news-record.com

PAT MCCRORY

Republican

Current office: Seven-term Charlotte mayor.

Birth date: Oct. 17, 1956.

Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio.

Lives in: Charlotte.

Spouse: Ann Gordon McCrory.

Education: Catawba College, bachelor of arts in political science and education, 1978.

Occupation: Former economic development consultant, Duke Energy.

Political career: Charlotte City Council, at-large representative, 1989-95; Charlotte mayor pro tem, 1993; Charlotte mayor, 1995-present.

Web site: www.patmccrory.com

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Charlotte's LYNX Blue Line light rail: McCrory successfully lobbied for the 9.6-mile light rail line, the first major light rail line in North Carolina. Line opened in November 2007. McCrory regards the line as a success but says light rail is not needed everywhere in North Carolina.

The General Assembly passed anti-gang legislation May 21. Such legislation, which strengthened penalties for involvement in gangs, is among McCrory's key platform points.

ON THE ISSUES

Health care: Reinstate child health-care tax credit, which was repealed in 2001; tax credits for workers without employer-provided insurance; reduce state insurance mandates; cap damages in malpractice lawsuits.

Education: Reform standardized testing, increase availability of vocational schools, reduce educational bureaucracy.

Economy: Lower taxes; improve roads in areas of high populations and not where politicians live, a subtle attack previously made by candidate for Democratic nomination Richard Moore; rely on low taxes and educated work force instead of incentives to bring companies to North Carolina; eliminate death tax.

Illegal immigration: Equip law enforcement officers to detain, identify and prepare illegal immigrants for deportation; refuse state contracts to companies employing illegal immigrants.

Crime and gangs: Anti-gang legislation, better funding for court system.

TRIVIA

Charlotte Mayors' Curse: Four Charlotte mayors have run for governor or U.S. Senate since the 1980s, and none was successful. Of the gubernatorial candidates, only Richard Vinroot made it past the primary. He lost the 2000 general election to Gov. Mike Easley. ... The state hasn't had a Republican governor since Jim Martin in the early 1990s.

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MIKE MUNGER

Libertarian

Birth date: Sept. 23, 1958

Birthplace: Gotha, Fla.

Lives in: Raleigh.

Spouse: Donna Gingerella.

Occupation: Chairman of the political science department at Duke University.

Education: Davidson College, bachelor of arts in Economics (1980); Washington University, St. Louis, master's in Economics (1982) and doctorate in Economics (1984).

Political career: Munger was an economist with the Federal Trade Commission under President Reagan.

Web site: http://munger4ncgov.com

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

President of Public Choice Society, an international academic society with 500
members from 16 countries worldwide.

ON THE ISSUES

Control municipal aggression, by restricting involuntary annexation and use of eminent domain for nonpublic purposes.

Control corporate welfare by restricting the wasteful use of "incentives" to pay off corporations.

End capital punishment; commute sentences of those on death row to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Increase ceiling on charter schools and establish voucher program with provisions for focus on existing local public schools.

Ensure focus on rural areas and deteriorating bridges throughout the state by appointing a "roads commission," to make road construction and repair choices.

NOTABLE

Munger is running as a third-party candidate. The Libertarian Party was recognized in North Carolina in June, so Munger did not run in a primary. If either Munger or presidential candidate Bob Barr receives 2 percent of the vote in North Carolina, the Libertarians will retain their party status in the state.

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BEVERLY PERDUE

Democrat

Current office: Lieutenant governor.

Birth date: Jan. 14, 1947.

Birthplace: Grundy, Va.

Lives in: New Bern.

Spouse: Bob Eaves.

Education: University of Kentucky, bachelor of arts history, 1969; University of Florida, master's in education, 1974; University of Florida, doctorate in education administration, 1976.

Occupation: Former teacher, health-care consultant.

Political career: N.C. House, 1986-90; N.C. Senate, 1990-2000; lieutenant governor, 2000-present.

Web site: www.bevperdue.com

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

With Senate leader Mark Basnight, Perdue pushed for legislation that eventually created the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. In 2005, led the charge to prevent U.S. government from closing N.C. military bases.

ON THE ISSUES

Health care: Universal health-care coverage for children, lower private insurance costs, reform failing mental health-care system.

Education: Raise teacher salaries, improve school technology, lower college costs, expand the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program, expand scholarship assistance for community college students.

Environment: Extend grants to cities that sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Climate Protection Agreement: Improve infrastructure of county water providers to prevent waste.

Economy: Encourage other governors to reduce incentives but keep incentives competitive while other states have them.

Military: Protect bases and expand defense/aerospace job creation.

TRIVIA

N.C. fiction writer Lee Smith and Perdue attended the same high school in Grundy, Va. ... Perdue was endorsed in the primary by legendary actor Andy Griffith. Griffith also endorsed current Gov. Mike Easley in his 2004 re-election campaign.