Bev Perdue

She then served five terms in the North Carolina Senate, before she was elected as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina.

Beverly Eaves Perdue (born Beverly Marlene Moore; January 14, 1947) is an American businesswoman, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 73rd governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013.

She was the first female governor of North Carolina.

Beverly Marlene Moore was born in 1947 in Grundy, Virginia, the daughter of Alfred P. and Irene Morefield Moore.

Her father was a coal miner and co-founder of a coal mining company, who went on to become CEO of a large utility company.

She earned a B.A. degree in history in 1969 from the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, as well as a M.Ed. degree in community college administration in 1974 and a Ph.D., degree in Education Administration in 1976, both from the University of Florida.

Perdue started her political career in the 1980s, serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Perdue, a Democrat, served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1987 to 1991, and in the North Carolina Senate from 1991 to 2001.

She represented Craven, Lenoir and Pamlico counties in the House and Craven, Carteret and Pamlico in the Senate.

In 1990, she ran for the State Senate in North Carolina's 3rd Senate District, vacated by retiring State Senator Bill Barker (D-Pamlico County).

In 1996, she won re-election against Republican Holt Faircloth, Carteret County Commissioner, 60%-40%.

In 1998, she won re-election against Republican George Hipps 60%-40%.

During her last three terms in the Senate, she served as co-chair of the Appropriations Committee While she was in office, the General Assembly increased teacher pay and passed Governor Hunt's Excellent Schools Act and Smart Start.

Additionally, she led the debate that created North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

She fought for more benefits for senior citizens.

She served in the House Judiciary Committee.

She was Chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee.

In 2000, she defeated Republican Betsy Cochrane for the lieutenant governor's seat, becoming North Carolina's first female lieutenant governor; she was re-elected in 2004.

As lieutenant governor, Perdue's most significant act was casting the tie-breaking vote that established the North Carolina Education Lottery.

Perdue announced her 2008 candidacy for governor on October 1, 2007, at her hometown, New Bern, North Carolina.

On October 22, 2007, pro-choice Emily's List endorsed her campaign.

Perdue was elected to the office of Governor of North Carolina in 2008 against Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory by a 50–46 margin.

On May 6, 2008, Perdue won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating State Treasurer Richard H. Moore and Dennis Nielsen.

Perdue raised $15 million for the general election and ran ads against her Republican opponent, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, criticizing him for not being tough enough on illegal immigration.

Her 2008 gubernatorial campaign was under both state and federal investigation for donation irregularities and was fined $30,000 in 2010.

Despite a national Democratic tide and Perdue's fundraising edge, in the general election campaign McCrory led Perdue at first; Perdue slowly gained as the Democratic candidate.

Perdue and McCrory remained close, with the two often polling in a statistical tie in what was the closest race for governor in the nation.

Perdue ran slightly behind her opponent in polls released the week before the election.

Pundits speculated that Perdue was hurt by current Democratic Governor Mike Easley's decreasing popularity and McCrory's efforts to tag her as part of the Political corruption in Raleigh: consultants mentioned Perdue's "difficulty of being the candidate of continuity in a change election."

While McCrory received the endorsement of most major newspapers in the state (which typically endorse Democrats), Perdue received the endorsement of actor and director Andy Griffith, who filmed a campaign ad on her behalf.

Perdue defeated McCrory on November 4, 2008, 50.3% to 46.9%.

Perdue was sworn in as the 73rd Governor of North Carolina on January 10, 2009.

Perdue's Senate record followed the lines of the Democratic caucus.

As a member of the Board of Community Colleges, she voted against allowing illegal immigrants to attend the schools even if they graduated from a North Carolina high school.

She had previously said she would admit every high school graduate to community college tuition-free.

In late February and early March 2009, she announced that $93 million from the educational lottery would be used to ensure there is money available for the state's day-to-day operations.

In late 2010, Perdue's 2008 campaign came under State and Federal investigation for the late reporting of 41 private flights.

The campaign was fined $30,000 in August 2010 by the State Board of Elections for the late reporting of flights which were discovered after a 2009 self-audit, but that body declined to investigate further after deciding that the Perdue Campaign did not intentionally violate the law.

On January 26, 2012, facing sinking approval ratings, Perdue announced that she would not seek reelection in the 2012 gubernatorial election.

She left office in January 2013.