Career Mike Easley

easley elected attorney general in 1992.

easley elected district attorney, 1 of youngest ever in state, in 1982.

a democrat, easley ran unsuccessfully in party s 1990 primary u.s. senate; lost former charlotte mayor harvey gantt, himself lost incumbent jesse helms. easley elected north carolina attorney general in 1992. won reelection in 1996. in 1996 election attorney general, easley garnered 59.07% of vote, compared opponent robert h. edmonds, jr. s 40.93% of votes. represented margin of victory of 446,169 votes.

in 2000, easley ran succeed term-limited hunt governor of north carolina. defeated incumbent lieutenant governor dennis a. wicker in democratic primary, , challenged republican richard vinroot, former mayor of charlotte, in general election. easley reelected in 2004, running against new hanover county state senator patrick j. ballantine.

governorship

in closing weeks of 2000 gubernatorial race, actor andy griffith filmed ad endorsing easley, observers believe led easley s victory, called mayberry miracle .

education reform centerpiece of easley s tenure governor, such extent in 2008, easley received inaugural america s greatest education governor award national education association. award created showcase public officials have demonstrated exemplary achievements , accomplishments in advancing public education . easley commended nea focus on improving teacher working conditions , affording teachers seat @ table in discussions surrounding implementation of education reforms in state.

one of easley s major programs more @ four, innovative academic pre-kindergarten at-risk children. more @ 4 has received extensive praise groups such national education association.

another signature program of easley s award-winning learn , earn initiative, enabled north carolina high school students earn college credit taking online courses @ no cost them or families. learn , earn program received innovations in american government award harvard university s kennedy school of government. presenting award, harvard noted in 2006-2007, rates of grade promotion , graduation learn , earn participants higher statewide average, half learn , earn high schools seeing 100 percent promotion rates . harvard observed these numbers have not been skewed creaming counting of high scoring children. program purposely targets kids @ risk, whom english second language[,] , first-generation college students. easley initiated program enable north carolina students attain debt-free undergraduate education receiving earn grants of $8,000 on 2 years. in 2007 easley wrote , published children s book, out, college, here come! proceeds of fund north carolina education charity.

his tenure faced budget shortfalls, tough economic times, , natural disasters such hurricanes , floods. easley received mixed reviews on handling of fiscal problems in state. supporters claimed many of budget shortfall situations created before took office, during hunt administration, while detractors criticized support of raising sales taxes multiple times cover cost of new state programs.

during administration, easley confronted state legislature on numerous occasions. easley first north carolina governor use power of veto, voters gave governor s office in 1996. first, in november 2002, easley vetoed legislation related unqualified appointments various boards , commissions. in june 2003, vetoed bill stripped state board of education of authority set teacher standards. in august 2003, vetoed hb 917 raised fees charged finance companies. in july 2004, vetoed hb 429 have required local governments make cash payments billboard owners of 5 times annual revenue generated billboard upon removal. in march 2005, vetoed sb 130 have conveyed state property. in september 2005, vetoed hb 706 have affected teacher standards. in august 2007 vetoed hb 1761, controversial financial incentives bill have awarded 40 million dollars companies within state. easley has used veto power total of 9 times of 2008. ninth veto first overridden legislature in north carolina history.

easley speaking @ second inauguration, 2005

easley ran second term governor in 2004. defeated rickey kipfer, opponent in democratic primary, , faced republican former state senator patrick ballantine , libertarian barbara howe in november 2004. though state voted republicans george w. bush president , richard burr united states senator, easley won second term governor , democrats reestablished control on both chambers of state legislature (the house had been split equally between 2 major parties since 2003).

he supported controversial statewide lottery, approved on august 31, 2005, after lieutenant governor bev perdue cast tie-breaking vote in senate. has stated proceeds lottery used much-needed educational programs.

easley presided on 27 executions, including 1,000th after death penalty reintroduced in united states in 1976. he, however, granted commutation 2 death row inmates. north carolina governor has sole right commute death sentences imposed state court.

governor easley declined run against elizabeth dole senate seat in 2008. considered possible candidate u.s. senate run against senator richard burr in 2010, had denied interest in race. raleigh news & observer speculated in october 2006 easley going act presidential contender in order position himself vice presidential nomination or cabinet post.

in 2008 in case drew international attention, north carolina state trooper filmed hanging , kicking police dog training. after trooper s superiors recommended minor punishment, easley s office recommended trooper fired. case ongoing, state s canine units suspended.

as governor, easley member of national governors association, southern governors association, , democratic governors association. however, known being reclusive while in office.

he succeeded governor lieutenant governor, beverly perdue, defeated charlotte mayor pat mccrory in close race. after leaving office, easley went work part-time promoting college high schools , similar programs bill , melinda gates foundation.