{{Short description|72nd governor of North Carolina from 2001 to 2009}} {{Use American English|date = January 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date = January 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mike Easley | image = Three former North Carolina governors and a transportation secretary (cropped).jpg | caption = Easley in 2011 | order = 72nd [[Governor of North Carolina]] | term_start = January 6, 2001 | term_end = January 10, 2009 | lieutenant = Bev Perdue | predecessor = [[Jim Hunt]] | successor = [[Bev Perdue]] | office2 = 49th [[Attorney General of North Carolina]] | governor2 = [[Jim Hunt]] | term_start2 = January 9, 1993 | term_end2 = January 6, 2001 | predecessor2 = [[Lacy Thornburg]] | successor2 = [[Roy Cooper]] | birth_name = Michael Francis Easley | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|3|23}} | birth_place = [[Rocky Mount, North Carolina]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | spouse = {{marriage|[[Mary P. Easley|Mary Pipines]]|1980}} | children = [[Michael F. Easley Jr.]] | education = [[Belmont Abbey College]] (attended)<br>[[University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[North Carolina Central University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]]) | signature = Mike Easley signature.jpg }} '''Michael Francis Easley''' (born March 23, 1950) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the [[List of Governors of North Carolina|72nd governor]] of [[North Carolina]] from 2001 to 2009. He is the first<ref name="ncbar">{{cite web|first1=Anne|last1=Blythe|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/04/3833824/north-carolina-bar-reinstates.html#.Uu2KGXddXHI |title=North Carolina Bar reinstates Mike Easley's law license |date=2013-02-04 |access-date=2014-02-01 |work=Charlotte Observer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203233626/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/04/3833824/north-carolina-bar-reinstates.html |archive-date=2014-02-03 }}</ref><ref name="Halloran">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2014/01/22/265041104/governors-gone-wild-a-recent-history|title=Governors Gone Wild: A Recent History|last=Halloran|first=Liz|date=2014-01-22|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> governor of North Carolina to have been convicted of a felony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dig.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/docs/Easley_Plea_Docs_112310.pdf|title=State of North Carolina v. Michael F. Easley|date=2010-11-23|website=ABC11.com|pages=1–4, 6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029000224/http://dig.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/docs/Easley_Plea_Docs_112310.pdf|archive-date=2019-10-29|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> The conviction was later expunged by the Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Wake County.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/state/2022/11/29/former-n-c-governor-mike-easley-leans-on-southport-as-a-safe-haven/69610730007/ | title='My legacy is I don't want one': Former governor Mike Easley finds Southport as safe spot }}</ref> A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Easley was North Carolina's first [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] governor.<ref>[[Thomas Burke (governor)|Thomas Burke]] was the first Catholic governor of North Carolina; see Weeks, ''Church and State in North Carolina'', Ch. V; [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11108a.htm CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: North Carolina<!-- Bot generated title -->]. Easley was the first elected by popular vote.</ref>
==Early life and education== Mike Easley was born on March 23, 1950, in [[Rocky Mount, North Carolina]], to Henry Alexander Easley and Huldah Marie Easley. He grew up on his family's 60-acre farm in [[Nash County, North Carolina|Nash County]] and was one of seven children in a large [[Irish Catholic]] family.<ref name= ncpedia>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/easley-michael-francis-research|title = Easley, Michael Francis (From Research Branch, NC OA&H) | NCpedia}}</ref> Easley attended a local Catholic school before transferring and later graduating from [[Rocky Mount Senior High School]] in 1968.{{sfn|Marcus|1994|p=197}}<ref name= ncpedia/> Easley attended [[Belmont Abbey College]] for two years before transferring to the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], where he earned a degree with honors in political science in 1972.<ref name= ncpedia/> While at UNC he was a member of [[Phi Gamma Delta]] fraternity. He then attended the [[North Carolina Central University School of Law]], earning his J.D. degree, with honors, in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/northcarolinaman19971998nort/page/222/mode/2up|title = North Carolina manual [serial]| year=1916 }}</ref> While a law student, Easley served as managing editor of the school's Law Review.<ref name= ncpedia/>
==Family== Easley is married to [[Mary P. Easley|Mary Easley]] (née Pipines), who worked in the [[Provost (education)|Provost]]'s Office at [[North Carolina State University]] until June 8, 2009. She is a former law professor at [[North Carolina Central University]] and also worked for ten years as a [[prosecutor]]. The two have one son, [[Michael F. Easley Jr.]]
