1.
North Carolina General Assembly
–
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U. S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina Senate. The House has 120 members, while the Senate has 50, there are no term limits for either chamber. Legislators in both chambers serve two-year terms, starting with the 2002 election, each legislator represents a single-member House or Senatorial district, prior to 2002, some districts elected multiple legislators. The General Assembly meets in the capital of Raleigh. It met in the Capitol building until 1963, when the relocated to the new North Carolina State Legislative Building. Though its members represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House, its prerogatives, the President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the Lt. Governor has very limited powers and only votes to break a tie, Governor was created in 1868, the Senate was presided over by a Speaker. After the 1988 election of James Carson Gardner, the first Republican Lt, Governor since Reconstruction, Democrats in control of the Senate shifted most of the power held by the Lt. Governor to the senator who is elected President Pro Tempore, the President pro tempore appoints members to standing committees of the Senate, and holds great sway over bills. According to the constitution, the Senate is also the Court for the Trial of Impeachments. The House of Representatives has the power to state officials, after which the Senate holds a trial. Governor is the official who has been impeached, the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court presides, the 120 members of the House are led by a Speaker, who holds powers similar to those of the Senate President pro-tem. The North Carolina legislature traces its roots to the first assembly for the County of Albemarle, Albemarle County was the portion of the British colony of Carolina that would eventually become North Carolina. From approximately 1666 to 1697, the Governor, his council, by 1697, this evolved into a bicameral body, with the Governor and his council as the upper house, and the House of Burgesses as the elected lower house. The House, sometimes simply as “the Assembly, ” could only meet when called by the Governor. According to one compilation of the Laws of North Carolina. Richard Sanderson, at Little-River begun on the 17th day of November,1715 and continued by several Adjournments, at that session the Assembly adopted many of the laws of England that remained in effect through most of the 20th Century
2.
North Carolina Senate
–
The North Carolina Senate is the upper house of the bicameral North Carolina General Assembly. The Senates prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house and its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, Governor has very limited powers and only votes to break a tie. Governor was created in 1868, the Senate was presided over by a Speaker, after the 1988 election of James Carson Gardner, the first Republican Lt. Governor since Reconstruction, Democrats in control of the Senate shifted most of the held by the Lt. Governor to the senator who is elected President Pro Tempore, the President Pro Tempore appoints members to standing committees of the Senate, and holds great sway over bills. According to the constitution, the Senate is also the Court for the Trial of Impeachments. The House of Representatives has the power to state officials, after which the Senate holds a trial. Governor is the official who has been impeached, the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court presides, North Carolina House of Representatives Official website Project Vote Smart – State Senate of North Carolina
3.
North Carolina House of Representatives
–
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, in the 2017–2018 session, the Republican Party holds a 74–46 majority over the Democratic Party, compared to a 74-45 Republican majority in the 2015-2016 session. This is down from a 77-43 Republican majority in the 2013-2014 session, prior to the Constitution of 1868, the lower house of the North Carolina Legislature was known as the North Carolina House of Commons. Source, NC General Assembly official site North Carolina Senate Official House site Project Vote Smart – State House of North Carolina
4.
Eleanor Kinnaird
–
Her district included constituents in Orange and Chatham counties. Kinnaird was mayor of Carrboro, North Carolina from 1987 to 1996, during time, she also earned a law degree from North Carolina Central University. In 1996, she ran for and was elected to the North Carolina Senate, senator Kinnaird is an advocate for electoral reform and lobby reform. Senator Kinnaird is also an advocate for environmental protection and she received a 100% rating from the Conservation Council of North Carolina. S. South to support a halt to executions, in 2007, Kinnaird announced that she was contemplating whether or not to run in the next election, noting that she would like a woman to replace her in the Senate. As of October 2007 only three men had announced their intentions to run for the Senate seat possibly being vacated by Kinnaird, Kinnaird announced she would seek re-election in 2008. Both Herrera and Nelson dropped out of the race after Kinnairds announcement, carey, however, stayed in and lost to Kinnaird by 64% to 36%. Kinnaird won re-election in 2010 and in 2012
5.
