James B. Black

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Rep. James Black

James "Jim" Boyce Black (born March 25, 1935) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's one hundredth House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County. An optometrist from Matthews, North Carolina, Black was elected to 11 (non-consecutive) terms in the House of Representatives, and served as Speaker of the House from January 1999 through the end of 2006. He is tied with Liston B. Ramsey for longest tenure as Speaker in state history.

Black earned an O.D. from the Southern College of Optometry.^[1] He served in the United States Navy and in the United States Naval Reserve.^[2]

[edit] Scandal and fall from power

In 2005 and 2006, Black was linked to a series of scandals involving, among other things, the party-switching Rep. Michael P. Decker, and the North Carolina lottery, established the previous year. The proceedings led to convictions for several involved figures, including Decker, lobbyist Kevin L. Geddings and political aide Meredith Norris. Decker testified under oath that Black was a "co-conspirator" in the effort to bribe him to switch parties and support Black for speaker. Although Black was not indicted while serving as speaker, the situation drew ire from the North Carolina Republican Party, which involved the scandal in their November election campaigns.^[3]

Black was re-elected in November 2006, but by the narrowest of margins, over Republican political novice Hal Jordan. Meanwhile, Democrats increased their majority in the House.

In December 2006, Black announced that he would not seek another term as Speaker.^[4] That was followed in January 2007 by his announcement that he would not run for re-election to the House in 2008.^[5]

Black pleaded guilty to a federal charge of public corruption on February 15, 2007, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and $250,000. He admitted to soliciting funds from chiropractors in exchange for favorable legislation. The specific charge to which Black admitted came as a shock to many state legislators and Democratic Party officials who had been asserting, as recently as a day earlier, that anything wrong Black had done had been intended for the good of the state and the party rather than personal advancement or gain, as the admission now seems to indicate. ^[6] As a result, he resigned from the General Assembly on Feb. 14, 2007, since felons are not allowed to hold public office in North Carolina. Black's supporters and loyalists in the legislature are also alarmed that federal prosecutors have said the plea deal with Black involves his assistance in their continued investigation into political corruption in North Carolina government. Black's agreement with federal prosecutors did not protect him from state prosecution.^[7] Indeed, days after his federal plea, he entered into a separate Alford plea agreement with the district attorney of Wake County, the capital county, on charges of bribing Michael Decker and obstruction of justice.^[8]