==Career== [[File:Mike Easley NC Attorney General 1992.jpg|thumb|upright|Easley was elected Attorney General in 1992]] Easley became an assistant district attorney for the 13th Judicial District in 1976.{{sfn|Marcus|1994|p=197}} He was elected [[District Attorney]], one of the youngest ever in the state, in 1982.<ref>[http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=fcb6ae3effb81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628223228/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=fcb6ae3effb81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD |date=2011-06-28 }}</ref>
A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Easley ran unsuccessfully in that party's 1990 primary for the [[U.S. Senate]]; he lost to former [[List of mayors of Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte mayor]] [[Harvey Gantt]], who himself lost to incumbent [[Jesse Helms]]. Easley was elected [[North Carolina Attorney General]] in 1992{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} and sworn in on January 9, 1993.<ref>{{cite news| last = Richardson| first = Jason| title = Council of State officials accept responsibilities during ceremony| newspaper = The Daily Tar Heel| volume = 100| issue = 121 | pages = 5, 11| date = January 11, 1993| url = https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92068245/1993-01-11/ed-1/seq-5/}}</ref> He won reelection in 1996. In the 1996 election for attorney general, Easley garnered 59.07% of the vote, compared with opponent Robert H. Edmonds Jr.'s 40.93% of votes. This represented a margin of victory of 446,169 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/PastElect/results9/attygen.htm |title=Attorney General |access-date=2010-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081126222412/http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/Elec/Results/PastElect/results9/attygen.htm |archive-date=2008-11-26 }}</ref>
In [[2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election|2000]], Easley ran to succeed the term-limited Hunt as [[Governor of North Carolina]]. He defeated incumbent [[Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Dennis A. Wicker]] in the Democratic primary, and then successfully challenged [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Richard Vinroot]], former mayor of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], in the general election. Easley was reelected in [[North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]], running against [[New Hanover County, North Carolina|New Hanover County]] state senator [[Patrick J. Ballantine]].
===Governorship=== {{BLP one source|date=March 2019}} In the closing weeks of the 2000 gubernatorial race, actor [[Andy Griffith]] filmed an ad endorsing Easley, which some observers believe led to Easley's victory, called the "Mayberry Miracle".<ref name="news observer2">{{cite news | title = Perdue tries to whistle up a Mayberry miracle | newspaper = Raleigh News and Observer | date = 2008-10-28 | url = http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/1271433.html | access-date = 2008-10-28 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
[[File:President George W. Bush Meets with the National Governors Association.jpg|thumb|upright|220px|Easley with President [[George W. Bush]], Nebraska governor [[Dave Heineman]], and New York governor [[Eliot Spitzer]] in 2007.]] The "Learn and Earn" program received the [[Innovations in American Government Award]] from [[Harvard Kennedy School]]. Presenting the award, Harvard noted that in "2006-2007, rates of grade promotion and graduation for Learn and Earn participants were higher than the statewide average, with nearly half the Learn and Earn high schools seeing 100 percent promotion rates". Harvard also observed that these numbers have not "been skewed by "creaming" that is counting of only high scoring children. The program purposely targets kids at risk, those for whom English is a second language[,] and those who would be first-generation college students."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/ash-awards |title=Harvard Kennedy School - Innovations in American Government Finalists Announced by Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Institute |access-date=January 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127183211/http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/ash-awards |archive-date=November 27, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Easley also initiated a program to enable North Carolina students to attain a debt-free undergraduate education by receiving EARN Grants of up to $8,000 over two years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.learnandearn.nc.gov/earnGrants.aspx |title=NC Learn and Earn - EARN Grants |access-date=2011-01-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228235157/http://www.learnandearn.nc.gov/earnGrants.aspx |archive-date=2011-02-28 }}</ref>
