CHARLOTTE

What he says:

* Change civil laws to reduce the costs of medical malpractice lawsuits and cap awards for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.

* Restore the child health-care tax credit.

* Allow employees of small businesses that do not provide health insurance to buy health insurance with pretax income; allow small businesses to join together to negotiate lower rates than they can get as individual companies.

What he's done:

* Serves as honorary chair for the Charlotte chapters of the Alzheimers Foundation and Arthritis Foundation.

BILL GRAHAM

SALISBURY

What he says:

* Create risk pools that would allow businesses, the self-employed and others to buy health insurance policies. The pools would provide access to all who are working full time or part time, but don't have employer-sponsored health insurance.

* Provide incentives to employers who offer health insurance to employees and incentives for offering programs designed to prevent illness.

* Build database to ensure up-to-date information on patients.

What he's done:

* Owns a reinsurance business and is currently developing an insurance product for people who lose their jobs.

ROBERT F. (BOB) ORR

BURNSVILLE

What he says:

* Work with universities and community colleges to increase the supply of physicians, nurses and other health-care workers.

* Make state health a model for preventive and chronic-care management programs.

* Increase tax credits to small businesses that offer health insurance to employees.

* Reduce amount of mandated insurance coverage.

What he's done:

* Member of state health plan for 18 years.

* Has personal experience with family member with long-term care and assisted-living situations.

ELBIE POWERS

ROSEBORO

What he says:

* Open a state taxpayer-owned insurance company to provide health insurance at lower rates than private companies.

* Create city- and county-owned assisted-living centers with senior residents paying monthly rent with Social Security income.

* Reduce salaries of CEOs for hospitals that receive taxpayer monies.

What he's done:

* Has experience as a farmer and small businessman.

FRED SMITH

CLAYTON

What he says:

* Create "culture of health" by promoting healthy lifestyles, preventive care, and effective chronic disease management.

* Make greater use of health savings accounts.

* Make health-care system more efficient by eliminating unnecessary regulations and provide incentives for greater use of electronic records.

What he's done:

* Provided health insurance to employees in his businesses, including benefits for athletic club memberships and free annual physicals.