  North Carolina has a historically high gas tax in relation to other states.  At the time of Bill’s effort, the North Carolina tax was 31.5 cents per gallon compared to 18.7 cents in Virginia, and 16 cents in South Carolina.  North Carolina has the 7th highest gas tax in the United States.
 
Further information about Mr. Graham’s candidacy may be found at www.graham2008.com.

Over the course of my life, I have watched as the government in Raleigh has made one bad decision after another resulting in an illegal alien crisis, the highest taxes in the Southeast, the lowest job growth amongst our neighbors, a congested interstate system, and more failing schools than 44 other states.

The final straw for me was when Raleigh decided to raise our gas taxes during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when North Carolinians were paying record prices at the pump. Enough was enough and I decided to take a stand for North Carolina.

I knew that I would not be alone in my feelings, so I went to the airwaves, the media, and to my fellow North Carolinians and organized an effort to stop the gas tax from increasing. WE saved North Carolinians Taxpayers over $150 million dollars last year, and will likely save upwards of $200 million in 2008.
 
It was at this time, that I discovered the power that WE taxpayers hold when WE stand together. It was then that I realized - people want change, however WE need a leader to take back our state government from special interests and career politicians. We need someone who truly understands what "We the People" means.
 
I will bring fresh conservative leadership to state government. Raleigh has lacked true leadership over the past decade and North Carolina has suffered as a result. Our next governor must be a person who is able to bring people together; just as I did on the gas tax campaign.

WE must work together to solve the important issues facing North Carolinians. WE need a leader who can bring North Carolinians together and together we can solve problems like illegal immigration, failing schools, high taxes, corruption, and a deteriorating transportation system.
 
Our state needs new conservative leadership and fresh ideas. I offer that chance for real change. Together, WE can make North Carolina a great place to live and work.