Dan Forest
–
Dan Forest is an American politican who currenty serves as the 34th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. A Republican, Forest is an architect by trade, prior to his run for lieutenant governor, he was the senior partner and office president of North Carolina’s largest architectural firm, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. He is also the son of former U. S, Representative and former Charlotte Mayor Sue Myrick. Forest lives in Raleigh with his wife, Alice, and his four children, Forest holds a degree in architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and formerly served on the UNC Charlotte College of Architecture Advisory Board. He is the chair of Wake Forest Pregnancy Support Services. Forest went on to defeat Gurley in a July 17 runoff election, winning 96 of 100 counties and his candidacy was heavily backed by both the Republican Party and the Tea party movement. In November, Forest defeated former State Representative Linda Coleman in the election for lieutenant governor. After a provisional ballot recount, Forests margin of victory was only about 7,000 votes, Forest was re-elected lieutenant governor on November 8,2016, again over Coleman. His second term began on January 1,2017, when he became the first lieutenant governor of the state to serve two different governors. Previously Democrats Jim Hunt and Robert B, jordan, III were the Lieutenant Governors during the Gubernatorial terms of Republicans James Holshouser and James G. Martin, respectively. Lieutenant Governor Forest presides over the North Carolina Senate as President of the Senate and he is a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education, the NC State Board of Community Colleges, the NC Board of Economic Development, and the Military Affairs Commission. He is also the chair of the E-Learning Commission and chairman of the Energy Policy Council and his office is located at the Hawkins-Hartness House in downtown Raleigh. WRAL. com, Republican Forest claims lieutenant governor win Project Vote Smart Office of the Lt Governor Dan Forests official site
6.
Philip E. Berger
–
Philip Edward Berger is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the states twenty-sixth Senate district, including constituents in Guilford and Rockingham counties. An attorney from New York, Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2000 and he became minority leader in 2004, and in 2010, he was selected by his fellow Republicans as their choice for the next Senate President Pro Tem. Berger was officially elected president pro tem when the legislature opened on January 26,2011, Berger was born in New Rochelle, New York, he graduated from George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia in 1970 and studied briefly at Danville Community College. Berger earned a degree in sociology from Averett College in 1980. He is married to Patricia Hays, they have three children, Philip Jr. Kevin, and Ashley as well as four grandchildren
7.
Harry Brown (American politician)
–
Harry Brown is an American businessman and politician, he is a member of the North Carolina State Senate. He represents the states sixth Senate district, which consists of Jones and he first ran for the North Carolina House as a Democrat in 2002, but was unsuccessful. He left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party, in 2004 Brown defeated Democratic incumbent Cecil Hargett. He retained his seat in 2006 by beating challenger Carolyn Pittman-Dorsey
8.
Dan Blue
–
Daniel Terry Dan Blue Jr. is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the states 14th Senate district, and is the Senate minority leader. Blue served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1981 through 2002, Blue was the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1991 until 1994, when the Democrats lost control of the House to Republicans. Blue was the first African American to hold the post of Speaker in North Carolina, from 1998 to 1999, Blue served as the first African-American President of the National Conference of State Legislatures. He sought unsuccessfully to regain his position as Speaker when the Democrats got back the majority in 1999, by forming a coalition of Democrats, Blue returned to the practice of law and was hired by Jeanne Bonds to be a lobbyist for cities on energy issues affecting working families. Democrats also voted to allow Allens votes in the election to go toward Blue, governor Mike Easley, obligated to accept the nomination of the party, appointed Blue to the legislature on November 2,2006. He served the remaining months of Allens term and then took his seat for a term in January 2007. In 2009, Blue was selected by local Democrats to take the place of Sen. Vernon Malone and he joined the Senate on May 19,2009. In 2014, Blue was elected Senate minority leader by his Democratic colleagues when Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt had to step down due to health issues. Blue was elected to a term as minority leader after the 2014 elections. Blue graduated from North Carolina Central University and the Duke University School of Law, establishing a law practice in Raleigh and he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. His daughter Kanika, who graduated from Enloe High School, Duke University and she is married to Jeff Capel, former University of Oklahoma basketball coach and, as of May 2011, an assistant coach at Duke. His son, Dan III, ran for North Carolina State Treasurer in the 2016 elections, Blue serves on Duke Universitys Board of Trustees and was elected chairman in 2009. He was the first African American to chair Duke’s board, Blue Jr. Thigpen, Blue, Stephens & Fellers, attorney profile The New Republic article
9.
