Jack Nichols

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on August 31, 2007 - 2:25pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
Senator N.C. Senate 16 Candidate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat
Level of Government  
 
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
September 13, 1951 Quantico, VA Raleigh, NC

Synopsis

An attorney, Nichols served a term on the Wake County board of commissioners in the 1990s. In 2000, he ran unsuccessfully for the N.C. House, and in 2004 he lost to Raleigh City Councilwoman Janet Cowell in the 2004 Democratic primary for the 16th Senate district. After Cowell announced in 2007 her campaign for state treasurer, Nichols said he would run for her seat. He faces consumer protection attorney Josh Stein and retired N.C. State track coach Mike Shea in the Democratic primary.

Trivia

An Eagle Scout, he remains active in Boy Scouts. 

Endorsements

N.C. Association of Educators, Wake County; State Employees Association of North Carolina; N.C. Police Benevolent Association; N.C. National Organization for Women

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
E. Carol Spruill
Children
Two sons, Jackson and Charles

Jack Nichols is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 16th state Senate district seat currently held by Sen. Janet Cowell. He is a former Wake County commissioner.

Early Life and Education

He was born Sept. 13, 1951, to Bill and Eleanor Nichols at the Quantico Marine base in Virginia. His father was an executive and his mother a docent at the Mint Museum in Charlotte. 

He graduated from Myers Park High in Charlotte in 1969.  

He earned a bachelor of science in political science from Davidson College in 1973. He then attended Wake Forest University's law school and Duke University, graduating with a law degree and a master of science in public policy in 1977.   

Professional Career

From 1978 to 1982, he worked as an administrative procedures officer, essentially legal counsel, for the state Division of Human Resources. 

Nichols served as special assistant for legal affairs in the state Department of Administration from 1982 to 1985, and as deputy legislative liaison to Gov. Jim Hunt from 1983 to 1985.

He worked as an attorney in Raleigh from 1986 to present for a number of different firms.

Political Career 

He was elected Wake County commissioner in 1990, helping pass a school bond referendum and chairing the public safety committee. He helped pass an ordinance requiring a paramedic on every county ambulance.

After one term, he did not run for re-election in 1994.

In 2000, he ran unsuccessfully against Republican Art Pope for N.C. House District 61 seat, at the time one of the most expensive state House campaigns in North Carolina history. 

In 2004, he lost to Raleigh City Councilwoman Janet Cowell in the Democratic primary for the seat to Senate District 16. 

After Cowell announced in 2007 that she would run for state treasurer, Nichols announced he would run for her seat.

He was endorsed by the State Employees Association of North Carolina, the N.C. Nurses Association, the state chapter of the National Organization for Women, the N.C. Police Benevolent Association and the Wake County chapter of the N.C. Association of Educators.

He faces consumer protection attorney Josh Stein and retired N.C. State track coach Mike Shea in the Democratic primary.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Attorney
Allen and Pinnix





Community Involvement:
Lifelong member and leader with the Boy Scouts of America; co-founder, Planned Parenthood of Greater Raleigh; co-founder of Wake County SmartStart; served on the boards of Interact, the Women’s Center, the Montessori School of Raleigh, and Wake Education Partnership. Member of Christ Church (Episcopal).

Contact Info

Email: jack@jacknichols.org

Allen & Pinnix

919-755-0505		 Home

919-783-8755

Education

bachelor of science
Davidson College
Graduated: 1973		 juris doctorate
Wake Forest University
Graduated: 1977		 master of public policy science
Duke University
Graduated: 1977

Military

Not specified.

Links

http://www.jacknichols.org


http://www.jacknichols.org





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