Joe Hackney
Encyclopedia
Joe Hackney is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
representing the state's fifty-fourth House district, including constituents in Chatham
, Orange
, and Moore
counties. A farmer and attorney from Chapel Hill
, Hackney is currently (2011-12 session) serving in his sixteenth term in the state House of Representatives
. He served as Speaker of the House
for two terms and currently serves as House Minority Leader
.
Hackney attended North Carolina State University
before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, where he earned bachelor's and Juris Doctor
degrees. He worked as a prosecutor from 1971-74 before going into private practice. In 1974, he was campaign manager for Congressman Ike Andrews. While an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill, he wrote his Honors Thesis on the history of the North Carolina corrections system.
Joe is the great great grandson of Daniel Hackney, who represented Chatham County in the North Carolina House of Commons in the 1840s and 1850s.
In addition to practicing law, Hackney operates the family beef cattle farm in Chatham County with his brother, Jack Hackney.
Hackney has served as a member of the House since 1981, representing Chatham and Orange Counties, and at times a portion of Moore County.
of the state House, and two terms as House Majority Leader (or Democratic leader, when no party had a majority in 2003-2004). On January 10, 2007, Hackney was nominated by the Democratic majority as Speaker of the House
. He was elected speaker when the new legislature
convened on January 24, with all 68 House Democrats supporting him. Hackney was reelected speaker for a second two-year term in January 2009. He was embroiled in a controversy during his tenure as Speaker when, on July 9, 2010, he relieved pastor Ron Baity of his duties as honorary chaplain of the House over the content of a prayer.
After Democrats lost their House majority in the 2010 elections, Hackney was elected to continue leading his party as Minority Leader. He also became co-chairman of the House Ethics Committee in the 2011-12 session and was the only House Democrat given a committee chairmanship by Speaker Thom Tillis
.
Hackney served as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL) for a one-year term starting in July 2008. In that role he led an organization made up of all state legislators and staff. NCSL advocates on behalf of states before Congress and the federal administration and provides professional development opportunities for legislative staff. In 2007, the National Conference of State Legislatures
awarded Hackney its Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award.
Hackney has been consistently rated in the top ten for effectiveness (out of 120) by peers in the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research survey, when the House is in Democratic control. He rated 5th in 1992 survey; 4th in 1994 survey; 4th in 1999 survey; 5th in 2001 survey; 4th in 2003 survey; 3rd in 2005 survey; and 1st in 2007 survey.
He has sponsored many pieces of significant legislation, including the phosphate detergent ban; the Waste Management Act of 1989, which established an aggressive policy on reducing solid waste in North Carolina; the .08 DWI bill, lowering the permissible level of blood alcohol content
for drivers; the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, giving additional protections to taxpayers dealing with the N.C. Department of Revenue; domestic relations reform measures, including bills to streamline procedures for equitable distribution, alimony and divorce; in 1995, a new rewrite of alimony laws and DWI laws; in 1997, Governor's DWI reform bill, including vehicle seizure and forfeiture provisions, and three equitable distribution reform bills; in 1999, clean air, clean water, and sedimentation bills, HMO liability, and DWI improvements.
