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Shelly Willingham
SWillingham.jpg
Member of the
North Carolina House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 1, 2015
Preceded by Joe Tolson
Constituency 23rd District
In office
January 28, 2002 – January 1, 2003
Preceded by Toby Fitch
Succeeded by Jean Farmer-Butterfield
Constituency 70th District
Personal details
Born
Shelly Willingham

(1943-11-27) November 27, 1943 (age 81)
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Residence Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Alma mater Elizabeth City State University (BA)

Shelly Willingham was born on November 27, 1943. He is a member of the Democratic Party and serves in the North Carolina House of Representatives. This means he is an elected official who helps make laws for the state of North Carolina. He has represented the 23rd district since 2015. This district includes all of Martin and Edgecombe counties. Before this, he also served in the House from 2002 to 2003.

Shelly Willingham's Political Journey

Shelly Willingham's journey in politics began in 2002. He was first chosen to represent the 70th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He took over from Toby Fitch, who became a judge.

After this, Willingham ran for a full term in a new district, the 24th. However, he did not win the primary election against Jean Farmer-Butterfield. A primary election is when members of the same political party vote to choose who will represent them in the main election.

Willingham then tried to become a state senator. He ran against Clark Jenkins in primary elections in 2004, 2006, and 2008, but he did not win these races.

Serving on the School Board

Even though he didn't win those state elections, Willingham continued to serve his community. He was elected to the Edgecombe County School Board for two terms. A school board helps make important decisions about local schools, like what students learn and how schools are run.

Return to the North Carolina House

In 2015, Shelly Willingham returned to the North Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected in 2014 to represent the 23rd district. Since then, he has been re-elected four times. His most recent re-election was in 2022. This shows that the people in his district have continued to support him.

Working on Committees

In the North Carolina House, members work in groups called committees. These committees focus on specific topics and help prepare new laws. Shelly Willingham has been part of many important committees during his time in the House.

Committees in Recent Sessions

  • Appropriations: This committee deals with how the state's money is spent.
  • Appropriations - Transportation: This specific group focuses on money for roads, bridges, and other transportation projects.
  • Alcoholic Beverage Control: Willingham was a Vice Chair of this committee, which means he helped lead discussions about laws related to alcohol.
  • Insurance: He was also a Vice Chair on this committee, which works on rules for insurance.
  • Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform: This committee looks at how elections are run and how money is used in political campaigns.
  • Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House: This group helps decide how the House operates and what bills are discussed.
  • State Personnel: This committee deals with rules for state employees.
  • State and Local Government: This committee focuses on laws affecting state and local governments.
  • Justice and Public Safety: This committee works on laws related to crime, courts, and public safety.
  • Elections and Ethics Law: This group focuses on fair elections and ethical behavior for lawmakers.
  • Agriculture: This committee deals with farming and food production.
  • Banking: This committee works on laws related to banks and money.
  • Education - Universities: This group focuses on laws for state universities.
  • Judiciary IV: This committee deals with legal matters and the justice system.
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