{{Short description|American politician and mayor}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Tom Fetzer | image = Tom Fetzer, mayor of Raleigh, at college Republicans meeting.png | office = Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party | term_start = June 13, 2009 | term_end = January 15, 2011 | predecessor = Linda Daves | successor = Robin Hayes | office1 = 32nd Mayor of Raleigh | term_start1 = December 1993 | term_end1 = December 1999 | predecessor1 = Avery C. Upchurch | successor1 = Paul Coble | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|65|2020|11|18}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Kate Spina|2009}} | education = Wake Forest University (BA) }} '''Thomas Harrison Fetzer Jr.''' (born 1954/1955)<ref>{{cite web | title=Tom Fetzer's take on the 2020 elections | date=19 November 2020 | url=https://businessnc.com/tom-fetzers-take-on-the-2020-elections }}</ref> is an American politician and lobbyist who served three two-year terms as Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina from 1993 to 1999. He was chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party from 2009 to 2011.
==Early life== Tom Fetzer attended Jesse O. Sanderson High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1972, while still a student, he delivered an enthusiastic speech in support of United States Senate candidate Jesse Helms. Though eligible to vote in the 1976 presidential election, Fetzer did not vote in any election until 1980.{{sfn|Eamon|2014|p=173}} He later attended and graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in politics.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wcu.edu/discover/leadership/board-of-trustees/members-of-the-board-of-trustees/Fetzer-Thomas.aspx| title = Mr. Thomas H. Fetzer| publisher = Western Carolina University| access-date = March 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name=harvard>{{cite news| title = Institute of Politics Announces Fellows for Spring 2000| newspaper = The Harvard Gazette| publisher = Harvard University| date = February 3, 2000| url = https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2000/02/institute-of-politics-announces-fellows-for-spring-2000/| access-date = January 21, 2020}}</ref> In the 1980s he worked as a political operative for the National Congressional Club, a political action committee chaired by Helms.{{sfn|Link|2008|pp=271–272}} He served as its assistant director in 1983.<ref>{{cite news| last = Cass| first = Julia| title = Sen. Helms' Foes Open Fire in North Carolina| newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer| page = A8| date = January 9, 1983}}</ref>
Fetzer served as an assistant secretary in the Department of Transportation during the administration of Governor James G. Martin,{{sfn|Hood|2015|p=256}} as well as an aide to Senator John Porter East (both Republicans).{{sfn|Eamon|2014|p=221}} After entering the private sector, Fetzer worked as a marketing executive.<ref>{{cite news| last = Fernandez| first = Charles| title = '84 Helms campaign outlined by marketing executive| newspaper = The Daily Tar Heel| page = 2| date = November 18, 1985| url = https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67933345/}}</ref>
In 1988 Fetzer, as a Republican, challenged Democratic incumbent David Price for the United States House of Representatives seat representing North Carolina's 4th congressional district. Fetzer attempted to link his campaign with George H. W. Bush's presidential candidacy, calling for reducing the national budget deficit without tax increases and strong measures to combat the trade of illegal drugs.<ref>{{cite news| title = Incumbent Price runs on experience against Republican Fetzer| newspaper = The Daily Tar Heel| page = 5| date = November 7, 1988| url = https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67795470/}}</ref> He lost the November election by a large margin.<ref>{{cite news| title = State GOP Leaders Hope To Avoid Off-Year Slump| newspaper = The Asheville-Citizen| page = 21| agency = Associated Press| date = December 9, 1988| url = https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/200645395/}}</ref>
==Mayor of Raleigh== Fetzer ran for office to become Mayor of Raleigh in 1993. He won the November runoff election by a margin of 965 votes (51% of the total votes to Barlow Hergert's 49%).<ref>{{cite news| last = Muller| first = Bill| title = Fetzer, Kerchoff Win Mayoral Elections | newspaper = The News & Observer| date = November 3, 1993}}</ref> His victory was a surprise to observers; Raleigh had not had a Republican mayor within the populace's living memory.{{efn|According to ''The News & Observer'', Fetzer was the first Republican to hold the office since Joseph W. Holden, who served from 1874 to 1875.<ref>{{cite news| last = Beckwith| first = Ryan Teague| title = Fetzer, first GOP mayor of Raleigh?| newspaper = The News & Observer| date = March 27, 2009| url = http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/fetzer_first_gop_mayor_of_raleigh| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120924214444/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/fetzer_first_gop_mayor_of_raleigh| archive-date = September 24, 2012}}</ref>}} Fezter's success was largely due to the energetic efforts of Wake County Republican Chairman Tom Roberg to mobilize voters.{{sfn|Parcel|Taylor|2015|p=28}} He also benefited from a fiscally conservative shift in the city's politics, which was sparked by the Wake County Taxpayers Association's successful effort to defeat a bond referendum in 1992.<ref>{{cite news| last = Curliss| first = J. Andrew| title = Opponents of Raleigh, N.C., Convention Center Regroup| newspaper = The News & Observer| page = 1| date = March 22, 2003}}</ref>