His tenure faced budget shortfalls, tough economic times, and natural disasters such as [[hurricane]]s and [[flood]]s. Easley received mixed reviews on his handling of [[fiscal policy|fiscal]] problems in the state. His supporters claimed many of the budget shortfall situations were created before he even took office, during the Hunt administration, while his detractors criticized his support of raising sales taxes multiple times to cover the cost of new state programs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} During his administration, Easley confronted the [[North Carolina General Assembly|state legislature]] on numerous occasions. Easley is the first North Carolina governor to use the power of [[Veto override|veto]], which voters gave the governor's office in 1996. First, in November 2002, Easley vetoed legislation related to unqualified appointments to various boards and commissions. In June 2003, he vetoed a bill that stripped the State Board of Education of its authority to set teacher standards. In August 2003, he vetoed HB 917 which raised fees charged by finance companies. In July 2004, he vetoed HB 429 which would have required local governments to make cash payments to [[billboard]] owners of up to five times the annual revenue generated by the billboard upon its removal. In March 2005, he vetoed SB 130 which would have conveyed state property. In September 2005, he vetoed HB 706 which would have affected teacher standards. In August 2007 he vetoed HB 1761, a controversial financial incentives bill which would have awarded up to 40 million dollars to companies within the state. Easley has used his veto power a total of nine times as of 2008.<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/easleys_nine_vetoes News & Observer: Easley's Nine Vetoes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327205748/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/easleys_nine_vetoes |date=2014-03-27 }}</ref> His ninth veto was the first to be [[Veto override|overridden]] by the legislature in North Carolina history.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1195902.html News & Observer: House overrides boat veto] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722012126/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1195902.html |date=2009-07-22 }}</ref>
[[File:Mike Easley inauguration 2.jpg|thumb|Easley speaking at his second inauguration, 2005]] Easley ran for a second term as governor in 2004. He defeated [[Rickey Kipfer]], his only opponent in the Democratic primary, and faced Republican former state senator [[Patrick Ballantine]] and Libertarian [[Barbara Howe]] in November 2004. Though the state voted for Republicans [[George W. Bush]] for [[President of the United States|president]] and [[Richard Burr]] as [[United States Senator]], Easley won his second term as governor and Democrats reestablished control over both chambers of the state legislature (the House had been split equally between the two major parties since 2003).
He also supported a controversial statewide [[North Carolina Education Lottery|lottery]], which was ultimately approved on August 31, 2005, after Lieutenant Governor [[Bev Perdue]] cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.<ref name="indy weekly">{{cite news |title = Looking for real reform in the governor's race |newspaper = [[Independent Weekly]] |date = 2008-10-15 |url = http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A266928 |access-date = 2008-11-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081123012755/http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A266928 |archive-date = 2008-11-23 |url-status = dead }}</ref> He has stated that proceeds from the lottery will be used for much-needed educational programs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} Easley presided over 27 executions, including the 1,000th after the [[death penalty]] was reintroduced in the [[Capital punishment in the United States|United States]] in 1976. He, however, granted [[Commutation of sentence|commutation]] to two [[death row]] inmates.<ref>[http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=126 Clemency<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The North Carolina governor has the sole right to commute death sentences imposed by a state court.
