RALEIGH - NC Representative Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland) today announced his plan to run for re-election to the North Carolina House of Representatives for a fifth term. Glazier had been considered a leading candidate for the Senate seat left vacant by the recent resignation of Tony Rand.

“I am extremely pleased and honored to announce my plans to seek re-election to the General Assembly for a fifth term,” stated Rep. Glazier. “This decision comes from a deep and heartfelt belief that my public service, my current and future leadership responsibilities, can be most meaningful and effective by remaining in the House of Representatives. There, I will continue to fight to improve North Carolina’s economic and technological infrastructure, recruit and retain quality jobs, assist our military families, strengthen K-16 education and increase access to affordable and quality health care.”

Glazier ranks fourth, out of 120, in effectiveness in the House of Representatives. During the long session of 2009, he was a primary sponsor of 144 bills. Sixty-eight of the bills Glazier filed were enacted into law in whole or in substantial part, the most of any lawmaker in the General Assembly. Additionally, 11 other bills passed the House and will be eligible to present in the Senate during the short-session which begins in May of 2010.

“Rep. Glazier is one of the most effective legislators at the NC General Assembly, passing more bills than any other legislator in 2009,” said Bob Hall, Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina, and Treasurer of North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections. “He was the primary sponsor of municipal public financing authorization legislation this year, shepherding the bill around well-funded opposition. He was the chief advocate behind the Council of State pilot in 2007 and has had his hand in almost all the landmark ethics reforms passed in recent years. Simply put, Glazier’s leadership, integrity and dedication are unsurpassed.”

As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Glazier was a chief strategist working on the drastically reduced state budget of just over $19 billion. Glazier helped guide more than $11 billion towards Community Colleges, Public Schools and Colleges and Universities.

Working with the Cumberland County Delegation, local and Federal officials, Glazier helped direct over $255 million in Federal stimulus funds into Cumberland County, topping Mecklenburg County and Wake County.

Among Glazier’s sponsored legislation that became law this session was the School Violence Prevention Act, which mandated explicit protection from bullying, harassment and violence for all students in North Carolina.  He was the lead sponsor in working with Lt. Gov Walter Dalton in creating the J.O.B.S Commission in North Carolina, and was a prime sponsor and drafter of a series of ethics and campaign finance reform bills barring pay-to-play schemes in North Carolina, as well as mandating disclosure of contributions made to any selecting official when a donor is appointed to a state board or commission.

He also sponsored critical healthcare legislation, establishing an act prohibiting smoking inside bars and restaurants.  “We’d seen the health data that existed throughout the state,” Glazier said. “North Carolina has one of the highest smoke-related illness rates in the country, with about $280 million in direct costs from second-hand smoke and somewhere close to $2 billion in direct health costs from smoking in general. And the incredible effect it was having on the healthcare system and the economy were big indicators.”

In addition to chairing the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Glazier serves as Chair of the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, and Co-Chair of Judiciary II. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House and Vice-Chair of Appropriations.

He also serves as a Member of the House Committees on Education, Education Subcommittee on Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education, Health, Mental Health Reform, and Homeland Security, Military, and Veterans Affairs.

Glazier is the Vice-Chair of the Joint Legislative JOBS (Joining Our Businesses and Schools) Study Commission and serves as Co-Chair on the Joint Select Study Committee on the Preservation of Biological Evidence and on the Subcommittee on Public Health and Bioterrorism/Energy Security. He serves on the Joint Legislative Committees on Governmental Operations, Education Oversight, Joint Legislative Task Force on the Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and Care and Joint Select Committee on State Funded Student Financial Aid.

He is a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) task force to study mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services to current and former members of the armed forces and their families. He serves on the Public School Forum of North Carolina Board of Directors.

In 2009, the National Conference of State Legislatures appointed Rep. Glazier to the NCSL Education Committee. Glazier received the Legislator of the Year award by the N.C. Autism Society, the Triangle Access Award for his legislative achievements for people with disabilities, and the Valand Award for Legislative leadership from the Mental Health Association in North Carolina. The Board of the North Carolina Art Education Association awarded Rep. Glazier the North Carolina Art Education Association “Friends of the Arts” award. For more information on Representative Glazier’s biography, including a complete list of honors, awards, and community service, please visit www.rickglazier.com.

For a complete list of NC State Representative Rick Glazier’s 2009 legislation, visit: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/members/reports/introducedBills.pl?nUserID=317&Chamber=H