Richard Vinroot
Encyclopedia
Richard A. Vinroot is a Republican
political figure and attorney from Charlotte, North Carolina
. He served as the 52nd Mayor of the City of Charlotte from 1991–1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of North Carolina
in 1996, 2000, and 2004.
schools becoming student body president
and selected as Teenager of the year. Vinroot became a high school all-star athlete in three sports and captained the basketball and football teams. Vinroot won a Morehead Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina
. He served as class president
in his junior and senior years. Vinroot's height is billed at 6'7", and he is well-known for having played college basketball
for legendary coach Dean Smith
at the University of North Carolina
, where he earned a bachelors degree and a law degree in 1963 and 1966 respectively.
Vinroot married his wife Judy (Allen) Vinroot whom he met while students at UNC. They have three children, Dr. Richard Vinroot Jr., Laura Vinroot Poole, and Katy Vinroot O’Brien, all of whom graduated from UNC.
. He was awarded a Bronze Star.
. Vinroot lost in a close primary to then-state representative Robin Hayes
of Kannapolis
. Hayes went on to lose the general election to incumbent governor James B. Hunt
.
Vinroot ran again for governor in 2000, and secured the republican nomination over state representative N. Leo Daughtry
. He faced North Carolina's attorney general Mike Easley
in a bitterly contested election
. Despite a favorable national Republican tide that won North Carolina for George W. Bush
, Democrat Mike Easley won by 52% to 46%, and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as Governor. In the closing weeks of the race, actor Andy Griffith
filmed an ad endorsing Easley, which some observers believe led to Easley's victory, called the "Mayberry Miracle".
In 2004, Vinroot attempted a 3rd run for governor, but never made it past the republican primary. He conceded the race to Wilmington
State Senator Patrick J. Ballantine
, who lost badly to Easley in November 55.62 % to 42.88%.
Vinroot currently serves on the boards of Martin-Marietta Materials, Inc. and North Carolina Institute for Emerging Issues.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
political figure and attorney from Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. He served as the 52nd Mayor of the City of Charlotte from 1991–1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of North Carolina
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:...
in 1996, 2000, and 2004.
Early life
The son of a Swedish immigrant, Richard Vinroot flourished in Mecklenburg CountyMecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
schools becoming student body president
Student body president
The President of the Student Government is the highest ranking officer of a student government or student union association on the high school, college, or university level...
and selected as Teenager of the year. Vinroot became a high school all-star athlete in three sports and captained the basketball and football teams. Vinroot won a Morehead Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
. He served as class president
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
in his junior and senior years. Vinroot's height is billed at 6'7", and he is well-known for having played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for legendary coach Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, where he earned a bachelors degree and a law degree in 1963 and 1966 respectively.
Vinroot married his wife Judy (Allen) Vinroot whom he met while students at UNC. They have three children, Dr. Richard Vinroot Jr., Laura Vinroot Poole, and Katy Vinroot O’Brien, all of whom graduated from UNC.
Military
After law school Vinroot volunteered for duty in the U.S. Army and became a combat veteran of the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He was awarded a Bronze Star.
Political career
Vinroot was a member of the Charlotte City Council from 1983 to 1991 and served as mayor of Charlotte from 1991 to 1995. As mayor, Vinroot was successful in establishing a Taxpayer Protection Act, limiting growth of the city’s budget. He created the state’s first “drug court” to speed prosecutions. A national magazine named him Municipal Leader of the Year. Vinroot decided against running for a third term in order to focus full time on his first run for North Carolina governor in 1996North Carolina gubernatorial election, 1996
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 1996 was held on 5 November 1996. The general election was fought between the Democratic nominee Jim Hunt and the Republican nominee Robin Hayes. Hunt won by 56% to 43%, winning his fourth term as Governor....
. Vinroot lost in a close primary to then-state representative Robin Hayes
Robin Hayes
Robert Cannon "Robin" Hayes is the current chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. For five terms from 1999 to 2009, he represented North Carolina's 8th congressional district in the House of Representatives.-Early life:...
of Kannapolis
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kannapolis is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte. The population was 42,625 at the 2010 census, which makes Kannapolis the 20th largest city in North Carolina...
. Hayes went on to lose the general election to incumbent governor James B. Hunt
James B. Hunt
James Bennett Hunt was a politician and judge from the U.S. state of Michigan.Hunt was born in Demerara, British Guiana . He moved with his father to New York City in 1803. There he later pursued an academic course, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and commenced practice in New York...
.
Vinroot ran again for governor in 2000, and secured the republican nomination over state representative N. Leo Daughtry
N. Leo Daughtry
Namon Leo Daughtry is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twenty-sixth House district, including constituents in Johnston County. An attorney from Smithfield, North Carolina, Daughtry is currently serving in his ninth consecutive term in the NC...
. He faced North Carolina's attorney general 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...
in a bitterly contested election
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2000
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2000 was held on 7 November 2000. The general election was fought between the Republican nominee Richard Vinroot and the Democrat nominee Mike Easley. Easley won by 52% to 46%, and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as...
. Despite a favorable national Republican tide that won North Carolina for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Democrat Mike Easley won by 52% to 46%, and succeeded fellow Democrat Jim Hunt as Governor. In the closing weeks of the race, actor Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
filmed an ad endorsing Easley, which some observers believe led to Easley's victory, called the "Mayberry Miracle".
In 2004, Vinroot attempted a 3rd run for governor, but never made it past the republican primary. He conceded the race to Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
State Senator Patrick J. Ballantine
Patrick J. Ballantine
Patrick J. Ballantine , an attorney from Wilmington, North Carolina, was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly, rising to become the Senate Minority Leader and the Republican Party's nominee for Governor in 2004.Ballantine was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota and moved to...
, who lost badly to Easley in November 55.62 % to 42.88%.
Vinroot currently serves on the boards of Martin-Marietta Materials, Inc. and North Carolina Institute for Emerging Issues.