Ruth Samuelson

Ruth Culbertson Samuelson (November 4, 1959 – January 23, 2017) was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representing the 104th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015.^[4][5] From 2000 to 2004, Samuelson served as a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, representing the Fifth District. In 2004, she ran for an At-Large seat on the Board of Commissioners, but lost in a tight general election race.^[6]

Representative Ruth Samuelson
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 104th district
In office January 1, 2007 – January 1, 2015
Preceded by	Ed McMahan
Succeeded by	Dan Bishop
Member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners from the 5th district
In office 2000–2004
Preceded by	Tom Cox[1]
Succeeded by	Dan Bishop[2]
Personal details
Born	Ruth Culbertson (1959-11-04)November 4, 1959 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	January 23, 2017(2017-01-23) (aged 57) Charlotte, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ken Samuelson[3]
Children	Three sons, one daughter[3]
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill[3]

In November 2006, Samuelson was elected to the North Carolina House succeeding five-term incumbent Ed McMahan. Samuelson was elected with 67% of the vote in the election, beating Democrat Paula McSwain.^[7]

She announced on October 15, 2013, that she would not seek re-election for a fifth term and would leave office at the end of her term, after the 2014 elections.^[8]

Samuelson revealed in June 2016 that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.^[9] Later that year she entered hospice care at home.^[10]

Samuelson died on January 23, 2017, at the age of 57.^[9] A hiking trail in Mecklenburg County has been named in Samuelson's honor.^[10]

Electoral history

2012

North Carolina House of Representatives 104th district general election, 2012^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ruth Samuelson (incumbent)	31,319	100%
Total votes			31,319	100%
	Republican hold

2010

North Carolina House of Representatives 104th district Republican primary election, 2010^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ruth Samuelson (incumbent)	3,489	83.03%
	Republican	Jerry Drye	713	16.97%
Total votes			4,202	100%

North Carolina House of Representatives 104th district general election, 2010^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ruth Samuelson (incumbent)	20,001	74.74%
	Democratic	Frank Deaton	6,758	25.26%
Total votes			26,759	100%
	Republican hold

2008

North Carolina House of Representatives 104th district general election, 2008^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ruth Samuelson (incumbent)	29,349	100%
Total votes			29,349	100%
	Republican hold

2006

North Carolina House of Representatives 104th district general election, 2006^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ruth Samuelson	14,668	67.03%
	Democratic	Paula McSwain	7,215	32.97%
Total votes			21,883	100%
	Republican hold

References

1. "Our Campaigns - Mecklenburg County Commissioner - District 5 Race - Nov 07, 2000".
2. "Our Campaigns - Mecklenburg County Commissioner - District 5 Race - Nov 05, 2002".
3. Morrill, Jim (17 October 2006). "Fight is on to replace McMahan - in House District 104, Democratic Newcomer Faces Ex-Commissioner". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina: McClatchy: 2B.
4. "2011-2012 Report for Rep. Ruth Samuelson - NCCPPR". Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
5. "Ruth Samuelson, former lawmaker, dies at 56". Retrieved 23 January 2017.
6. "Mecklenburg County North Carolina November 2, 2004 Election Results" (PDF). Charlotte, North Carolina: Mecklenburg County North Carolina Board of Elections. p. 103. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
7. "Mecklenburg County North Carolina 7 November 2006 Election Results" (PDF). Charlotte, North Carolina: Mecklenburg County North Carolina Board of Elections. pp. 130–131. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
8. Morrill, Jim (15 October 2013). "Ruth Samuelson says she won't run for re-election in 2014". Charlotte, North Carolina: The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Charlotte Republican Rep. Ruth Samuelson, one of North Carolina's highest profile lawmakers and a top contender for House speaker, said Tuesday that she won't run for a fifth term.
9. Henderson, Bruce (23 January 2017). "Ruth Samuelson, former lawmaker, dies at 57". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina: McClatchy.
10. "Samuelson, former lawmaker, receives hospice care at home". 13 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
11. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
12. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
13. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
14. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
15. North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Political offices
Preceded by Tom Cox	Member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners from the 5th district 2000–2004	Succeeded by Dan Bishop
North Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Ed McMahan	Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 104th district 2007–2015	Succeeded by Dan Bishop