Dear Friend, I want to thank all of my family and friends who have supported me over the years.  It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and your support makes it all the more special.   On Friday, February 26, 2010 challengers filed in the race against me for the 104th district seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. I now have a Republican challenger in the primary election and am facing a Democrat competitor in the general election in November.   CLICK this link to view press release .  I must prepare now to run in the May Primary as well as the November General Election !   I hope you will support my re-election bid, and I need your help.  We are looking for people who will provide support in various ways either as a volunteer, a financial supporter/contributor, or in another capacity.  Whether you can only spend a few hours or a few dollars to help us, it will be greatly appreciated.   If you are willing to help in some way, please take a moment to provide information.   CLICK this link to provide information on how you would like to help.   Thank you for taking the time to provide information and to offer your support for my re-election.   Sincerely,  Ruth Samuelson NC House of Representatives, Dist 104 read more

RUTH SAMUELSON 1143 Andover Road Charlotte, NC 28211 704-366-8748   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 15, 2010   Samuelson files for re-election to NC Legislature   CHARLOTTE– Mecklenburg County State Representative Ruth Samuelson is filing for re-election to a third two-year term. Samuelson represents District 104 in Charlotte.   "This year offers real hope that things will be different with a little elbow grease and motivated voters. I know we can influence a fundamental change in North Carolina’s political culture and policies on taxes, education, transportation and law enforcement," says Samuelson.   "A political earthquake is building in Raleigh and promises to reset the power structure for the first time in literally 150 years. Redistricting will occur at the intersection of three important situations: (1) this profound recession, (2) growing awareness of the corruption flowing from Raleigh,  and (3) the over-reaching by both President Obama and Governor Purdue. This process has been disturbing to watch and I intend to help provide the leadership to change it."   Ruth and her husband, Ken, have four children. She began her political service in 1999 as co-chair for the bond campaign in support of a new courthouse. Two years later, as a member of the Board of County Commissioners , she fought to keep the promise made to voters about the site and cost of the ..... read more

Charlotte Business Journal - Local politicians have ranked among the most business-friendly in the N.C. House and Senate, according to a survey from The N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation Inc. The ratings are based on legislative voting records and the opinions of business leaders and government-affairs professionals. In the N.C. House, Republican Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg County was the highest-ranked representative with a business ranking of 89.6. Republican Ruth Samuelson, also representing Mecklenburg County, had a score of 82.6. A rating of 70 or above marks a consistent supporter of the free-enterprise position, according to the foundation. Rep. Becky Carney (D-Mecklenburg) was named a “frequent supporter of free enterprise” with a score of 57. Those named as “occasional supporters” in descending order are Beverly Earle (D-Mecklenburg), Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg), Kelly Alexander (D- Mecklenburg), Nick Mackey (D-Mecklenburg) and Martha Alexander (D-Mecklenburg). In the state senate, David Hoyle, a Democrat from Gaston County, had the top score at 90.8. Bob Rucho, a Republican from Mecklenburg County, had a score of 82.5. At the frequent-supporter level are Fletcher Hartsell (R-Cabarrus-Iredell) and Dan Clodfelter (D-Mecklenburg). Charlie Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg) and Malcolm Graham (D-Mecklenburg) were graded as occasional supporters. The N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation is based in Raleigh, and provides educational ..... read more

By Emily Ford eford@salisburypost.com CONCORD — The Cabarrus County region will play an important role in North Carolina's economic recovery, state officials said Tuesday at an economic summit. The N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis is an example of the "innovation that will drive our economy," N.C. Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton told area business leaders. "This region will be key to our recovery." Recovering from the recession that hit North Carolina harder than many other states will take education and tax reform, added N.C. Rep. Ruth Samuelson, who lives in Charlotte. The Cabarrus Regional Chamber hosted the State of the Region Summit in a movie theater at Concord Mills, one of the biggest attractions in the state. The mall, speedway and Research Campus will spur continued economic growth and development for Cabarrus County, Dalton said. "The North Carolina Research Campus is an amazing vision," he said. "We are all proud of what is going to be accomplished." Dalton called the $1.5 billion life sciences complex a "miracle in the works" and said intellectual property developed there will help boost the state's economy. The campus, founded by Dole Food Co. owner David Murdock, includes eight North Carolina universities working together to understand human health, nutrition and agriculture on a molecular level. Scientists hope to find treatments and cures for disease, as well as develop more nutritious crops. The campus is ..... read more

