Jim Hunt

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For the sportswriter from Toronto, see Jim Hunt (columnist). For other persons with the name, see James Hunt (disambiguation).

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Jim Hunt
North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt in 1992.jpg
Jim Hunt speaks at North Carolina State University in 1992
69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001
Lieutenant Dennis A. Wicker
Preceded by James G. Martin
Succeeded by Mike Easley
In office
January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985
Lieutenant James C. Green
Preceded by James Holshouser
Succeeded by James G. Martin
27th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 6, 1973 – January 8, 1977
Governor James Holshouser
Preceded by Hoyt Patrick Taylor, Jr.
Succeeded by James C. Green
Personal details
Born James Baxter Hunt, Jr.
(1937-05-16) May 16, 1937 (age 87)
Greensboro, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Carolyn Hunt
Children 4
Education North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina
Profession Farmer, lawyer, politician

James Baxter "Jim" Hunt, Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history. Hunt is tied for the fourth-longest gubernatorial tenure in post-Constitutional U.S. history at 5,840 days.[1]

Early life

Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and raised in Wilson, North Carolina.

He is a graduate of North Carolina State College, now known as North Carolina State University, with a B.S. in agricultural education and a M.S. in agricultural economics. During his undergraduate career, Hunt was involved in Student Government. He was the second student to serve two terms as Student Body President of NC State.[2] In 1964, he received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He went on to serve as the President of the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina, now known as the Young Democrats of North Carolina.

Political career

Jim Hunt on the campaign trail 1992

Hunt is the only Governor of North Carolina to have been elected to four terms. He was first elected Governor in 1976 over Republican David Flaherty and was re-elected in 1980, defeating I. Beverly Lake. He previously served a term as the 27th Lieutenant Governor (1973–1977) under Republican Governor James Holshouser. Hunt supported a constitutional change during his first term that allowed him to be the first North Carolina governor to run for a second consecutive term.

Hunt Commission

In 1981 Hunt chaired the Hunt Commission, named after himself, which established superdelegates in the Democratic National Convention.[3]

U.S. Senate Run

In 1984 he lost a bitterly contested race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jesse Helms, and left elective politics for several years. He returned in 1992 and defeated Republican Lt. Governor and Hardees executive Jim Gardner to win the Governorship. Hunt was re-elected by a large margin over future US Congressman Robin Hayes in 1996. He left office in January 2001, and was replaced by fellow Democrat, Attorney General Mike Easley.

Actions and political views

Jim Hunt in 1992

In the 1970s Governor Hunt was a supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and, with his wife Carolyn, he urged its approval by the state legislature (which failed to ratify it by two votes). Hunt was an early proponent of teaching standards and early childhood education, gaining national recognition for the Smart Start program for pre-kindergarteners. In 2000 he was mentioned as a possible Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States[4] or Education Secretary for Al Gore had Gore been successful in the 2000 presidential race. 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry was likewise considering Hunt for Secretary of Education had he won,[citation needed] and he was considered a candidate to be Barack Obama's Secretary of Education.[5]

Hunt served on the Carnegie Task Force, which created the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and more recently on the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education.

As governor, Hunt was involved in a variety of efforts to promote technology and technology-based economic development, including the establishment of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. He was also very successful at recruiting business to his state.

Hunt was criticized for allowing Darryl Hunt (no relation known) to remain in prison for twenty years after the wrongfully convicted Winston-Salem man was exonerated by exculpatory DNA evidence which pointed to another perpetrator. Darryl Hunt was pardoned by the succeeding Governor, Mike Easley. During his terms in office Hunt oversaw 13 executions (two during his first period in office, 11 during his second), including the first post-Furman execution of a female (Velma Barfield) and the first post-Furman execution in North Carolina (James W. Hutchins).

Retirement

Hunt currently is a member of the law firm of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC, in its Raleigh office. He also enjoys spending his time on his farm looking after his Simmental Cattle and miniature pony,

Hunt chairs the Board of Directors of two institutes which he founded, The James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University in Raleigh.[6] He also serves on the North Carolina Advisory Board of DonorsChoose.

Legacy

References

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  5. ↑ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/ap_on_el_pr/obama_potential_appointees
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
1973–1977		 Succeeded by
James C. Green
Preceded by Governor of North Carolina
1977–1985		 Succeeded by
James G. Martin
Preceded by Governor of North Carolina
1993–2001		 Succeeded by
Mike Easley
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee for
United States Senator from North Carolina (Class 2)
1984		 Succeeded by
Harvey Gantt

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