As mayor, Fetzer favored tax cuts pushed to curb what he deemed unnecessary public spending. He said that public art was a waste of taxpayer funds and opposed the construction of a new convention center in downtown Raleigh.<ref name="libel">{{cite news|last1=Johnson |first1=Mark |last2=Beckwith |first2= Ryan Teague |title=Fetzer plans to sue over e-mail forward |newspaper= The News & Observer |date=May 23, 2009 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1539353.html |access-date=January 21, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527092954/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1539353.html |archive-date=May 27, 2009 }}</ref>
In February 1994 Fetzer announced the creation of the Entrepreneurial Commission for Quality, Service and Efficiency (ECQSE). Tasked with drafting reforms to restructure the municipal administration to improve its functions, Fetzer stated that he hoped it would allow Raleigh to privatize some of its services in a manner similar to actions undertaken by the government of Charlotte. The ECQSE was almost entirely composed of local corporate leaders, which Fetzer maintained was necessary because the private sector promoted entrepreneurship.{{sfn|Korosec|Mead|1996|pp=644–645}} He wanted the commission to deliver its finals proposals within three months so he could incorporate the changes into the city's budget in June. In the part due to the deadline and to internal disorganization, the ECQSE's suggestions were vague and haphazard, and the city council accused it of being more concerned with cutting costs than increasing efficiency. Ultimately a 7.3% property tax reduction was implemented in June, which, though smaller than originally intended, was the city's first tax cut in three decades. Fetzer claimed the ECQSE's efforts as partially successful, reasoning that their proposals forced municipal officials to reconsider how they used the budget.{{sfn|Korosec|Mead|1996|pp=645–646}}
In September 1996 Hurricane Fran struck North Carolina and caused significant flooding in north Raleigh. Fetzer responded by allocating funds to improve water drainage infrastructure in the area.{{sfn|Bauer|2014|p=248}}
Fetzer garnered 60% of the vote in his 1995 reelection<ref>Eisley, Matthew, and Yonat Shimron. "Fetzer beats Nooe in Raleigh. In Durham, rematch ahead for Mayor Kerckhoff, Rodenhizer." ''The Raleigh News and Observer''. October 11, 1995.</ref> and 56% of the vote in his bid for a third term in October 1997.<ref>Dew, John. "Fetzer Wins, but Loses Majority-Raleigh Mayor Elected to a Third Term with 56 percent of the vote." News and Observer. October 8, 1997.</ref> Following the latter victory, he declared that he would not seek election to a fourth term.<ref>{{cite news| title = The State; Election Results; Raleigh's Fetzer says 3rd-term win is his last| newspaper = Morning Star| page = 3B| date = October 9, 1997}}</ref> His personal charisma, organizational skills, and emphasis on crime control and lower taxes helped to solidify the Republican Party's presence in Raleigh, and in part facilitated the election of Republican Paul Coble to succeed him.{{sfn|Parcel|Taylor|2015|p=28}}
==Later career and political activity== After leaving mayoral office, Fetzer was a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics at Harvard University for the Spring 2000 academic semester and director of the Center for Local Innovation at the John Locke Foundation.<ref name=harvard/> He worked for the United States Tennis Association in New York City before returning to Raleigh several years later. He founded a North Carolina consulting firm with Mark Stephens,<ref name="libel"/> Fetzer/Stephens. He took unpaid leave from his consulting position to serve as U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole's executive director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.<ref>{{cite news| last = Duran| first = Nicole| title = Sounds Like a License Plate| newspaper = Roll Call| page = 1| date = November 17, 2005}}</ref> In late 2008 Fetzer and Stephens closed their consulting firm.<ref name="libel"/>
In 2009, Fetzer ran for chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.<ref>[http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/fetzer_running_for_gop_chair News & Observer blog: Fetzer running for GOP chair]</ref> He was elected chairman on June 13 on the second ballot at the party convention.<ref>{{cite news| last = Christensen| first = Rob| title = Fetzer takes reins of state GOP| newspaper = The News & Observer| date = June 14, 2009| url = https://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1568342.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090618025935/http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1568342.html|archive-date= June 18, 2009}}</ref> Under his leadership the Republican Party took control of both houses of the state legislature in 2010, the first time this had occurred in over 100 years. Fetzer chose to leave the post of chairman five months before his term expired, and was replaced by Robin Hayes on January 15, 2011.<ref>http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13850189 {{Dead link|date=May 2019}}</ref> Fetzer became chairman for Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign in North Carolina in December 2011.<ref>{{cite news| last = Frank| first = J. B.| title = Newt Gingrich forms North Carolina campaign team| newspaper = The News & Observer : Blogs| date = December 14, 2011| url = http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/newt_gingrich_forms_north_carolina_campaign_team| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120110145749/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/newt_gingrich_forms_north_carolina_campaign_team|archive-date= January 10, 2012}}</ref>
