Howard Nathaniel Lee
Encyclopedia
Howard Nathaniel Lee is an American
politician from the U.S. state
of North Carolina
.
After earning a bachelor's degree from Fort Valley State College and a Master's in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, he accepted a position at Duke University
in 1966.
On May 6, 1969, Lee was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
. He was the first African American to hold the position in a mainly white city, and the first to do so in the South. Lee was mayor of Chapel Hill from 1969 to 1975, during which, among other things, he helped to create a useful city busing system. His election was considered a step forward for the ongoing African American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1976, Lee sought the Democratic Party
nomination for Lieutenant Governor
of North Carolina
, but was defeated in the Primary election. In 1977, Governor
Jim Hunt
appointed Lee as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development,which he held until 1981.
Lee returned to electoral politics in 1990 when he was elected to the North Carolina Senate
. He served from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 to 2002. While in the Senate, he concentrated particularly on issues affecting public education.
On May 1, 2003, the North Carolina State Board of Education
elected him as its chairman, succeeding Phil Kirk
. In 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced that she was appointing Lee as the new executive director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, composed of leaders of public schools, community colleges and public and private universities. This meant Lee would give up his seat on the Board of Education.
He has also served as a member of the North Carolina Utilities Commission
, having been appointed by Governor Mike Easley
on April 1, 2005.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
After earning a bachelor's degree from Fort Valley State College and a Master's in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, he accepted a position at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1966.
On May 6, 1969, Lee was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
. He was the first African American to hold the position in a mainly white city, and the first to do so in the South. Lee was mayor of Chapel Hill from 1969 to 1975, during which, among other things, he helped to create a useful city busing system. His election was considered a step forward for the ongoing African American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1976, Lee sought the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nomination for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, but was defeated in the Primary election. In 1977, Governor
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
appointed Lee as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development,which he held until 1981.
Lee returned to electoral politics in 1990 when he was elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
. He served from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 to 2002. While in the Senate, he concentrated particularly on issues affecting public education.
On May 1, 2003, the North Carolina State Board of Education
North Carolina State Board of Education
The North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the North Carolina Constitution, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina...
elected him as its chairman, succeeding Phil Kirk
Phil Kirk
Phillip J. Kirk, Jr. is a North Carolina political figure. He is a former chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education and a former president of the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce .Kirk, a native of Rowan County, North Carolina and a graduate of Catawba College, worked as a...
. In 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced that she was appointing Lee as the new executive director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, composed of leaders of public schools, community colleges and public and private universities. This meant Lee would give up his seat on the Board of Education.
He has also served as a member of the North Carolina Utilities Commission
North Carolina Utilities Commission
The North Carolina Utilities Commission is a government agency that regulates the various utilities of the state of North Carolina. The Commission also regulates household goods transportation, buses, brokers and ferryboats....
, having been appointed by Governor Mike Easley
Mike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
on April 1, 2005.
See also
External links
- Lee biography - North Carolina Utilities Commission website
- Durham Herald Sun: Howard Lee ponders his eventful career in a new book (Oct. 29, 2008)