Sam J. Ervin IV

Samuel James Ervin IV (born November 18, 1955) is a lawyer, North Carolina Utilities Commissioner, and candidate for the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2008. He is the grandson of U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin.

Biography

Ervin was born and raised in Morganton, North Carolina, where he lives today. Ervin attended Burke County public schools and graduated in 1974 from Freedom High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College, where he majored in history, and he earned his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1981. Ervin practiced law in Morganton from 1981 until 1999. In 1999, Ervin was appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Governor Jim Hunt. He is currently serving his second term on the Utilities Commission, having been reappointed by Governor Mike Easley in 2007. The Utilities Commission is a quasi-judicial agency responsible for regulating investor-owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water and sewer companies providing service in North Carolina.

From 2004 until 2007, Ervin served as Chairman of the Committee on Electricity of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives concerning the Yucca Mountain Project. [ [http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/108/Hearings/03252004hearing1240/Ervin1911.htm The Committee on Energy and Commerce ] ]

In his 2008 campaign, Ervin has been endorsed by the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association [ [http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/n_c_pba_makes_endorsements N.C. PBA makes endorsements | newsobserver.com projects ] ] and The Charlotte Observer. [ [http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/602759.html "Best for the bench," Charlotte Observer, Apr. 30, 2008] ] He came in first in the May 6 non-partisan primary, with 37 percent of the vote. Ervin and runner-up Kristin Ruth advanced to the November general election. [ [http://www.morganton.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MNH/MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355444481 Morganton News-Herald: Tyson loses bid to retain seat on Court of Appeals] ]

References

* [http://www.ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us/overview/ucervin.htm NC Utilities Commission official biography]
* [http://ervinforcourtofappeals.com/index.html Ervin for Court of Appeals campaign website]
* [http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/sam_j_ervin_iv News & Observer profile page]
* [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A256415 The Independent Weekly Q&A]