BLACK STATE LEADERS
PAY TRIBUTE TO GOV.
JIM HUNT & LEGACY
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
African-American leaders across North Carolina joined the many who paid heartfelt tribute to former Governor Jim Hunt upon word of his passing at the age of 88.
“Gov. Jim Hunt was one of the greatest governors to ever serve North Carolina. His compassion, care, and commitment to the people of our state will be felt for generations to come,” said Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC-12) in a statement after his daughter, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, announced the former governor’s death on Thursday, December 18th.
“My prayers go out to his family, friends, and loved ones,” Rep. Adams continued. “Gov. Hunt will be missed, but his legacy will never be forgotten.”
Indeed James Baxter Hunt Jr,, North Carolina’s longest serving governor, will forever be remembered for his leadership in improving public education, promoting technology and economic development, and giving African-Americans prime opportunities in advisory and governing roles during his unprecedented 16 years in office.
Hunt was a proponent of the so-called “New South.”
“Governor Jim Hunt was a force of nature that shaped North Carolina for the better," said state Senator Dan Blue (D-Wake). “The Hunt administration was a beacon of progress in the South, showing the region and the country what is possible if we fight for what is right and invest in future generations.”
“I was honored to have worked along side him and to call him a friend,” Blue continued. “My prayers are with his family as we all mourn his passing. Rest easy Governor Hunt.”
Born in Greensboro, Hunt grew up as a farm boy in Wilson County, later becoming perhaps the most skilled, visionary and powerful North Carolina politician in history. After being elected lieutenant governor in 1972, Hunt enjoyed success upon his election as governor in 1976, 1980, 1992 and 1996, and saw himself worthy of the national political stage, like fellow Southern governors Jimmy Carter of Georgia and Bill Clinton of Arkansas, both of whom rose to the presidency.
Under Gov. Hunt, attacking poverty in rural North Carolina was a priority, along with establishing his Smart Start early child education program, and attracting new industries to the state, thus creating new jobs and opportunities. Because of those policies and programs, Hunt, the “education governor,” enjoyed strong support in the black community, particularly after appointing leaders like the late Benjamin Ruffin as a top advisor, and several judicial figures like Henry Frye of Greensboro as the first African-American NC Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court, and later Cheri Beasley to the District Court. She would later rise to become the first black female Chief Justice.
That black community support would be tested when in 1977, during his first-term in office, Hunt refused to pardon the Wilmington Ten - nine blacks and one white falsely convicted of firebombing a white-owned grocery store in Wilmington in 1970. In 1972, the ten were tried, convicted and sentenced to a total of over 200 years in prison.
Upon reviewing the case, Gov. Hunt announced on statewide television in January 1977 that he agreed with the controversial trial verdicts, but felt that the sentences were too long, and commuted them. Hunt drew tremendous criticism from both sides of the controversy, with many surmising that by not pardoning the ten but shortening their sentences, he was being politically expedient.
Because of the worldwide attention to the case at the time, the Wilmington Ten controversy would remain part of Hunt’s political legacy, especially in the black community.
Another highlight of Gov. Jim Hunt’s political career was his 1984 battle to unseat conservative Republican US Senator Jesse Helms. The contest is considered one of the most expensive, and most bruising in American history, ending only when Helms, whose racial politics were well-known, predictably played the race card against Hunt condemning his support for affirmative action, culminating a come-from-behind victory.
As bad as that defeat was, Hunt was able to run twice more for governor and win each time.
“Governor Jim Hunt's extraordinary life of public service and lasting contributions to the people of North Carolina include his tremendous impact on the state judiciary,” said Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls of the NC Supreme Court. “He appointed more African-American judges than any of his predecessors. I will always be grateful for the way he stood with me when I announced my candidacy for the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2018. My condolences to the Hunt family; it is a great loss for all of us."
Funeral services for former Governor James Baxter Hunt Jr. will be held Friday, December 26th at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Wilson.
The public is invited to sign a book of condolence, which will be available at the North Carolina State Capitol beginning Saturday morning.
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NCCU GETS CLEAN
FINANCIAL AUDIT
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
For the first time in three years, North Carolina Central University in Durham has received a clean financial audit from the NC State Auditor’s office.
The zero findings report covers fiscal year 2025, and is the result, the HBCU says, of a comprehensive new financial structure that was implemented over the past 18 months.
NCCU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon was more than happy to tout the Eagle success.
"This clean audit is a testament to the effectiveness of the many difficult, yet necessary decisions made to better organize our financial operations," she said.
It was just just last March when an audit revealed that NCCU had racked up a whopping $45 million in financial errors, forcing an immediate course correction by Dixon and her leadership team.
"Part of what makes our university system so great is we hold the institutions to high standards and strive to bring the very best out of our public universities," said State Auditor Dave Boliek then.. "NCCU’s financial reporting fell far short of the standards expected of our high education institutions, but I’ve had productive meetings with university and UNC system leadership and have confidence NCCU is on a better path."
Those “productive meetings” certainly paid off, resulting in zero financial deficiencies this time around.
"North Carolina Central University has posted a welcomed turnaround from the financial errors previously reported by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor,” wrote State Auditor Boliek. “This year's financial statement audit is a step in the right direction toward managing the University's finances in compliance with accounting standards.”
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