Governor Easley declined to run against [[Elizabeth Dole]] for her Senate seat in 2008.<ref name="prospect">{{cite magazine | title = Is the Southern Strategy Dead? | magazine = American Prospect | date = 2008-10-24 | url = http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=is_the_southern_strategy_dead | access-date = 2008-10-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810205539/http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=is_the_southern_strategy_dead | archive-date = August 10, 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> He was considered to be a possible candidate for U.S. Senate to run against Senator [[Richard Burr]] in 2010, but he had strongly denied interest in the race. The ''Raleigh News & Observer'' speculated in October 2006 that Easley was going to act like a presidential contender in order to position himself for the vice presidential nomination or a [[Cabinet of the United States|cabinet]] post.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/659/story/501868.html Newsobserver.com]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2008 [[North Carolina Highway Patrol K-9 incident|in a case that drew international attention]], a North Carolina [[State police|state trooper]] was filmed hanging and kicking a [[police dog]] he was training. After the trooper's superiors recommended minor punishment, Easley's office recommended that the trooper be fired.<ref name="news observer4">{{cite news|title=Kicked Dog Turns Up in Trooper's Yard |newspaper=Raleigh News and Observer |date=2008-10-31 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1276042.html |access-date=2008-11-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103060748/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1276042.html |archive-date=November 3, 2008 }}</ref> The trooper sued the state after the Highway Patrol refused his reinstatement. In 2010, a superior court judge ruled in the troopers favor and he was reinstated with back pay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ruling: Rehire fired K-9 state trooper - CharlotteObserver.com |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/24/1862093/ruling-rehire-fired-k-9-state.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128023147/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/24/1862093/ruling-rehire-fired-k-9-state.html |archive-date=2010-11-28 |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=www.charlotteobserver.com}}</ref>
As governor, Easley was a member of the [[National Governors Association]], the [[Southern Governors' Association]], and the [[Democratic Governors Association]]. However, he was known for being "reclusive" while in office.<ref name="N&O recluse">{{cite news|title=Easley's Portrait Out of Sight, as He Is |newspaper=Raleigh [[News & Observer]] |date=2009-06-27 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1585709.html |access-date=2009-06-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035148/http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1585709.html |archive-date=October 2, 2012 }}</ref>
He was succeeded as governor by his [[Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina|Lieutenant Governor]], [[Bev Perdue|Beverly Perdue]], who defeated [[Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte Mayor]] [[Pat McCrory]] in a [[North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2008|close race]]. After leaving office, Easley went to work part-time promoting [[early college high schools]] and similar programs for the [[Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation]].<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/easley_has_a_new_job News & Observer: Easley has a new job] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174428/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/easley_has_a_new_job |date=2011-07-14 }}</ref>
==Political positions== During the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2004|2004 Democratic primaries]], he supported North Carolina Senator [[John Edwards]].
In the 2008 campaigns, Easley initially endorsed the presidential candidacy of Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] on April 28, 2008. After Senator [[Barack Obama]] won the Democratic nomination, Easley endorsed him against Republican nominee [[John McCain]].<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/quotes/easley_endorses_obama News & Observer: Easley endorses Obama] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401170006/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/quotes/easley_endorses_obama |date=2012-04-01 }}</ref>
==Controversies and campaign finance lawsuit== Easley was faced with controversies in 2006 stemming from campaign and overseas travel.<ref name="prospect"/><ref name="news observer3">{{cite news|title=Audit Tears into Trips to Europe |newspaper=Raleigh [[News and Observer]] |date=31 October 2008 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1276054.html |access-date=2008-10-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103050209/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1276054.html |archive-date=November 3, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="wral">{{cite news | title = Easley defends cost of overseas travel | publisher = [[WRAL-TV]] | date = 2008-06-30 | url = http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/3130945/ | access-date = 2008-10-27 }}</ref> Easley's wife, Mary Easley, took two trips out of the country, one to [[France]] and one to [[Russia]] and [[Estonia]], for cultural exchanges. Republican critics called the trips overly lavish in a time of economic downturn for the state.<ref name="wral"/> However, the director of the [[North Carolina Museum of Art]] defended Mary Easley's trips as having helped the museum receive loaned art items from [[Hermitage Museum|The Hermitage]] in [[St. Petersburg]]. Mrs. Easley's efforts also resulted in the [[North Carolina Museum of Art]]'s obtaining a collection of [[Auguste Rodin]]'s work valued at $35 million,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/rodin-sculptures-hig-6800/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427051646/http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/rodin-sculptures-hig-6800/ | archive-date=2010-04-27 | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Rodin Sculptures Highlight Reopening of North Carolina Museum of Art | first=Christopher | last=Reynolds}}</ref> and in the construction of a new [[Greek art]] wing for the museum.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704895204575321180296043778 | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Julie V. | last=Iovine | title=Easily Accessible Pleasures | date=2010-06-30}}</ref>
