G. K. Butterfield
Encyclopedia
George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. (born April 27, 1947) is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in the northeastern corner of the state.
. Both of his parents had white ancestors. Butterfield's father emigrated to the United States from Bermuda
.
Butterfield graduated from Charles H. Darden High School. He earned degrees in Political Science and Sociology from North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
. In 1974, he received a Juris Doctor
degree from the NCCU School of Law.
Butterfield served honorably in the United States Army
from 1968 to 1970.
by Governor Mike Easley
. In 2002
, Butterfield lost his seat on the Supreme Court but returned to the Superior Court bench by special appointment of Governor Mike Easley
and served in that position until his retirement in May 2004.
Butterfield serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and formerly served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. He is the Region VIII representative on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
.
Beginning in the 110th Congress, Congressman Butterfield was appointed by Speaker
Nancy Pelosi
and Majority Whip
, Congressman Jim Clyburn
, to serve as one of eight Chief Deputy Whips responsible for helping to formulate Democratic policy and insuring the passage of legislation by maintaining good communication with members.
In 2009, Butterfield introduced the Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite Act "to assist states in carrying out inspections of lodging facilities, train inspection personnel, contract with a commercial exterminator; educate owners and staff at lodging facilities." Butterfield also passed H.R. 4252 "To amend the Small Business Act to change the net worth amount under the small business program for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals from $750,000 to $978,722, and for other purposes."
Butterfield supports a health care option offered by the government and relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs. Butterfield supported the Obama Health Care bill and worked with the Energy and Commerce Committee to help write the legislation. During the discussion of the bill in Congress, Butterfield complained about the lack of cooperation from the Republican party.
Butterfield supports increasing taxes for higher-income families while decreasing taxes for middle and low-income families. Although he is an advocate for using government stimulus in order to improve the economy, Butterfield wants to reduce government regulations on the private sector.
In 2008 Planned Parenthood gave Butterfield a 80 percent ranking and in 2009 Butterfield supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent of the time. Butterfield considers himself pro-choice and is especially clear in his support of legalized abortion when the life of the woman is in danger or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
, who resigned for legal reasons. He defeated Republican candidate Greg Dority and Libertarian Party nominee Tom Eisenmenger. Butterfield was sworn into office on July 21, 2004.
On July 20, 2004, Butterfield won the Democratic primary entitling him to run in the November 2004 general election. He again faced Dority and won his first full term with 64% of the popular vote.
for the presidential primary, in January 2008, Butterfield endorsed Barack Obama
for the primary and general election.
.
, where he formerly served as Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Ministry. Butterfield has two adult daughters, Valeisha and Lenai. His ex-wife is Jean Farmer Butterfield, who is currently a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and representing the 24th House District.
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...
for , serving since 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in the northeastern corner of the state.
Early life and education
Butterfield grew up in a prominent black family in Wilson, North CarolinaWilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
. Both of his parents had white ancestors. Butterfield's father emigrated to the United States from Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
.
Butterfield graduated from Charles H. Darden High School. He earned degrees in Political Science and Sociology from North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
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....
. In 1974, he received a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the NCCU School of Law.
Butterfield served honorably in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1968 to 1970.
Judicial career
In 1988, Butterfield was elected as Resident Superior Court judge in the first judicial division. For the next twelve years, he presided over civil and criminal court in 46 counties of North Carolina. In February 2001, he was appointed to the North Carolina Supreme CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
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...
. In 2002
North Carolina judicial elections, 2002
Several justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court and judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected to eight-year terms by North Carolina voters on November 5, 2002. Party primary elections were held on Sept. 10...
, Butterfield lost his seat on the Supreme Court but returned to the Superior Court bench by special appointment of 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...
and served in that position until his retirement in May 2004.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade (Ranking Member)
- Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyThe Energy Subcommittee on Environment and Economy is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Prior to 2009, it was known as the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, and was part of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment from 2009 to 2011...
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Black CaucusCongressional Black CaucusThe Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Congressional Motorcycle Safety CaucusCongressional Motorcycle Safety CaucusThe Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus is a bipartisan caucus of the United States House of Representatives.-Founding and Members:The caucus founders and co-chairs are Representatives Michael Burgess and Gabrielle Giffords...
