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JANET COWELL

Democrat

Current office: State senator.

Birth date: July 19, 1968.

Birthplace: Memphis, Tenn.

Lives in: Raleigh.

Education: University of Pennsylvania, 1990; master's in business administration, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 1995; master's in international studies, Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 1995.

Occupation: Securities analyst and business developer.

Political career: Raleigh City Council, 2001-05; N.C. Senate, 2005-present.

Web site: http://cowell.madtek.com

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As a member of Raleigh City Council, Cowell saved taxpayer dollars by streamlining tax collection and improving recycling efforts. In the Senate, Cowell fought for legislation to recycle computer equipment used by the government.

ON THE ISSUES

Accountability: Allow competition for managing pension funds to increase transparency and hold fund managers accountable.

Protect full funding of pension system.

Establish enhanced investment advisory board to bring new perspectives to the department.

Advocate for voluntary public financing of future state treasurer candidates.

TRIVIA

Cowell found an interest in politics when, as a student in China in 1989, she witnessed the start of the Chinese Democracy Movement.

Election questionnaire

BILL DAUGHTRIDGE

Republican

Current office: State representative.

Birth date: Dec. 19, 1952.

Birthplace: Rocky Mount.

Lives in: Rocky Mount.

Spouse: Partha Council.

Education: Bachelor of science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1975; MBA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1977.

Occupation: President of Daughtridge Gas and Oil Co. in Rocky Mount and Daughtridge Gas Co. in Greenville.

Political career: N.C. House, 2003-present.

Web site: www.billdaughtridge.com

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As a state representative, Daughtridge used his business experience to sponsor economic development legislation benefiting the One North Carolina Small Business Fund and the One NC Fund.

ON THE ISSUES

Economic growth: Expand network of highways and maintain existing roads, conservatively invest and protect pension funds, "Secure Your Future" initiative to allow businesses to rate pension fund programs, privatize nonessential services to curb government spending.

Education: Lift the cap on charter schools, provide better funding for N.C. community colleges and support public-private education initiatives.

TRIVIA

Daughtridge attended UNC on a full scholarship as a Morehead Scholar. ... Daughtridge won the Republican nomination for state treasurer after his opponent, Rep. Dale Folwell, dropped out to run for re-election to the state House.