RALEIGH: North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will filed for re-election to the state’s top law enforcement and legal post April 29, saying his work fighting crime and protecting consumers must continue.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments we have made but there’s still so much work to be done,” Cooper said. “Criminals and con artists are finding new ways to prey on North Carolina residents every day, and we must keep fighting back.”

During his three years as Attorney General, Cooper has brought new ways for law enforcement to make communities safer by cracking down on the illegal drug trade and using high-tech tools like DNA to track violent criminals. He’s kept a pledge to keep children safe by training law enforcement and educators the right way to respond to school violence. He has also protected consumers and legitimate businesses from con artists who fool people with promises of wealth and success that turn out to be phony. And he has fought telemarketing harassment and fraud by enforcing the Do Not Call law.

“Our crime rate has fallen and our ability to crack cold cases has increased,” Cooper said. “But law enforcement and prosecutors could be overwhelmed by the newest drug scourge and that’s why we have to keep pushing forward with solutions.”

Cooper’s work as Attorney General is recognized nationally. For example, his push to increase bioterrorism accountability is a national model. Just last month the US Senate asked for his testimony regarding fair mortgage lending after he won groundbreaking refunds for North Carolina consumers who were victims of unfair loans. The Federal Trade Commission says he’s a national leader in fighting identity theft.

Cooper was sworn in as Attorney General in 2001 after pushing through tough crime laws and consumer protections during his 14 years of service in the state legislature.

His work as a state legislator included writing the Crime Victims Bill of Rights to give victims a say in the criminal justice system. He gave North Carolina the nation’s toughest money lending law to protect homeowners from enormous fees and unfair hidden charges. He revamped the juvenile justice system to make sentences tougher and keep troubled kids off the streets.

Cooper, 47, is a native of Nash County. He attended UNC Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar and after graduating from law school he went back home to practice law with his family law firm. His work as an attorney earned him an AV rating, the highest mark by Martindale-Hubbell.  

He has been involved in a full array of civic activities, including service on the Teach for America Advisory Council and the Board of Directors of North Carolinians for Community Colleges. He has led fundraising drives for the March of Dimes and Barium Springs Home for Children. He tutors children at a Wake County elementary school, and has served as an elder, deacon and Sunday School teacher in his church. Roy Cooper and his wife Kristin have three daughters, Hilary, 19, Natalie, 11, and Claire, 9, all of whom attend public schools.