Bill Cook (politician)
–
William Bill Cook is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly. He represents the states first Senate district, which consists of Beaufort, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hyde, Pasquotank, Senator Cook graduated from the University of Maryland in 1970, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics. Upon graduation, he was offered an analyst position with Potomac Electric Power Company, during his 34-year tenure he effectively managed revenue forecasts, cost of service studies, determining prices and budget preparation for multiple departments. Senator Cook has volunteered a good deal of his back to the community. For several years, he has tutored adults in math and English as a Literacy Volunteer, the Senator has volunteered his time performing home repair and remodeling work for disadvantaged families in surrounding communities. He is a member of the Committee of 100, a group that promotes local economic expansion in eastern North Carolina, in 2010, he was elected to the N. C. House of Representatives for District 6, Beaufort County and a portion of Pitt County, in 2014 he was elected to serve as District 1 N. C. Senator Cook is a member of the First Baptist Church of Washington and he and his wife of 25 years, Holly, live in Beaufort County
10.
Norman W. Sanderson
–
Norman Wesley Norm Sanderson, Jr. is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representing the states third House district, including constituents in Craven and Pamlico counties. He defeated incumbent Representative Alice Graham Underhill in the 2010 general election, Sanderson is seeking the North Carolina Senate District Two seat currently held by retiring Republican Jean Preston. In 2006, Sanderson challenged incumbent Republican Jean Preston in the primary for the North Carolina Senate District 2 seat, Sanderson next decided to challenge incumbent Democrat Alice Graham Underhill for the NC House District 3 seat. Neither faced any primary that year, Sanderson faced a rematch with Alice Graham Underhill and Libertarian challenger Herb Sobel in 2010. This time, Sanderson won the seat by a large margin 63. 69%–34. 24%–2. 08%, when incumbent Republican Jean Preston announced that she would not seek re-election to the NC Senate District Two seat, Sanderson announced that he would run for the position. In the primary, he faced Randy Ramsey, a businessman from Beaufort, Sanderson won the primary with 51. 86% of the vote. He goes on to face Democrat Greg Muse in the general election, NC General Assembly official profile Campaign website Project Vote Smart profile Follow the Money - Norman W. Sanderson 20102008 campaign contributions
11.