More controversy surfaced months after Easley left office in January 2009. According to Raleigh's ''News & Observer,'' the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] ordered the [[North Carolina Highway Patrol]] to produce all records involving private air travel for Easley and his family. The newspaper reported that Easley may have violated campaign laws.<ref name="N&O">{{cite news | title = Easley's secret flights skirted the law | newspaper = Raleigh [[News & Observer]] | date = 2009-05-09 | url = http://www.newsobserver.com/2973/story/1520021.html | access-date = 2009-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831042558/http://www.newsobserver.com/2973/story/1520021.html|archive-date=2009-08-31}}</ref>
The North Carolina State Board of Elections opened hearings into Easley's conduct on October 26, 2009.<ref>[http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/158201.html News & Observer: Easley hearing to bare politics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027081444/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/158201.html |date=2009-10-27 }}</ref>
Following a two-year federal and state investigation into campaign finance irregularities, Easley entered an ''Alford'' plea to a single [[felony]] violation of state [[campaign finance]] law, accepting responsibility for his campaign's failure to report that he took a $1,600 helicopter ride with a supporter in October 2006. While Easley did not admit guilt, he "acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to convict him of a crime."<ref name=":0" /> He pled guilty by entering an [[Alford plea|''Alford'' plea]] to a single state campaign finance violation. He paid a $1,000 "community penalty."<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/822037/easley-enters-plea-to-felony-campaign.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124175835/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/822037/easley-enters-plea-to-felony-campaign.html |archive-date=2010-11-24|title=Easley enters plea to felony campaign finance charge|access-date=2020-03-27|website=newsobserver.com |first1=J Andrew|last1=Curliss|first2=Anne|last2=Blythe|date=2010-11-24}}</ref> He became the first <ref name="ncbar"/> <ref name="Halloran"/> governor of North Carolina to have been convicted of a felony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dig.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/docs/Easley_Plea_Docs_112310.pdf|title=State of North Carolina v. Michael F. Easley|date=2010-11-23|website=ABC11.com|pages=1–4, 6|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029000224/http://dig.abclocal.go.com/wtvd/docs/Easley_Plea_Docs_112310.pdf|archive-date=2019-10-29|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> Federal officials ended their investigation because of the plea.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/822037/easley-enters-plea-to-felony-campaign.html |title=Easley enters plea to felony campaign finance charge |last=Curliss |first=J. Andrew |work=[[News & Observer]] |date=2010-11-23 |access-date=2010-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124175835/http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/822037/easley-enters-plea-to-felony-campaign.html |archive-date=2010-11-24 }}</ref> Following the conviction, Easley's law license was suspended but formally restored on appeal in January 2013.<ref name="ncbar"/> On January 4, 2013, the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Wake County granted Easley a [[Certificate of relief from disabilities]].<ref name="web.co.wake.nc.us">{{cite web| url = http://web.co.wake.nc.us/courts/index.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010719010825/http://web.co.wake.nc.us/courts/Index.html| archive-date = 2001-07-19| title = Wake County Clerk of Superior Court}}</ref> The conviction was later expunged by the Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Wake County.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/state/2022/11/29/former-n-c-governor-mike-easley-leans-on-southport-as-a-safe-haven/69610730007/ | title='My legacy is I don't want one': Former governor Mike Easley finds Southport as safe spot }}</ref>
== Current activities ==
Easley is a practicing attorney in North Carolina. He represents businesses and corporations and has been involved in several significant civil trials. Politically, in 2018, he joined former North Carolina Governors in successfully opposing state constitutional amendments that would have weakened the powers of the governor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article216454675.html|title=NC governors campaign against constitutional amendments|work=News & Observer}}</ref> He also joined in the filing of amicus briefs to oppose gerrymandered congressional and legislative districts in North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2019/08/07/bipartisan-group-of-former-governors-calls-on-court-to-root-out-partisan-gerrymandering/|title=Bipartisan group of former governors calls on court to 'root out' partisan gerrymandering|date=2019-08-07|website=The Progressive Pulse|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Easley is a fan of [[NASCAR]]. He was involved in a crash at [[Lowe's Motor Speedway]] near [[Concord, North Carolina]], in 2003. He was behind the wheel of [[Jimmie Johnson]]'s #48 [[Lowe's]] [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]], when it hit a retaining wall going 120 mph. He was not seriously injured, since he was wearing a [[HANS device|head-and-neck restraint]] at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2003-05-09-governor-crash_x.htm|title=N.C. governor not hurt in crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway|work=[[USA Today]]|date=2003-05-09|access-date=2010-11-23}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mikeeasley.org/wordpress/easley-wont-be-thrown-off-track/#more-89] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20080905210332/http://www.mikeeasley.org/wordpress/easley-wont-be-thrown-off-track/|date=September 5, 2008}}</ref> He is also a fan of the cartoon ''[[King of the Hill]]'', and while governor, instructed his pollster to separate the state's voters into those who watch the show and those who don't.