Dennis A. Wicker
Encyclopedia
Dennis A. Wicker is a North Carolina
lawyer and politician from Sanford
who served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
(1981–1993), and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
(1993–2001). As lieutenant governor, he became the first statewide elected official to chair the State Board of Community Colleges, which sets policy for the state’s 58-campus system
. Wicker was also a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education
and the State Board of Economic Development.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party
's nomination for Governor of North Carolina
in 2000, losing to Mike Easley
.
The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center at Central Carolina Community College
was named in his honor in 1995 because of his role in securing funding for the center.
Wicker is presently the leader of the Government Relations group in the Raleigh
office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP. Wicker is a regular panelist on the television show “NC Spin” discussing various current issues in North Carolina politics.
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...
lawyer and politician from Sanford
Sanford, North Carolina
Sanford is a city in Lee County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,220 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lee County.-Geography:Sanford is located at ....
who served as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
(1981–1993), and as Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
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...
(1993–2001). As lieutenant governor, he became the first statewide elected official to chair the State Board of Community Colleges, which sets policy for the state’s 58-campus system
North Carolina Community College System
The North Carolina Community College System is a statewide network of fifty-eight public community colleges. Each college has a distinct governance system and policies. In total, the system enrolls over 800,000 students, and is the third largest community college system in the nation...
. Wicker was also a member of 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...
and the State Board of Economic Development.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for 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...
's nomination 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 2000, losing to 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...
.
The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center at Central Carolina Community College
Central Carolina Community College
Central Carolina Community College is a tax-supported public, non-profit, two-year college in the North Carolina Community College System. It offered its first classes in 1961. The college has campuses in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties, as well as a number of centers to serve those areas...
was named in his honor in 1995 because of his role in securing funding for the center.
Wicker is presently the leader of the Government Relations group in the Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP. Wicker is a regular panelist on the television show “NC Spin” discussing various current issues in North Carolina politics.