Donald G. Davis
–
Donald G. Davis is an American politician who was elected to one term in the North Carolina Senate in 2008, representing Pitt, Wayne, and Greene counties. He was defeated for re-election in 2010, but ran and won a Senate seat for the newly redrawn 5th District in the 2012 election, Davis served as mayor of Snow Hill, North Carolina from 2001 until his election to the Senate. Elected at age 29, he was the youngest mayor in the history of Snow Hill, prior to defeating incumbent Mayor R. Ben Rayford in the 2001 mayoral election, Davis served eight years active duty in the United States Air Force, from 2001 until his election to the Senate, Davis also taught sociology at East Carolina University, Pitt Community College, and Lenoir Community College. Davis was born in the town of Snow Hill and attended Snow Hill Primary School and he attended public schools in Durham and Wake counties. In 1989, Davis graduated from McArthur High School in Irving and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences degree from the United States Air Force Academy. He also earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree with a concentration in education administration from East Carolina University. Davis has completed courses in the Commissioned Lay Minister Program through the New Hope Presbytery, Davis served eight years active duty in the United States Air Force. He had a commission and was promoted to the rank of captain. Initially Davis was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy as an admissions advisor and he was reassigned to the 89th Airlift Wing as a services officer at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Davis served as chief of the Plans and Force Management Flight and he also administered the base mortuary program. Davis deployed to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware to administer mortuary services to the 33 victims of the CT-143 aircraft mishap involving the late Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown and he was selected as the 89th Services Squadron “Company Grade Officer of the Year. While at Andrews Air Force Base, he served as a flight line duty officer. In this position Davis was responsible for coordinating presidential operations during the Clinton/Gore administration and he also provided services for various foreign heads of state, congressional delegations, and members of the United Nations. From 1998 to 2001, Davis served as an assistant professor of Aerospace Studies and he taught military history, national security affairs, and leadership courses. Davis was selected as the “Outstanding Instructor of the Year. ”Elected mayor in 2001 and he filed to run for the U. S. House of Representatives in the First District in 2004, but then dropped out before the primary election. In 2005, Davis was reelected as mayor, on October 1,2007, Davis announced plans to file for the North Carolina Senate District 5 seat. Davis was one of six Democratic candidates who filed for the seat held by retiring North Carolina Senator John Kerr and he was the leading vote-getter with 36 percent of the vote in the May 6,2008 Primary Election
12.
Louis M. Pate Jr.
–
Louis Milford Pate Jr. is a Republican member and Deputy President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina General Assembly. He represented the states eleventh House district from 1995 through 1996 and his district included constituents in Wayne county. Pate is now the State Senator representing the 7th district, Pate is a former mayor, city council member and retired merchant from Mount Olive, North Carolina. Pate was a delegate at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, the same year, he ran for the North Carolina Senate but was defeated in the general election by Donald G. Davis. He then defeated Davis in a rematch in 2010, and, Pate served 20 years in the Air Force and retired as a Major in 1982. In Vietnam, Pate navigated B-52 bombers, later in his career, he navigated F-111s. Pate is the father of 3, grandfather of 9, and is currently married, official NC General Assembly profile Project Vote Smart - Representative Louis M. Pate Jr. profile Follow the Money - Louis M. Pate Jr.20082006200420021998 campaign contributions
13.
Ronald J. Rabin
–
Ronald Joseph Rabin is a Republican state senator in the state of North Carolina, representing the 12th district, encompassing Harnett, Johnston, Lee Counties. Rabin was born in Rochester, New York in 1932 and he attended high school there and then went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi where he was in the Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He was later commissioned into the Army as a lieutenant of infantry. He is a consultant in the aerospace and defense industries. He was elected to the North Carolina Senate on November 5,2012, Rabin is married to Mona and has 3 children, Mark, Scott, Rachel, and 9 grandchildren. He resides at Anderson Creek, Harnett County, North Carolina
14.
