Deborah Ross

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 13, 2007 - 10:50am.
Tags:

Office District Status
N.C. Representative N.C. House 38 Incumbent
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2002 2010
Level of Government  
N.C. House  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
June 20, 1963 Philadelphia, PA Raleigh, NC

Synopsis

Deborah Ross lobbied the legislature before joining it. As the executive director of the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, she was ranked among the most effective lobbyists. An attorney, she currently teaches law at Duke University and works for a Raleigh firm. Since 2002, she has represented House District 38, which covers downtown and Southeast Raleigh and part of Garner. She currently serves as a Democratic whip in the House.

Trivia

She has a deer hound named Ralph.

Endorsements

EMILY's List, Conservation Council of N.C., N.C. National Organization for Women, N.C. PACE of the National Association of Social Workers, Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, Sierra Club, State Employees Association of N.C., Triangle Labor Council, N.C. Association of Educators

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Stephen Wrinn
Children

Deborah Ross is a state representative from Raleigh.

Early Life and Education

Deborah Koff was born June 20, 1963, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Barbara and Marvin Koff. Her father was a psychiatrist and lawyer; her mother taught early childhood development and nursery school.

She grew up in Bloomfield, Conn., graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1981. She was senior-class president.

She attended Brown University in Rhode Island, earning a bachelor of arts in international relations in 1985.

She then worked for Rep. Tom Luken, a Cincinnati Democrat, and for Citizens' Campaigns, an environmental group.

In 1987, she moved to North Carolina to attend UNC-Chapel Hill's Law School. She graduated in 1990.

Professional Career

From 1990 to 1994, she worked for Hunton & Williams, an international law firm with an office in Raleigh, handling municipal finance and corporate and nonprofit work. 

From 1994 to 2001, she served as executive director and legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union's North Carolina chapter. 

In 2001, she was ranked the 15th most effective lobbyist. 

Since 2002, she has taught legal writing and practice at Duke University's Law School for international students.

She also works for Blanchard, Miller, Lewis & Styers as an attorney.

Political Career

In 2002, she was elected state representative in the 38th House District, which covers downtown and Southeast Raleigh and part of Garner.

She was re-elected in 2004 and 2006. 

In office, she has worked on ethics reform, increasing the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund, historic preservation, domestic violence and the cost of higher education.

In 2007, she was ranked the 7th most effective member of the state House. 

She currently serves as a Democratic whip in the House.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Senior Lecturing Fellow
Duke Law School
 Attorney
Blanchard Miller Lewis & Styers



Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info

Email: deborah@deborahross.org



Education

bachelor of arts
Brown University
Graduated: 1985		 juris doctorate
UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1990

Military

Not specified.

Issues

Name one way you would change government.

I’ve been spending the last five years pushing for ethics and campaign finance reform. I’ve sponsored every major ethics and campaign finance change for the good over the last five years. I’ve made that a focus and I will continue to. There is definitely unfinished business.

What is the most pressing problem affecting the function of district court?



Links




http://www.deborahross.org





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