Eva M. Clayton
Encyclopedia
Eva M. Clayton is a politician
from the state
of North Carolina
.
Clayton was born in Savannah, Georgia
. She graduated from Johnson C. Smith University
with a bachelor's degree and from North Carolina Central University
with a master's degree. Clayton worked on the Soul City project in Warren County, North Carolina
before she became the Assistant Secretary for community development for the North Carolina state Department of Natural Resources and Community Development (1977–1981).
From 1982 to 1992, Clayton served as an elected member and chair of the Warren County board of commissioners. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives
as a Democrat in 1992, and was elected at the same time in a special election to fill out the remaining months of the term of Congressman Walter B. Jones, Sr.
. Clayton and Mel Watt
were the first African American
s elected to the House from North Carolina since 1898 (since Clayton won the special election, she took office before Watt). Clayton gained national attention as president of her Democratic freshman class. Clayton had a liberal voting record, although she opposed bills relating to trade with China
since the bills would harm her district. Clayton retired from Congress at the end of her fifth term in 2003.
In 2003, the United Nations
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), based in Rome, named former Congresswoman Clayton an Assistant Director-General, responsible for tracking progress in the FAO efforts to increase agricultural productivity worldwide and to help reduce hunger and poverty in the world. http://www.fao.org/world/lowa/news.htm
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the 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...
.
Clayton was born in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. She graduated from Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University is a private, co-ed, four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. JCSU is also a historically black college...
with a bachelor's degree and from North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
with a master's degree. Clayton worked on the Soul City project in Warren County, North Carolina
Warren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
before she became the Assistant Secretary for community development for the North Carolina state Department of Natural Resources and Community Development (1977–1981).
From 1982 to 1992, Clayton served as an elected member and chair of the Warren County board of commissioners. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat in 1992, and was elected at the same time in a special election to fill out the remaining months of the term of Congressman Walter B. Jones, Sr.
Walter B. Jones, Sr.
Walter Beaman Jones, Sr. , was an American politician from the state of North Carolina who served in the United States House of Representatives, and was the father of Walter Beaman Jones, Jr., who is currently a Representative for the Republican Party.Jones was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina,...
. Clayton and Mel Watt
Mel Watt
Melvin Luther Watt is the United States House of Representatives for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
were the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s elected to the House from North Carolina since 1898 (since Clayton won the special election, she took office before Watt). Clayton gained national attention as president of her Democratic freshman class. Clayton had a liberal voting record, although she opposed bills relating to trade with China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
since the bills would harm her district. Clayton retired from Congress at the end of her fifth term in 2003.
In 2003, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), based in Rome, named former Congresswoman Clayton an Assistant Director-General, responsible for tracking progress in the FAO efforts to increase agricultural productivity worldwide and to help reduce hunger and poverty in the world. http://www.fao.org/world/lowa/news.htm