Studies Act of 2009 (H945) There were several important issues which did not get considered but are part of this Studies Act. Special thanks to Representative Ruth Samuelson of Charlotte who included for study by the Environmental Review Commission legislation that would reduce diesel emissions on state and federal construction projects. The Joint Legislative Utility Review Committee may study Feed In Rates (H1440) which would accelerate the expansion of solar energy in NC. Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act (H340) would have prohibited public utilities in NC from purchasing coal extracted from mountaintop removal but has been turned into a study bill.   read more

from The Source Magazine, A Publication of the Women's Initiative Network, A Christian Organization for Working Women. In her second term as representative for the state's 104th District, Samuelson is serving as vice chair of the Energy and Energy Efficiency Committee. She also serves as a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the newly formed Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee, the Appropriations Committee and its Natural and Economic Resources sub-committee, and the Environmental Review Commission. Samuelson said her faith is the reason for her environmental concern. She believes that God gave us the earth as a gift to use, and we must use it responsibly. We must strike a balance between providing for the needs of humans and caring for the environment. We must learn to pollute and consume less. To read the rest of the article, click here . read more

by Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer You might think that who gets elected to Congress and the state legislature is decided mostly by where candidates stand on issues, or how much money they have, or how charismatic they are on the campaign trail. Those all play a part, but there's another factor bigger than all three combined: how the district maps are drawn. If the boundaries are drawn to make a district heavily Democratic, the second coming of Ronald Reagan couldn't get elected there. In any sport, the rules of the game determine who succeeds. In the sport of politics, no one is as powerful as the referees who draw the maps. But here's the catch: in this game, the referees are the very players whose future is at stake. It's the politicians in the legislature who draw the lines, and so heavily influence who controls the House and Senate and N.C. delegation to Congress for the next decade. District lines are drawn every 10 years, after the census. We've been living under the same lines for much of the past decade. We're gearing up for the next census, and shortly after it's completed we'll draw the lines again. The question is: who should be in charge of that process? The Democrats who control the state House and Senate? Or is there a fairer approach? An independent panelI'm not naïve – you can't take politics out of politics. But you can make the playing field more level. Mecklenburg County Republican Ruth Samuleson is a primary sponsor of ..... read more

Op-ed by Ruth Samuelson The late Robert F. Kennedy often explained his commitment to public service with this quote from George Bernard Shaw, “Some men see things as they are and ask why –I dream things that never were and ask why not.” Those words offer a fresh challenge as we begin a new year. We are confronted with hurdles that most of us could never have imagined. We can’t help but see things as they are. We are buffeted by headlines announcing cuts and losses. We know friends or relatives whose jobs have been lost. We’ve watched the sprouting of “for sale” signs. It would be easy to become so weighed down by what’s around us that we miss the opportunity before us. Yes, there is opportunity before us. That is good news. In fact, even our bad news can be seen as good news in disguise. As painful as the process is, we are already in a better position than we were this time a year ago. Now we are dealing with truth. We may not like the facts, but they are real and equip us for informed decision making for our families, our businesses and our government.  For our state government where spending cannot outstrip income, this can mean an honest review of programs and expenditures and an end to the waste that creeps into the budget of any bureaucracy. As a member of the NC House of Representatives I am going to encourage my fellow legislators and the state’s executive branch to seize this opportunity to innovate - to do more with less. I ..... read more

North Carolina House member Ruth Samuelson (District 104) has been named “Green Government Leader” by the Charlotte Business Journal in its inaugural “Green Awards.”  The awards are designed to “identify companies, non profits and individuals who are taking important steps to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into their businesses and community work.” Samuelson, a Charlotte native, serves on every standing north Carolina House environment committee:  Natural and Economic Resources Appropriations, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Energy and Energy Efficiency Committee, and Environmental Review Commission. Read more about Ruth's Green Award   read more

See what the Charlotte Business Journal had to say about Ruth's Green Award read more