While growing up on her family’s farm, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became interested in public service at an early age. She discovered the 4-H program, which instilled in her the values of determination, compassion, and hard work. The first person from her family to go to college, she made a lifetime commitment to serve her community. Her first job was as a teacher in Lenior County, North Carolina Public Schools and the North Carolina Community College System. She earned a law degree from Campbell University in 1981 and practiced law in Lillington, North Carolina. She was elected to the state Senate from Harnett, Lee and Johnston counties in 1992, and for her work on behalf of women and children was named "Rookie of the Year."

In 1996, Marshall emerged from a crowded primary and handily won a run-off election to become the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State. In the general election, she defeated NASCAR racing legend, Richard Petty with more than 53% of the vote to become the first woman elected to statewide executive office in North Carolina. In 2000, she was re-elected Secretary of State with more than 54% of the vote. Her accomplishments as Secretary of State include cracking down on white collar crime and on fraud aimed at North Carolina seniors.

Secretary Marshall was honored by the North Carolina Council for Women as 1997’s "Distinguished Woman of the Year." In 1998, the North Carolina Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) honored her as "State Career Woman of the Year" and in 1999 the North Carolina Electronics and Information Technology Association (NCEITA) gave her its top honor for Leadership in Technology in Government. In 2000, she received the Special Achievement Award for Technology from the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. This year, she received the Alumni Appreciation Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a 4-H alumna at the state level.

Secretary Marshall is a graduate of the Campbell University School of Law and holds a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland. She is an attorney who has been admitted to practice before all of North Carolina’s State Courts, District and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Secretary Marshall was married to the late Sol Marshall of Wake Forest. She has three step-children, and five grandchildren. She is a member of the Divine Street Methodist Church.

Complete Press Kit

PDF Version : Word Version