Johnny Ace
–
John Marshall Alexander, Jr. known by the stage name Johnny Ace, was an American rhythm-and-blues singer. He had a string of hit singles in the mid-1950s and he died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 25. Alexander was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of a preacher, after serving in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War, he joined Adolph Duncans Band as a pianist. He then joined the B. B. King band, soon King departed for Los Angeles, and the bands singer, Bobby Bland, joined the army. Alexander took over duties and renamed the band the Beale Streeters. He also took over Kings radio show on WDIA and he began performing as Johnny Ace. He signed with Duke Records in 1952 and his first recording, My Song, an urbane heart ballad, topped the R&B chart for nine weeks in September. Ace began heavy touring, often with Willie Mae Big Mama Thornton. In the next two years, he had eight hits in a row, including Cross My Heart, Please Forgive Me, The Clock, Yes, Baby, Saving My Love for You and Never Let Me Go. In December 1954 he was named the Most Programmed Artist of 1954, Aces recordings sold very well for those times. Early in 1955, Duke Records announced that three of his 1954 recordings, along with Thorntons Hound Dog, had more than 1,750,000 copies. After touring for a year, Ace had been performing at the City Auditorium in Houston, Texas, during a break between sets, he was playing with a. 22-caliber revolver. Members of his said he did this often, sometimes shooting at roadside signs from their car. It was widely reported that Ace killed himself playing Russian roulette, however, Big Mama Thorntons bass player, Curtis Tillman, who witnessed the event, said, I will tell you exactly what happened. Johnny Ace had been drinking and he had this little pistol he was waving around the table and someone said ‘Be careful with that thing…’ and he said ‘It’s okay. Gun’s not loaded… see. ’ and pointed it at himself with a smile on his face, Big Mama ran out of the dressing room yelling ‘Johnny Ace just killed himself. Thornton said in a statement that Ace had been playing with the gun. According to Thornton, Ace pointed the gun at his girlfriend and another woman who were sitting nearby and he then pointed the gun toward himself, bragging that he knew which chamber was loaded
15.
Chad Barefoot
–
John Chadwick Chad Barefoot is the a member of the North Carolina Senate representing North Carolinas 18th Senate district. Senate District 18 covers Franklin County and parts of eastern and southern Wake County, a native of Thomasville, he won his first election in 2012 and was reelected in 2014 and 2016. Barefoot currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education/Higher Education, Barefoot also serves on the Appropriations/Base Budget, Finance, and Rules and Operations of the Senate Committees. In his first run for office, Barefoot won a three-way Republican primary race over Rep. Glen Bradley. He faced incumbent Sen. Doug Berger in the election in November 2012. In 2014, Barefoot faced Democrat Sarah Crawford in the general election, Barefoot won with approximately 53 percent of the vote. In 2016, Barefoot faced Democrat Gil Johnson in the general election, Barefoot won with approximately 55 percent of the vote. Barefoot did not face an opponent in the 2014 or 2016 elections. Student Data Privacy In his first term, Barefoot successfully passed into law one of the most comprehensive student data privacy bills in the country, the law restricts the collection of biometric information, political affiliation, religion, and voting history from being collected into the student data system. The law specifically prohibits renting and selling student data, building student profiles for non-educational reasons, apprenticeships During the 2015 legislative session, Barefoot successfully repealed the fee that businesses were required to pay to participate in the apprenticeship program. Additionally, state funding for the program has increased by half a million dollars under Barefoots chairmanship of the Senates Education Appropriations Committee. Students Know Before You Go Barefoot introduced a bill entitled, Students Know Before You Go to the 2015 legislative session, Senate Bill 536 was signed into law in 2016. Career and College Ready Graduates Section 10, the policy requires students who do not meet certain ACT score and GPA requirements to take college developmental mathematics, reading and English courses during their senior year of high school. The courses will allow students to fulfill senior mathematics and English graduation requirements, Students who successfully complete the course will not be required to also enroll in developmental courses at a North Carolina community college upon entry. NCWorks Career Coaches Program In 2015, Barefoot successfully passed into law a policy that creates the NCWorks Career Coaches Program and this program is designed to place academic and career advisers from community colleges into public high schools throughout North Carolina. The program is aimed at increasing enrollment in the states workforce pipeline, as a member of the subcommittee, Barefoots office took the lead on this issue. The departments are also directed to develop and implement a program to transition all children from preschool to kindergarten using individualized transition plans. Average teacher salaries have increased by more than 15% since Barefoots first term and this policy was upheld by the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2015
16.