Hackney is the winner of many awards for distinguished legislative service, including:
Distinguished Service Award, by the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, in 1981; Governor's Award as Legislator of the Year, by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in 1985; Award of Excellence, by the Triangle J Council of Governments, in 1985; Distinguished Service Award, by the Research Triangle Group of the Sierra Club
, in 1986; Service Award, by the Orange-Chatham Alliance for the Mentally Ill; Triangle Conservation Award, by the Triangle Land Conservancy, in 1987; Consumer Advocate of the Year, by the North Carolina Consumers Council, in 1987; Honorary Citizenship of the City of Raleigh, by Mayor Avery Upchurch, in 1987, for efforts in the passage of the phosphate detergent limitation; Resolution of Appreciation, by the Governor's Crime Commission, in 1987; Service Award, by the Joint Orange Chatham Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors, in 1988; Service Award, by the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club
, in 1988; Legislative Award, by the North Carolina Chapter, American Planning Association, in 1989; Legislative Award, by the N.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
, and the N.C. Pediatric Society, in 1989; Appreciation Award, by the Chatham County Advisory Council of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, in 1990; "Best Bets For 1990", by the Center For Policy Alternatives, Sustainable Growth Program, in 1990, "For Leadership in Reducing Environmental Hazards by Sponsoring Legislation to Establish Free Disposal Sites for Used Tires"; Service Award, by the Environmental Quality and Natural Resources Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, in 1991, "In Appreciation For His Outstanding Leadership As Chairman ....1989-1991"; Recycling Merit Award, by the North Carolina Recycling Association in 1991; Appreciation Award, by the North Carolina Property Mappers Association, in 1993; Jake Alexander Public Service Award, by Mothers Against Drunk Driving
, Students Against Driving Drunk, and the Governor's Highway Safety Program, in 1993; Distinguished Service Award, by the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, in 1996; Legislator of the Year, by North Carolina Citizen Action, for "your years of outstanding leadership and dedication to the fair protection of North Carolina families, workers and environment", in 1996; Certificate of Commendation, by the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, for "persistence and legislative commitment to improving mental health in North Carolina", in 1997; Governor's Award as Legislator of the Year, by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in 1998; Friend of Education Award, by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators, in 1999; Public Service Award, by the Child Care Services Association, for "outstanding advocacy and service on behalf of young children and their families", in 2003.
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
representing the state's fifty-fourth House district, including constituents in Chatham
Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
, Orange
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
, and Moore
Moore County, North Carolina
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 74,769. Its county seat is Carthage.- History :The county was formed in 1784 from Cumberland County...
counties. A farmer and attorney from Chapel Hill
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...
, Hackney is currently (2011-12 session) serving in his sixteenth term in the state 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....
. He served as Speaker of the House
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
for two terms and currently serves as House Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
.
Early life
Hackney was born on September 23, 1945 in Chatham County, North Carolina. He grew up on small dairy farm near Silk Hope in Chatham County, where he was the youngest of five children.Hackney attended North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
before transferring to 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...
, where he earned bachelor's and 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...
degrees. He worked as a prosecutor from 1971-74 before going into private practice. In 1974, he was campaign manager for Congressman Ike Andrews. While an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill, he wrote his Honors Thesis on the history of the North Carolina corrections system.
Family
He is married to Betsy Strandberg of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; they have two grown children, Dan and Will. Dan lives in Charlottesville, Va., and is employed at Sperry Marine as a software engineer. Will is a musician and a principal in Chapel Hill-Carrboro based Trekky Records, an independent record label.Joe is the great great grandson of Daniel Hackney, who represented Chatham County in the North Carolina House of Commons in the 1840s and 1850s.
Career
Hackney has been a partner in the Chapel Hill law firm of Epting & Hackney since 1974, currently emphasizing civil litigation and domestic relations.In addition to practicing law, Hackney operates the family beef cattle farm in Chatham County with his brother, Jack Hackney.
Hackney has served as a member of the House since 1981, representing Chatham and Orange Counties, and at times a portion of Moore County.
Legislative highlights
He served two terms (four years) as Speaker pro temporePro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
of the state House, and two terms as House Majority Leader (or Democratic leader, when no party had a majority in 2003-2004). On January 10, 2007, Hackney was nominated by the Democratic majority as Speaker of the House
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
. He was elected speaker when the new legislature
North Carolina General Assembly of 2007-2008
Members of the North Carolina General Assembly, 2007–2008 session were elected in November 2006. This legislature first convened in January 2007....
convened on January 24, with all 68 House Democrats supporting him. Hackney was reelected speaker for a second two-year term in January 2009. He was embroiled in a controversy during his tenure as Speaker when, on July 9, 2010, he relieved pastor Ron Baity of his duties as honorary chaplain of the House over the content of a prayer.
After Democrats lost their House majority in the 2010 elections, Hackney was elected to continue leading his party as Minority Leader. He also became co-chairman of the House Ethics Committee in the 2011-12 session and was the only House Democrat given a committee chairmanship by Speaker Thom Tillis
Thom Tillis
Thomas Roland "Thom" Tillis is a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from Mecklenburg County and Speaker of the House....
