Julia Boseman
Encyclopedia
Julia Boseman is an American politician and a former Democratic
member of the North Carolina Senate
. She represented the state's ninth Senate district, covering all of New Hanover County
, from January 2005 to January 2011.
before going on to North Carolina Central University
in 1992 for a law degree. She has been a practicing attorney ever since.
who had resigned from the senate in order to make an unsuccessful run for Governor
.
In her first Senate term (2005–06), Julia Boseman was ranked the 20th most effective senator (of 50), giving her the highest ranking ever for a first-term female senator and the second highest ever for a freshman. The ratings were published by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research (NCCPPR), which has published biennial surveys ranking the effectiveness of legislators based on the opinions of lobbyists, reporters and legislators themselves since 1978.
She was a candidate for re-election in 2006 and defeated her Republican opponent, Al Roseman, by a margin of 11,000 votes. Her 2008 re-election was closer, with Boseman taking 51.7% of the vote and winning by a margin of about 3,000.
In the 2008 presidential primaries, Boseman was an active supporter of Hillary Clinton. The North Carolina primary, coming late in the process, was unusually high-profile and Boseman travelled the state campaigning with Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton
. In January 2009, Bill Clinton returned the favor, hosting a fundraising reception for Boseman in Raleigh.
Boseman announced in 2009 that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2010. Her senate term ended in January 2011 and she was succeeded by Republican Thom Goolsby.
member of the North Carolina legislature. On the day that Boseman left the legislature in January 2011, an openly gay man – Marcus Brandon
(D–Greensboro) – was sworn in to his first term in the North Carolina House of Representatives
. They are the only two openly LGBT
people to have served in the legislature.
Following her separation from her domestic partner, Boseman had her $1,300,000 home foreclosed on for failure to pay her mortgage in June 2008. In addition, $4,700 in county taxes were owed on the property, although these were later paid in full. During a child custody hearing while under oath, Boseman admitted to the use of marijuana in 2003, prior to being elected in 2004.
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...
member of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
. She represented the state's ninth Senate district, covering all of New Hanover County
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
, from January 2005 to January 2011.
Early life and career
She was born and raised in New Hanover County and attended the University of North Carolina at WilmingtonUniversity of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, sometimes referred to as UNC Wilmington, is a public, co-educational university located in Wilmington, North Carolina...
before going on to 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....
in 1992 for a law degree. She has been a practicing attorney ever since.
Public life
Boseman was elected to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in 2000. In 2004, she ran for the North Carolina Senate and beat Republican incumbent Sen. Woody White by a margin of only 885 votes, 50.55% to 49.45%. White had been appointed six months earlier to finish the term of Sen. Patrick BallantinePatrick 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 had resigned from the senate in order to make an unsuccessful run for Governor
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 her first Senate term (2005–06), Julia Boseman was ranked the 20th most effective senator (of 50), giving her the highest ranking ever for a first-term female senator and the second highest ever for a freshman. The ratings were published by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research (NCCPPR), which has published biennial surveys ranking the effectiveness of legislators based on the opinions of lobbyists, reporters and legislators themselves since 1978.
She was a candidate for re-election in 2006 and defeated her Republican opponent, Al Roseman, by a margin of 11,000 votes. Her 2008 re-election was closer, with Boseman taking 51.7% of the vote and winning by a margin of about 3,000.
In the 2008 presidential primaries, Boseman was an active supporter of Hillary Clinton. The North Carolina primary, coming late in the process, was unusually high-profile and Boseman travelled the state campaigning with Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. In January 2009, Bill Clinton returned the favor, hosting a fundraising reception for Boseman in Raleigh.
Boseman announced in 2009 that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2010. Her senate term ended in January 2011 and she was succeeded by Republican Thom Goolsby.
Personal life
She is notable as the first openly gayComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
member of the North Carolina legislature. On the day that Boseman left the legislature in January 2011, an openly gay man – Marcus Brandon
Marcus Brandon
Marcus Brandon is a politician from Greensboro, North Carolina who serves in the North Carolina House of Representatives. A Democrat, he has represented the 60th district since January 2011.-Early life and career:...
(D–Greensboro) – was sworn in to his first term in 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....
. They are the only two openly LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
people to have served in the legislature.
Following her separation from her domestic partner, Boseman had her $1,300,000 home foreclosed on for failure to pay her mortgage in June 2008. In addition, $4,700 in county taxes were owed on the property, although these were later paid in full. During a child custody hearing while under oath, Boseman admitted to the use of marijuana in 2003, prior to being elected in 2004.