Wesley Meredith
–
Wesley Alan Meredith is a Republican third term Senator of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the states nineteenth Senatorial district. The 19th district is made up of Cumberland County, Meredith was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served in the 307th Engineer Battalion of the 82 Airborne Division. After his service in the military, Wesley Meredith chose to stay in Fayetteville and he put his years of experience doing the neighbors’ lawns to the test, and officially opened his own business, Cardinal Landscaping. With a red pick up truck and some basic lawn equipment, prior to becoming a state senator in 2011, Meredith served on the Fayetteville City Council for three terms spanning from 2005 to 2010. From 2007 to 2009, Meredith held the position of Mayor Pro Tempore, Meredith also serves as a member of the Joint Legislative Governmental Operations committee and an advisory member of the Revenue Laws Study committee. In October 2014, Senator Meredith was named Legislator of the Year by the N. C, additionally, Meredith was recognized through the honor for his work with Fort Bragg to help take advantage of the renewable energy that is produced at the base. In September 2014, Meredith was recognized by the North Carolina State Firemens Association for his efforts maintaining necessary provisions for the State’s fire service and firefighters. Additionally, he was praised by the association for support for firemen during a study of services that provide benefits for firemen. Meredith was presented with a plaque labeling him a Friend of the Fire Service, in January 2014, Meredith was named Legislator of the Year by the Green Industry Council, an organization that represents more than 2500 landscaping and nursery small businesses. The award was given for what the Council described as Meredith continuing to be diligent, thoughtful and sincere in advocating for, in October 2015, Senator Meredith was presented with The Carolinas Concrete Paving Association “Good Roads Advocate Award”. The Carolinas Concrete Paving Association is an affiliate of the American Concrete Pavement Association, founded in 1963, ACPA is the world’s largest trade association that exclusively represents the interests of those involved with the design, construction, and preservation of concrete pavements. In May 2016, Senator Meredith was awarded the “Solid Support for Veterans” award for his endeavors that have positively affected women veterans. This award was presented to Senator Meredith at the 2016 Women Veterans Summit & Expo at the McKimmon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University
17.
Floyd McKissick Jr.
–
Floyd Bixler McKissick Jr. is an American attorney and Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. He was appointed to the Senate by Governor Mike Easley on April 18,2007 to replace the late Jeanne Hopkins Lucas and was elected and re-elected in his own right. In 2011, he became Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, McKissick is the son of the late civil rights activist Floyd McKissick. He practices business law, criminal defense, family law, McKissick received an A. B. Degree in Geography, from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received a Masters Degree in Regional Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill, McKissick received a Juris Doctor Degree from the Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. McKissick has practiced law since 1983 with a number of law firms, including Dickstein Shapiro in Washington, D. C. and Faison, Brown & Brough in Durham, McKissick has practiced with McKissick & McKissick since 1990. McKissick, during the course of his career, has represented Fortune 500 corporations, as well as small businesses and he was also certified as a Mediator by the North Carolina Courts in 1995. He co-authored a guide book for the International Trade Administration in the U. S. Department of Commerce on Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to the United States and he authored an article for the Construction Law Advisor on When An Owner Can Terminate a Construction Contract Due to Delay
18.
Gladys A. Robinson
–
Gladys Ashe Robinson is a health services executive and serves as a Democratic State Senator for the 28th district in the North Carolina General Assembly. She serves as a Deputy Minority Leader and was first elected in 2010, Robinson graduated from Bennett College and received her Masters and PhD from North Carolina A&T. She became the Executive Director of the Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency in 1982 and she is a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and is a former trustee of Bennett College. In 2010, she filed for the Democratic nomination to run for the 28th state Senate district that was occupied at the time by Katie G. Dorsett, Dorsett withdrew on the last day of filing and left Robinson to only face Evelyn W. Miller. Robinson won the nomination with 75% of the vote and she went on to face Republican Trudy Wade and fellow Democrat Bruce Davis. Robinson was elected with 47. 8% of the vote, in 2012, Robinson faced a primary challenge from Davis. She won the nomination again 72%–28%, Robinson was unopposed in the general election. During the 2013–2014 session, she was chosen as Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, only one other candidate filed to challenge Robinson in 2014. Melvin Skip Alston was a Democratic former Guilford County Commissioner, Robinson won the Democratic primary 59% to 41%. She runs unopposed in the general election, Robinson lives in Greensboro and has two daughters. Her husband, Ladison Robinson, died in 2008, Senator Gladys A. Robinson - North Carolina General Assembly Profile Campaign site
19.
