Governor Roy Cooper was sworn in as North Carolina’s 75th Governor in January 2017 with three decades in public service protecting families, keeping communities safe, and working to create jobs and improve schools. As the son of a school teacher, education and workforce development are among his top priorities. With a law degree from University of North Carolina, Roy Cooper was first elected to the State Legislature in 1986 and served as both a House Representative and State Senator. During his time in the Legislature, Cooper worked with members of both parties to get balanced budgets that raised North Carolina’s teacher pay to the national average, grow the economy, and cut taxes for middle class families. In 2000, Cooper was elected to serve as North Carolina’s Attorney General, where he continued to fight for families during his four terms. He worked to increase penalties for drug dealers, oversaw a sharp decrease in crime, and partnered with law enforcement and school administrators to make schools safer. He also made protecting consumers a priority, fighting to keep utility rates low, put predatory lenders out of business, and help families fend off telemarketers. Governor Cooper grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina. In addition to graduating from UNC’s Law School, Cooper also attended UNC for his undergraduate degree on a Morehead Scholarship, the first merit scholarship established in the United States. He has also taught Sunday School, served as an elder and deacon in his church, and tutored students in local schools.