Jerry Meek
Encyclopedia
Jerry Meek is a North Carolina
attorney and Democratic Party
activist who was the chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party
from 2005 through 2009.
Jerry Meek became involved in Democratic Party politics at age 13, as a volunteer for Democratic nominees in the 1984 election. As a teenager, he served as President of the State and National Teen Democrats. At age 17, he was elected as the youngest delegate ever elected to a Democratic National Convention
.
After graduating from high school, he attended Duke University
. Three and a half years later, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa
from Duke, double majoring in Economics and Political Science. Meek then won a fellowship to study at the University of Notre Dame
, where he completed a Masters degree in Government. In the fall of 1995, Meek returned to North Carolina to attend Duke Law School, completing his law degree in 1997.
While in college, Meek served as a precinct Chair in the Cumberland County
Democratic Party and as an officer in the 7th Congressional District Democratic Party. At age 25, Meek was elected Chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Party, an office he held while commuting from Fayetteville to Durham to attend Duke Law School. In 1998, Meek was the Democratic nominee for the North Carolina House of Representatives
from Cumberland County's 18th House District.
Between 1999 and 2002, Meek was a partner with a Dallas, Texas based law firm, practicing in the area of mental health law. In 2002, Meek returned to work for a Fayetteville
firm, while running the Cumberland County Democratic Party's coordinated campaign for the fall of 2002 election.
In February 2003, Meek was elected First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. In February 2005, he was elected Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party over Ed Turlington
. He was unanimously re-elected to another 2-year term in January 2007.
As State Chair, Meek worked aggressively to rebuild the State Party’s grassroots network, to expand services and support to local party organizations, to make better use of technology, and to encourage new people – especially young people – to become active in the Democratic Party. He retired as party chair in 2009, and was succeeded by David Young
.
Meek is married to state Rep. Tricia Cotham
. He is a partner with Poyner & Spruill, LLP, working out of the Charlotte and Raleigh offices. With a keen interest in international affairs, he has lived in Central America and traveled to over forty countries around the world. He is a licensed pilot and airplane owner.
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...
attorney and Democratic Party
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...
activist who was the chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party
North Carolina Democratic Party
The North Carolina Democratic Party is the North Carolina affiliate of the national Democratic Party in the United States. It is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are located in the historic Goodwin house which is located in the downtown area of Raleigh at 220 Hillsborough Street...
from 2005 through 2009.
Jerry Meek became involved in Democratic Party politics at age 13, as a volunteer for Democratic nominees in the 1984 election. As a teenager, he served as President of the State and National Teen Democrats. At age 17, he was elected as the youngest delegate ever elected to a Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
.
After graduating from high school, he attended Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. Three and a half years later, he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
from Duke, double majoring in Economics and Political Science. Meek then won a fellowship to study at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, where he completed a Masters degree in Government. In the fall of 1995, Meek returned to North Carolina to attend Duke Law School, completing his law degree in 1997.
While in college, Meek served as a precinct Chair in the Cumberland County
Cumberland County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 302,963 people, 107,358 households, and 77,619 families residing in the county. The population density was 464 people per square mile . There were 118,425 housing units at an average density of 181 per square mile...
Democratic Party and as an officer in the 7th Congressional District Democratic Party. At age 25, Meek was elected Chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Party, an office he held while commuting from Fayetteville to Durham to attend Duke Law School. In 1998, Meek was the Democratic nominee for 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....
from Cumberland County's 18th House District.
Between 1999 and 2002, Meek was a partner with a Dallas, Texas based law firm, practicing in the area of mental health law. In 2002, Meek returned to work for a Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
firm, while running the Cumberland County Democratic Party's coordinated campaign for the fall of 2002 election.
In February 2003, Meek was elected First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. In February 2005, he was elected Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party over Ed Turlington
Ed Turlington
Ed Turlington is an American lawyer and Democratic Party activist. He is an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee, since his election in 2009....
. He was unanimously re-elected to another 2-year term in January 2007.
As State Chair, Meek worked aggressively to rebuild the State Party’s grassroots network, to expand services and support to local party organizations, to make better use of technology, and to encourage new people – especially young people – to become active in the Democratic Party. He retired as party chair in 2009, and was succeeded by David Young
David Young (NC politician)
David Wallace Young is a businessman who served as Chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party from 2009 through 2011....
.
Meek is married to state Rep. Tricia Cotham
Tricia Cotham
Patricia Ann Cotham is a North Carolina educator and Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 100th House district . In March 2007, she was selected by local Democratic Party leaders to replace state Representative James B. Black, who had resigned...
. He is a partner with Poyner & Spruill, LLP, working out of the Charlotte and Raleigh offices. With a keen interest in international affairs, he has lived in Central America and traveled to over forty countries around the world. He is a licensed pilot and airplane owner.