- Daniel T. Blue, Jr.
-
Dan Blue Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 14th districtIn office
2009 – presentPreceded by Vernon Malone Personal details Born April 18, 1949
Robeson County, North CarolinaPolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) Edna Residence Raleigh, North Carolina Alma mater North Carolina Central University, Duke University Profession Attorney Daniel Terry 'Dan' Blue, Jr. is a Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate district since his appointment in 2009. He previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1981 through 2002 and from 2006 through his 2009 Senate appointment. Blue was the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1991 until 1994, when the Democrats lost control of the House to Republicans. Blue was the first African American to hold the post of Speaker in North Carolina.
From 1998 to 1999, Blue served as the first African American President of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Contents
Political career since 1999
He sought unsuccessfully to regain his position as Speaker when the Democrats got back the majority in 1999, by forming a coalition of Democrats and Republicans that fell two votes shy of a majority. Blue remained in the House until he ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2002, in which he came in second place behind nominee Erskine Bowles and ahead of Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall.[1]
Blue returned to the practice of law and was hired by Jeanne Bonds (former Mayor) to be a lobbyist for cities on energy issues affecting working families.
He was selected by his local Democratic Party to return to what was essentially his former seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives, after his successor, Bernard Allen, died while running unopposed in the November 2006 election.[2] Democrats also voted to allow Allen's votes in the election to go toward Blue.[3]
Governor Mike Easley, obligated to accept the nomination of the party, appointed Blue to the legislature on November 2, 2006.[4] He served the remaining months of Allen's term and then took his seat for a full term in January 2007.
In 2009, Blue was selected by local Democrats to take the place of Sen. Vernon Malone, who died in office.[5] He joined the Senate on May 19, 2009.[6]
Education and family
Blue graduated from North Carolina Central University and the Duke University School of Law, establishing a law practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.[7] His daughter Kanika, who graduated from Enloe High School, Duke University and the Yale Law School, currently teaches at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She is married to Jeff Capel, former University of Oklahoma basketball coach and, as of May 2011, an assistant coach at Duke.[8]
Blue serves on Duke University's Board of Trustees and was elected chairman in 2009. He was the first African American to chair Duke’s board.[9]
References
- ^ 2002 Primary Election Results, US Senate, North Carolina Board of Elections
- ^ Blue selected for Allen's seat in state House, Matthew Eisley, The News & Observer, October 26, 2006
- ^ Forum lifts Blue as leader for seat, Ryan Teague Beckwith, The News & Observer, October 22, 2006
- ^ WRAL News
- ^ News & Observer: Blue to serve out Malone's Senate term
- ^ News & Observer: Blue moves over to the Senate
- ^ Alpha Phi Alpha, Politician members Political Graveyard
- ^ http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/29151178
- ^ News & Observer: Big week for Blue
External links
- North Carolina General Assembly - Senator Dan Blue official NC Senate website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Daniel Terry 'Dan' Blue, Jr. (NC) profile
- News & Observer profile
- Follow the Money - Dan Blue
- Daniel T. Blue, Jr. Thigpen, Blue, Stephens & Fellers, attorney profile
- The New Republic article
- Stan White (D)
- Jean R. Preston (R)
- Clark Jenkins (D)
- Edward Jones (D)
- Louis M. Pate, Jr. (R)
- Harry Brown (R)
- Doug Berger (D)
- Bill Rabon (R)
- Thom Goolsby (R)
- Brent Jackson (R)
- Buck Newton (R)
- David Rouzer (R)
- Michael P. Walters (D)
- Daniel T. Blue, Jr. (D)
- Neal Hunt (R)
- Josh Stein (D)
- Richard Y. Stevens (R)
- Bob Atwater (D)
- Wesley Meredith (R)
- Floyd McKissick, Jr. (D)
- Eric L. Mansfield (D)
- Harris Blake (R)
- Eleanor Kinnaird (D)
- Rick Gunn (R)
- William R. Purcell (D)
- Phil Berger (R)
- Don Vaughan (D)
- Gladys A. Robinson (D)
- Jerry W. Tillman (R)
- Don East (R)
- Peter Brunstetter (R)
- Linda Garrou (D)
- Stan Bingham (R)
- Andrew C. Brock (R)
- Tommy Tucker (R)
- Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr. (R)
- Daniel G. Clodfelter (D)
- Charlie Smith Dannelly (D)
- Bob Rucho (R)
- Malcolm Graham (D)
- vacant
- Austin M. Allran (R)
- Kathy Harrington (R)
- Warren Daniel (R)
- Dan Soucek (R)
- Debbie A. Clary (R)
- Ralph Hise (R)
- Tom Apodaca (R)
- Martin Nesbitt (D)
- Jim Davis (R)
Republican (31) • Democratic (19) • North Carolina General Assembly • North Carolina House of Representatives • North Carolina State SenateCategories:- Members of the North Carolina House of Representatives
- North Carolina State Senators
- North Carolina Democrats
- North Carolina lawyers
- 1949 births
- Living people
- Duke University alumni
- North Carolina Central University alumni
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
