Joe Hackney
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| Joe Hackney | |
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Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 54th district |
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| In office 1981 - |
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| Born | September 23, 1945 Silk Hope, North Carolina |
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| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Betsy Hackney |
| Residence | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Profession | attorney, farmer |
Joe Hackney (born September 23, 1945 in Chatham County, NC) 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 (2007-2008 session) serving in his fourteenth term in the state House of Representatives and is the Speaker of the House.
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[edit] Early life
Joe 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 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.[1] While in undergrad at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, he wrote his Honors Thesis on the history of the North Carolina corrections system.
[edit] Family
He married to Betsy Strandberg of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; they have two grown children, Dan and Will.
Joe is the great great grandson of Daniel Hackney, who represented Chatham County in the North Carolina House of Commons in the 1840's and 1850's.
[edit] Career
Joe has been a partner, in the Chapel Hill law firm of Epting & Hackney, since 1974. He practiced law for 33 years there; currently emphasizing civil litigation and domestic relations.
In addition to law, Joe operates the family beef cattle farm in Chatham County with brother, Jack Hackney.
[edit] Accomplishments
He served two terms (four years) as Speaker pro tempore 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. [2] [3] He was elected speaker when the new legislature convened on January 24, with all 68 House Democrats supporting him. [4]
In 2007, the National Conference of State Legislatures announced that it would award Hackney its Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award. Hackney is currently vice president of the NCSL and will become its president-elect at its annual meeting in August. [5]
Joe is consistently rated in top ten for effectiveness (out of 120) by peers in North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research survey, when House is in Democratic control; 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.
He has sponsored many pieces of significant legislation, including but not limited to, 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 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
Joe 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: "Your Commitment To Environmental Excellence In The Triangle Area and Throughout North Carolina Was Unsurpassed in The 1985 General Assembly"
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, for "Leadership And Legislation For The Mentally Ill" Triangle Conservation Award, by the Triangle Land Conservancy, in 1987, "For His Appreciation Of The Necessity Of Conservation Of Natural Resources In An Urbanizing Environment And His Efforts To Support His Convictions"
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, for contributions to "safety, security, and justice in North Carolina"
Service Award, by the Joint Orange Chatham Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors, in 1988, "In Appreciation Of Distinguished Service And Support, 1981-1988"
Service Award, by the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club, in 1988, for "Outstanding Service and Achievement on Behalf of the Environment"
Legislative Award, by the North Carolina Chapter, American Planning Association, in 1989, for "Outstanding Efforts Toward Further Planning in North Carolina"
Legislative Award, by the N.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the N.C. Pediatric Society, in 1989, "In Recognition Of His Outstanding Contribution To The Health And Welfare Of Children In North Carolina"
Appreciation Award, by the Chatham County Advisory Council of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service, in 1990, "In Grateful Appreciation For Support Of Extension Research Project"
"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, for "Innovative Achievements, Commitment and Continuing Dedication To Recycling Efforts In North Carolina"
Appreciation Award, by the North Carolina Property Mappers Association, in 1993, for sponsoring and supporting property mapping legislation for North Carolina;
Jake Alexander Public Service Award, by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Driving Drunk, and the Governor's Highway Safety Program, in 1993, for "outstanding efforts to help in the fight to reduce drunk and drugged driving in North Carolina"
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
[edit] 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
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