Butterfield serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and formerly served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. He is the Region VIII representative on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee
Steering and Policy Committee of the United States House of Representatives
In the United States House of Representatives, the House Democratic Caucus includes a Steering and Policy Committee. Its primary purpose is to assign fellow party members to other House committees, and it also advises party leaders on policy...
.
Beginning in the 110th Congress, Congressman Butterfield was appointed by Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
and Majority Whip
Party whips of the United States House of Representatives
A whip in the United States House of Representatives manages his party's legislative program on the House floor. The Whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon....
, Congressman Jim Clyburn
Jim Clyburn
James Enos "Jim" Clyburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the Assistant Democratic Leader since 2011. He was previously House Majority Whip, serving in that post from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, to serve as one of eight Chief Deputy Whips responsible for helping to formulate Democratic policy and insuring the passage of legislation by maintaining good communication with members.
Political positions
As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, G.K. Butterfield advocated for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Butterfield supports "a market-based approach to capping carbon emissions" and wants to broaden America’s sources of energy. On his website, Butterfield stresses the need to find more clean and domestic sources of energy.In 2009, Butterfield introduced the Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite Act "to assist states in carrying out inspections of lodging facilities, train inspection personnel, contract with a commercial exterminator; educate owners and staff at lodging facilities." Butterfield also passed H.R. 4252 "To amend the Small Business Act to change the net worth amount under the small business program for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals from $750,000 to $978,722, and for other purposes."
Butterfield supports a health care option offered by the government and relaxing regulations on the importation of prescription drugs. Butterfield supported the Obama Health Care bill and worked with the Energy and Commerce Committee to help write the legislation. During the discussion of the bill in Congress, Butterfield complained about the lack of cooperation from the Republican party.
Butterfield supports increasing taxes for higher-income families while decreasing taxes for middle and low-income families. Although he is an advocate for using government stimulus in order to improve the economy, Butterfield wants to reduce government regulations on the private sector.
In 2008 Planned Parenthood gave Butterfield a 80 percent ranking and in 2009 Butterfield supported the interests of NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent of the time. Butterfield considers himself pro-choice and is especially clear in his support of legalized abortion when the life of the woman is in danger or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
2004
Butterfield was elected to Congress in a special election on July 20, 2004 to fill the unexpired term of Representative Frank BallanceFrank Ballance
Frank W. Ballance, Jr. , American politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2004, representing North Carolina's 1st congressional district and is a convicted felon.-Background:...
, who resigned for legal reasons. He defeated Republican candidate Greg Dority and Libertarian Party nominee Tom Eisenmenger. Butterfield was sworn into office on July 21, 2004.
On July 20, 2004, Butterfield won the Democratic primary entitling him to run in the November 2004 general election. He again faced Dority and won his first full term with 64% of the popular vote.
2006
Butterfield was unopposed for reelection in 2006.2008
Butterfield won against Dean Stephens with 70.28% of the vote.2008 Presidential campaign
Originally endorsing John EdwardsJohn Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
for the presidential primary, in January 2008, Butterfield endorsed Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for the primary and general election.
2010
Butterfield defeated Republican nominee Ashley WoolardAshley Woolard
Ashley Woolard served as the chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party and was the Republican nominee for the 1st Congressional District race in North Carolina. He won the nomination on May 4, 2010 and ran against the incumbent Congressman G.K...
.
Personal life
Butterfield is a member of Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church in Wilson, North CarolinaWilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, where he formerly served as Trustee and Chairman of the Finance Ministry. Butterfield has two adult daughters, Valeisha and Lenai. His ex-wife is Jean Farmer Butterfield, who is currently a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and representing the 24th House District.
External links
- Congressman G. K. Butterfield official U.S. House site
- Butterfield for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Profile at The News & ObserverThe News & ObserverThe News & Observer is the regional daily newspaper of the Research Triangle area of the U.S. State of North Carolina. The N&O, as it is popularly called, is based in Raleigh and also covers Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill. The paper also has substantial readership in most of the state east of...
- Press release on Butterfield's State Supreme Court appointment