From Ballotpedia
Elaine F. Marshall (born November 18, 1945 in Lineboro, Maryland) is the current
Democratic Secretary of State of North Carolina. She is the first woman to be elected to that office and the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina. Elaine Marshall is only the third
Democratic Secretary of State of North Carolina in the last seventy years. She is currently competing with attorney Kenneth Lewis and U.S. Army veteran Nathaniel Cooper for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Richard Burr for his congressional seat in November 2010.
[1]
Education
- Bachelor's degree, University of Maryland (1968) in textiles and clothing
- Juris Doctorate degree, Campbell University School of Law (1981)
Professional experience
After graduation, Elaine Marshall taught in the Lenoir County School System for a year in 1969. She juggled three jobs in the 1970s running a book and gift store (1969-74), teaching at the Lenoir Community College and Johnston Tech Community College (1970-7), and simultaneously served as the owner and decorator of the Custom House (1975-9). Marshall practiced law as an associated for the office of Edgar R. Bain for three years beginning in 1981 and was an adjunct faculty member for the Trial Advocacy Program for the Campbell University School of Law from 1982 to 1984. She has served as a partner for two law firms – Bain & Marshall from 1985 to 1992 and Marshall & Marshall from 1993 to 1997.
Political career
Elaine Marshall has been active in politics for well over three decades. She was named National Committee Woman for the Young Democrats of North Carolina organization in 1974. She continued to fill that role until 1977 when she became National Secretary for the Young Democrats of America. When she moved to Harnett County to practice law, Elaine Marshall was named president of the Democratic Women from 1983 to 1987 and served as the county’s Democratic Party Chairwoman beginning in 1991. In 1993, she was elected to serve the people of the 15th Congressional District in the North Carolina State Senate.
Marshall has run for the United States Senate before. In 2002, she was defeated in the Democratic primary by Erskine Bowles, White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton.
Political issues
Global Warming
On the controversial issue of climate change, Marshall refused to comment on the new legislative bill being introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) that would reduce carbon emissions up to twenty percent in the next forty years. She cautioned members of Congress not to take drastic action until all of the facts are in:
Climate change was something to which the government should pay attention, but it might be too early to take large steps. We have got to have good sound science before we start spending money.[2]
Other roles
- North Carolina College of Advocacy (1981-present)
- Vice President, Campbell University School of Law Alumni Association (1985-1986)
- Board of Directors, Harnett County United Way (1987-1996)
- President, Harnett County Bar Association (1988-1989)
- Board of Directors, North Carolina 4-H Development Fund, Incorporated (1990-1998)
- Chair, Harnett County Democratic Party (1991-1992)
- North Carolina Courts Commission, Juvenile Code Study Commission (1993-1995)
- Board of Directors, North Carolina Justice Academy Foundation (1994-present)
- Board of Directors, North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research (1994-present)
- Board of Directors, North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership (1997-present)
- Chair, Electronic Commerce Work Group (1997-present)
- Board of Directors, National Association of Secretaries of State (1998-present)
- Board of Trustees, Meredith College, (1998-present)
- Board of Directors, National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council (2000-present)
- Chair, National Secretaries of State Standing Committee on Business Services & Licensing (2004)
- American Academy of Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association
- Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity
- Board of Directors, Latin American Resource Center
- Board of Directors, North Carolina 4-H Development Fund, Incorporated
- Governor/Member, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
- North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Member, North Carolina Local Government Commission
- North Carolina State Bar
Electoral history
| 1996 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[3]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
 Elaine F. Marshall (D)
| 53.5%
|
| Richard Petty (R)
| 45.2%
|
| Write Ins
| 1.3%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
- 2000 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary
- Elaine Marshall ran unopposed
| 2000 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[4]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Elaine F. Marshall (D)
| 54%
|
| Harris D. Blake (R)
| 46%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
| 2004 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Elaine F. Marshall (D)
| 80.6%
|
| Doris A. Sanders (D)
| 19.4%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
| 2004 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[5]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Elaine F. Marshall (D)
| 57.3%
|
| Jay Rao (R)
| 42.7%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
- 2008 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary
- Elaine Marshall ran unopposed
| 2008 Race for Secretary of State - General Election[6]
|
| Candidates
| Percentage
|
| Elaine F. Marshall (D)
| 56.8%
|
| Jack Sawyer (R)
| 43.2%
|
| Total votes
| 100%
|
Family life
Elaine Marshall currently resides in Harnett County, North Carolina with her husband, Bill Holdford. She has no biological children, but has five stepchildren. She is a practicing Methodist, belonging to the Divine Street Methodist Church located in Dunn, North Carolina.
Contact Information
NC Secretary of State
PO Box 29622
Raleigh NC 27626-0622
External links
References
- ↑ News Observer "Marshall running for U.S. Senate" 9 Sept. 2009
- ↑ Right Angles "Elaine Marshall a Global Warming Skeptic?" 5 Oct. 2009
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections - 1996 General Election Results
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections - 2000 General Election Results
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections - 2004 General Election Results
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections - 2008 General Election Results
Elaine F. Marshall (D)