In January 2011, Fetzer started a lobbying and media strategy firm, Fetzer Strategic Partners.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.witn.com/home/headlines/NC_GOP_Chairman_Fetzer_Starts_Lobbying_Media_Firm_112833604.html| title = N.C. GOP Chairman Fetzer Starts Lobbying, Media Firm| date = January 3, 2011| publisher = WITN-TV| access-date = March 23, 2019}}</ref> In 2019 Michael V. Lee announced that he would join Fetzer's firm, which would be renamed Fetzer Lee.<ref>{{cite news| last = Bellamy| first = Cammie| title = Former Sen. Michael Lee joins Raleigh lobbying firm| newspaper = Star News Online| date = February 20, 2019| url = https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20190220/former-sen-michael-lee-joins-raleigh-lobbying-firm| access-date = March 23, 2019}}</ref>
=== University of North Carolina Board of Governors === In March 2017, Fetzer was elected to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors by the Republican-controlled North Carolina Senate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stancil|first=Jane|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article141554689.html|title=Fetzer, Rucho to join UNC Board of Governors|newspaper=The News & Observer|date=March 29, 2017|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> In July 2018 Fetzer became suspicious of a claim made by a candidate applying to become chancellor of Western Carolina University. He asked a private screening firm to investigate the veracity of the claim, and shared its findings with other members of the board. His actions aroused controversy—in part because Fetzer had himself been a candidate for the chancellorship—and some of his colleagues criticized him for acting on his own initiative and disclosing the name of a candidate to an external entity.<ref>{{cite news| last = Stancill| first = Jane| title = Tempers flare on UNC board after search for Western Carolina chancellor breaks down| newspaper = The News & Observer| date = July 26, 2018| url = https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article215590130.html| access-date = March 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Seltzer|first=Rick|title=UNC System power dynamics on display this summer|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/08/03/unc-system-power-dynamics-display-summer|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Inside Higher Ed|date=August 3, 2018}}</ref> He resigned from the board of governors on May 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2020/05/20/fetzer-resigns-from-unc-board-of-governors/| title = Fetzer resigns from UNC Board of Governors| last = Killian| first = Joe| date = May 20, 2020| website = NC Policy Watch| access-date = December 14, 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== On October 17, 2009, Fetzer married Kate Spina.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110517014323/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/fetzer_to_wed News & Observer: Fetzer to wed]</ref> In April 2011 he announced that he had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but that doctors had given him a positive prognosis.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/9375212/| title = Former Raleigh mayor battles cancer| date = April 2, 2011| website = WRAL| publisher = Capitol Broadcasting Company| access-date = March 23, 2019}}</ref>
==See also== *List of mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==Citations== {{reflist}}
==References== {{refbegin}} * {{cite thesis |last= Bauer|first= Jordan R.|date= 2014|title= Sunbelt growing pains: Urban environmental in North Carolina's Research Triangle, 1950-2000|type= PhD |publisher= University of Houston}} * {{cite book| last = Eamon| first = Tom| title = The Making of a Southern Democracy: North Carolina Politics from Kerr Scott to Pat McCrory| publisher = UNC Press Books| date = 2014| isbn = 9781469606972}} - [https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZX9AQAAQBAJ Profile] at Google Books * {{cite book| last = Hood| first = John| title = Catalyst: Jim Martin and the Rise of North Carolina Republicans| publisher = John F. Blair, Publisher| date = 2015| location = Winston-Salem| isbn = 9780895876577}} * {{cite journal| last1 = Korosec| first1 = Ronnie LaCourse| last2 = Mead| first2 = Timothy D.| title = Lessons From Privatization Task Forces: Comparative Case Studies| journal = Policy Studies Journal| volume = 24| issue = 4| pages = 641–648| date = 1996| issn = 1541-0072| doi = 10.1111/j.1541-0072.1996.tb01653.x}} * {{cite book| last = Link| first = William A.| title = Righteous Warrior: Jesse Helms and the Rise of Modern Conservatism| publisher = Macmillan| location = New York| date = 2008| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=i_ETj40pVUoC| isbn = 9780312356002}} * {{cite book| last1 = Parcel| first1 = Toby L.| last2 = Taylor| first2 = Andrew J.| title = The End of Consensus: Diversity, Neighborhoods, and the Politics of Public School Assignments| publisher = UNC Press Books| date = 2015| isbn = 9781469622552}} - [https://books.google.com/books?id=HOvDBwAAQBAJ See profile at] Google Books {{refend}}
==External links== *[http://www.iop.harvard.edu/Programs/Fellows-Study-Groups/Former-Fellows/Tom_Fetzer Harvard University Institute of Politics] *{{C-SPAN|53521}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Avery C. Upchurch}} {{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Raleigh|years=1993–1999}} {{s-aft|after=Paul Coble}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Linda Daves}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the North Carolina Republican Party|years=2009–2011}} {{s-aft|after=Robin Hayes}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fetzer, Tom}} Category:1955 births Category:20th-century mayors of places in North Carolina Category:Harvard Kennedy School staff Category:Jesse O. Sanderson High School alumni Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina Category:Members of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Category:North Carolina Republicans Category:State political party chairs of North Carolina Category:Wake Forest University alumni