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lockerroom.johnlocke.org/2005/06/27/easley-as-boomhauer/|title=Easley as Boomhauer|date=June 27, 2005}}</ref> Easley reasoned that his constituents' ideologies were similar to characters on the show, and would base the explanation of his issues on whether or not the ''King of the Hill'' characters would understand them or not.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@mofgimmers/would-hank-hill-like-donald-trump-18f40dc1d2a6|title = Would Hank Hill like Donald Trump?|date = November 16, 2018}}</ref>
Easley is also an avid amateur [[Woodworking|woodworker]], and appeared on an episode of ''[[The Woodwright's Shop]]'' where he made a [[walnut]] table.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/619499.html |title=Easley's Handmade Table Goes for $3,400 |first=Ryan Teague |last=Beckwith |date=March 24, 2009 |work=Under the Dome |publisher=[[The News & Observer]] |quote=The two-term Democrat, who left office earlier this year, had made the simple walnut table on a special episode of "The Woodwright's Shop" in 2007. }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin |title=[[North Carolina Attorney General]] Election 1992}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Easley |votes = 1,530,858 |percentage = 62.96 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Joe Dean |votes = 900,573 |percentage = 37.04 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin |title=[[North Carolina Attorney General]] Election 1996}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Easley |votes = 1,453,196 |percentage = 59.07 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = [[Robert Edmunds Jr.]] |votes = 1,007,027 |percentage = 40.93 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=North Carolina Gubernatorial Election 2000}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Easley |votes = 1,492,170 |percentage = 52.4 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = [[Richard Vinroot]] |votes = 1,335,862 |percentage = 44.2 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin |title=[[North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2004|North Carolina Gubernatorial Election 2004]]}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Easley (Incumbent) |votes = 1,939,154 |percentage = 56.4 |change = +4.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = [[Patrick Ballantine]] |votes = 1,495,021 |percentage = 43.2 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
== Works cited == * {{cite book| editor-last = Marcus| editor-first = Lisa A.| title = North Carolina Manual 1993–1994| publisher = North Carolina Secretary of State| date = 1994| location = Raleigh| url = https://www.carolana.com/NC/NC_Manuals/NC_Manual_1993_1994.pdf| oclc = 244121350}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081202011233/http://projects.newsobserver.com/dome/profiles/mike_easley Raleigh News & Observer biography] *''Follow the Money'' - Mike Easley **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=92867 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=67844 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=8352 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=40517 2000] Governor campaign contributions **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=19246 1996] Attorney General campaign contributions * {{C-SPAN|1019778}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Lacy Thornburg]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[North Carolina Attorney General|Attorney General of North Carolina]]|years=1992, 1996}} {{s-aft|after=[[Roy Cooper]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Jim Hunt]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of North Carolina]]|years=[[2000 North Carolina gubernatorial election|2000]], [[2004 North Carolina gubernatorial election|2004]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Bev Perdue]]}} |- {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[[Lacy Thornburg]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[North Carolina Attorney General|Attorney General of North Carolina]]|years=1993–2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Roy Cooper]]}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jim Hunt]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of North Carolina]]|years=2001–2009}} {{s-aft|after=[[Bev Perdue]]}} |- {{s-prec|usa}} {{s-bef|before=[[James G. Martin]]|as=Former Governor}} {{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=}} {{s-aft|after=[[Bev Perdue]]|as=Former Governor}} {{s-end}}
{{Governors of North Carolina}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Easley, Mike}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians]] [[Category:American people convicted of campaign finance violations]] [[Category:American prosecutors]] [[Category:Catholics from North Carolina]] [[Category:Democratic Party governors of North Carolina]] [[Category:Easley family|Mike]] [[Category:Lawyers from Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:North Carolina attorneys general]] [[Category:North Carolina Central University alumni]] [[Category:North Carolina politicians convicted of crimes]] [[Category:People from Rocky Mount, North Carolina]] [[Category:Politicians from Charlotte, North Carolina]] [[Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni]]