Elections: N.C. Lt. Governor, Dan Forest

Name: Dan Forest

Town of residence: Raleigh

Political office sought: Lt. Governor, North Carolina

Party affiliation: Republican

Campaign website address:www.danforest.com

Profession: Architect; former senior partner and office president of the state's largest architectural firm.

Education: Two undergraduate degrees from UNC-Charlotte; Graduate of the College of Architecture at UNC-Charlotte.

Family: Wife Alice; four children ages 7-19. 

Organizations/Affiliations:
Founder and current president of the Triangle Leadership Forum
Former chairman of the board of Wake Forest Pregnancy Support Services
Board member, Faith Driven Consumer
Active in community and in church

Political Experience: This is my first run for elected office. 

Why are you running for office?

I believe we have a leadership crisis in America and in North Carolina. My background is in business, not politics, and I believe my executive-level business experience and track record of job creation uniquely qualifies me to confront the economic challenges facing our state. Unfunded mandates, excessive regulations and high taxes are killing job creation in NC. Let's not send another bureaucrat to Raleigh to do a businessman's job.

Top three issues:
1. Lowering taxes on all businesses to encourage job creation. This includes lowering the gas tax and eliminating the corporate income tax. We currently rank 44th in business tax climate. Improving the business tax climate in NC will make us more competitive not only with our neighbors in the Southeast, but all over the nation.

2. Breaking the state-run monopoly on education through the introduction of school choice. Choice creates competition, competition creates innovation. We rank 41st in K-12 educational performance in the US - this is unacceptable. Our college-bound students too often require remedial classes. We need to inspire and support our teachers who innovate and take risks.

3.  Unfunded liabilities: Our state has over $30 billion in obligations that it keeps off the books and does not have the money to pay. I believe in making the budget and debt process completely transparent so the public knows what the future holds if we don't quickly get our financial house in order.