Meet Norman

Hello! My name is Norman Sanderson, and my wife Linda and I look forward to meeting you if we've not previously met! I grew up on a small family farm in Columbus County, NC. My dad had me out in the fields working at just five years old! My six siblings and I learned the value of a strong work ethic raising tobacco and hogs. I had my first "official" job at the age of 17 driving our tobacco truck from the warehouse to the packing facility. I graduated from West Columbus High School and attended North Carolina State University, focusing on Agricultural Education. I later went back to college as an adult and earned a BA in Christian Education from Logos Christian College & Graduate Schools. 

From my work on the farm to running a dredge on the creeks around Pamlico County, from my work as a law enforcement officer and drug enforcement agent for the Pamlico County Sherriff's Office to becoming the principal of a Christian school after earning a Christian Education degree and then owning a successful childcare facility in Havelock, NC that positively impacted the lives of children and families for over 20 years, the Lord has blessed me with a breadth of experience that has served me well in the NC Senate for the past nine years. 

Linda and I have been residents of Pamlico and Craven Counties for over 45 years. During those years, the strong work ethic I learned in the early years on the family farm inspired me to become an entrepreneur who has over 20 years of small business experience meeting a payroll, balancing a budget and making the tough decisions that kept my business thriving.

In 2010, I was elected by the voters of North Carolina House District 3 (Craven and Pamlico Counties) to serve in the NC House of Representatives, defeating a 4-term Democrat incumbent with an impressive 64% of the vote. In 2012, I was asked to run for the NC Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Jean Preston. Using hard work and a strong grassroots campaign, I won a three-way Republican primary with 51% of the vote and the general election with a 63% majority. 

I am a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican – in that order. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart, soul and strength and lean on His wisdom and guidance in my daily life. I believe in the sanctity of human life and am pleased to have received an endorsement from NC Right to Life. I strongly believe in our 2nd Amendment rights and am pleased to have received an endorsement from the NRA. I also firmly believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman and worked for the passage of NC’s Defense of Marriage Act. I have had the honor of serving my community as past president of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship America Crystal Coast Chapter, First Vice Chair of NC’s Third Congressional District, Secretary of the Craven County Republican Men’s Club, member of Pamlico County Committee of 100, member of the Pamlico County Chamber of Commerce and Havelock Chamber of Commerce, and member of Oriental Rotary Club.

Linda and I have been married for 52 years, and we are the proud parents of daughter Jennifer and husband Frankie Alcock and son Lee Sanderson and wife Stephanie. We are blessed with 3 grandsons, Caleb (a graduate student at East Carolina University), Joel (a student at Wayne Community College) and Addison (a 10th grader).