Dan Bishop
–
J. Daniel Bishop is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly. Bishop ran for the North Carolina State Senate District 39 in November 2016 to succeed Bob Rucho who was not seeking re-election and he defeated Democrat Lloyd Scher by a fator of 58,278 to 44,330. Critics have called the proposed action antithetical to First Amendment principles
20.
Ralph Hise
–
Ralph E. Hise, Jr. is an American politician, a Republican member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing District 47. Hise joined the Senate in 2011 after winning election on November 2,2010 and he is from Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Hise is a native of Mitchell County, North Carolina and he attended Mitchell High School, before graduating from the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics. He received a B. S. in Statistics from Appalachian State University before going on to complete a Masters in Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. He is a statistician by trade and is serving as a member of the faculty at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. At 35 years old in 2011, Senator Hise was and continues to be the youngest member of the North Carolina Senate and he also serves as the Co-Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriation Committee and the Vice- Chairman of the Insurance Committee. Hise lives in Spruce Pine with his wife Linn and twin sons, Thomas and Deren
21.
Republican Party (United States)
–
The Republican Party, commonly referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being its historic rival, the Democratic Party. The party is named after republicanism, the dominant value during the American Revolution and it was founded by anti-slavery activists, modernists, ex-Whigs, and ex-Free Soilers in 1854. The Republicans dominated politics nationally and in the majority of northern States for most of the period between 1860 and 1932, there have been 19 Republican presidents, the most from any one party. The Republican Partys current ideology is American conservatism, which contrasts with the Democrats more progressive platform, further, its platform involves support for free market capitalism, free enterprise, fiscal conservatism, a strong national defense, deregulation, and restrictions on labor unions. In addition to advocating for economic policies, the Republican Party is socially conservative. As of 2017, the GOP is documented as being at its strongest position politically since 1928, in addition to holding the Presidency, the Republicans control the 115th United States Congress, having majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The party also holds a majority of governorships and state legislatures, the main cause was opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise by which slavery was kept out of Kansas. The Northern Republicans saw the expansion of slavery as a great evil, the first public meeting of the general anti-Nebraska movement where the name Republican was suggested for a new anti-slavery party was held on March 20,1854, in a schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin. The name was chosen to pay homage to Thomas Jeffersons Republican Party. The first official party convention was held on July 6,1854, in Jackson and it oversaw the preserving of the union, the end of slavery, and the provision of equal rights to all men in the American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861–1877. The Republicans initial base was in the Northeast and the upper Midwest, with the realignment of parties and voters in the Third Party System, the strong run of John C. Fremont in the 1856 United States presidential election demonstrated it dominated most northern states, early Republican ideology was reflected in the 1856 slogan free labor, free land, free men, which had been coined by Salmon P. Chase, a Senator from Ohio. Free labor referred to the Republican opposition to labor and belief in independent artisans. Free land referred to Republican opposition to the system whereby slaveowners could buy up all the good farm land. The Party strove to contain the expansion of slavery, which would cause the collapse of the slave power, Lincoln, representing the fast-growing western states, won the Republican nomination in 1860 and subsequently won the presidency. The party took on the mission of preserving the Union, and destroying slavery during the American Civil War, in the election of 1864, it united with War Democrats to nominate Lincoln on the National Union Party ticket. The partys success created factionalism within the party in the 1870s and those who felt that Reconstruction had been accomplished and was continued mostly to promote the large-scale corruption tolerated by President Ulysses S. Grant ran Horace Greeley for the presidency. The Stalwarts defended Grant and the system, the Half-Breeds led by Chester A. Arthur pushed for reform of the civil service in 1883