.
Hackney served as President of the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
(NCSL) for a one-year term starting in July 2008. In that role he led an organization made up of all state legislators and staff. NCSL advocates on behalf of states before Congress and the federal administration and provides professional development opportunities for legislative staff. In 2007, the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
awarded Hackney its Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award.
Hackney has been consistently rated in the top ten for effectiveness (out of 120) by peers in the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research survey, when the House is in Democratic control. He rated 5th in 1992 survey; 4th in 1994 survey; 4th in 1999 survey; 5th in 2001 survey; 4th in 2003 survey; 3rd in 2005 survey; and 1st in 2007 survey.
He has sponsored many pieces of significant legislation, including the phosphate detergent ban; the Waste Management Act of 1989, which established an aggressive policy on reducing solid waste in North Carolina; the .08 DWI bill, lowering the permissible level of blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
for drivers; the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, giving additional protections to taxpayers dealing with the N.C. Department of Revenue; domestic relations reform measures, including bills to streamline procedures for equitable distribution, alimony and divorce; in 1995, a new rewrite of alimony laws and DWI laws; in 1997, Governor's DWI reform bill, including vehicle seizure and forfeiture provisions, and three equitable distribution reform bills; in 1999, clean air, clean water, and sedimentation bills, HMO liability, and DWI improvements.
Hackney is the winner of many awards for distinguished legislative service, including:
Distinguished Service Award, by the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, in 1981; Governor's Award as Legislator of the Year, by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in 1985; Award of Excellence, by the Triangle J Council of Governments, in 1985; Distinguished Service Award, by the Research Triangle Group of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, in 1986; Service Award, by the Orange-Chatham Alliance for the Mentally Ill; Triangle Conservation Award, by the Triangle Land Conservancy, in 1987; Consumer Advocate of the Year, by the North Carolina Consumers Council, in 1987; Honorary Citizenship of the City of Raleigh, by Mayor Avery Upchurch, in 1987, for efforts in the passage of the phosphate detergent limitation; Resolution of Appreciation, by the Governor's Crime Commission, in 1987; Service Award, by the Joint Orange Chatham Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors, in 1988; Service Award, by the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, in 1988; Legislative Award, by the North Carolina Chapter, American Planning Association, in 1989; Legislative Award, by the N.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
, and the N.C. Pediatric Society, in 1989; Appreciation Award, by the Chatham County Advisory Council of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, in 1990; "Best Bets For 1990", by the Center For Policy Alternatives, Sustainable Growth Program, in 1990, "For Leadership in Reducing Environmental Hazards by Sponsoring Legislation to Establish Free Disposal Sites for Used Tires"; Service Award, by the Environmental Quality and Natural Resources Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, in 1991, "In Appreciation For His Outstanding Leadership As Chairman ....1989-1991"; Recycling Merit Award, by the North Carolina Recycling Association in 1991; Appreciation Award, by the North Carolina Property Mappers Association, in 1993; Jake Alexander Public Service Award, by Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
, Students Against Driving Drunk, and the Governor's Highway Safety Program, in 1993; Distinguished Service Award, by the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, in 1996; Legislator of the Year, by North Carolina Citizen Action, for "your years of outstanding leadership and dedication to the fair protection of North Carolina families, workers and environment", in 1996; Certificate of Commendation, by the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, for "persistence and legislative commitment to improving mental health in North Carolina", in 1997; Governor's Award as Legislator of the Year, by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, in 1998; Friend of Education Award, by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators, in 1999; Public Service Award, by the Child Care Services Association, for "outstanding advocacy and service on behalf of young children and their families", in 2003.
External links
- Joehackney.com official site
- North Carolina General Assembly - Representative Joe Hackney (Dem) official legislative website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Joe Hackney (NC) profile
- Follow the Money - Joe Hackney
- News & Observer "Under the Dome" Profile
- News & Observer: Hackney has shifted from left toward middle, Andrew Curliss, January 11, 2007
- News & Observer: Hackney governs House from the middle, Dan Kane, July 6, 2007