Martin Nesbitt
Encyclopedia
Martin Luther Nesbitt, Jr. is the Minority Leader
of the North Carolina Senate
. He represents the 49th district (Buncombe County
). A Democrat and an attorney from Asheville
, North Carolina
, Nesbitt was elected to eleven terms in the state House
before moving to the state senate in 2004.
(who was later incarcerated), found disfavor with Nesbitt after Nesbitt challenged his power in the early 2000s.
In February 2004, Martin Nesbitt was appointed to the North Carolina Senate by Governor Mike Easley
to fill the vacant seat left by the resignation of Steve Metcalf
.
After moving to the Senate, Nesbitt rose to become chairman of the powerful Judiciary I Civil Committee.
Nesbitt was unanimously elected majority leader on November 17, 2009, replacing Tony Rand
. Prior to his election, he received an endorsement from Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight
, a powerful nod in North Carolina politics. After Democrats lost their Senate majority in the 2010 elections, Nesbitt was unanimously elected minority leader
for the next legislature.
in 1970 and his law degree from UNC in 1973. He is married with two grown children.
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...
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...
. He represents the 49th district (Buncombe County
Buncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
). A Democrat and an attorney from Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, 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...
, Nesbitt was elected to eleven terms in the state House
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....
before moving to the state senate in 2004.
Political career
Nesbitt was first appointed to the House in 1979 to fill out the remainder of the term of his mother, Mary Cordell Nesbitt, who held the House seat until her death. Groomed by one of North Carolina's most famous and influential politicians, Liston Ramsey, Nesbitt rose to become an appropriations chairman and top budget writer in the 1990s. Former Speaker of the House Jim BlackJames B. Black
Dr. James "Jim" Boyce Black is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's 100th House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County...
(who was later incarcerated), found disfavor with Nesbitt after Nesbitt challenged his power in the early 2000s.
In February 2004, Martin Nesbitt was appointed to the North Carolina Senate 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...
to fill the vacant seat left by the resignation of Steve Metcalf
Steve Metcalf
Stephen Michael Metcalf is a U.S. lobbyist and former politician. He was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's forty-ninth Senate district, including constituents in Buncombe county....
.
After moving to the Senate, Nesbitt rose to become chairman of the powerful Judiciary I Civil Committee.
Nesbitt was unanimously elected majority leader on November 17, 2009, replacing Tony Rand
Tony Rand
Anthony E. "Tony" Rand is an attorney and former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's nineteenth Senate district from his appointment in 1981 until he unsuccessfully ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 1988, and from 1995 until his...
. Prior to his election, he received an endorsement from Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight
Marc Basnight
Marc Basnight served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing the 1st District, from 1984 through his resignation just before the start of what would have been his 14th term in 2011...
, a powerful nod in North Carolina politics. After Democrats lost their Senate majority in the 2010 elections, Nesbitt was unanimously elected 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...
for the next legislature.
Committees
- Appropriations/Base Budget
- Commerce
- Finance
- Judiciary I
- Mental Health & Youth Services
- Redistricting
- Rules and Operations of the Senate
- State and Local Government
Education and personal life
Nesbitt earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity 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...
in 1970 and his law degree from UNC in 1973. He is married with two grown children.