Larry Kissell

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on September 8, 2007 - 8:41am.
Tags:

Office District Status
U.S. Representative U.S. House 8 Incumbent
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2008 2010
Level of Government  
Congress  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
January 31, 1951 Troy, NC Biscoe, NC

Synopsis

A longtime textile worker, Kissell became a schoolteacher in 2001, just two years before his former employer shut down. Angry about free-trade agreements that he blames for troubles in his former industry, he ran an uphill campaign in 2006 as a Democrat in the Eighth Congressional District, losing to incumbent Republican Rep. Robin Robin Hayes by just 329 votes. He immediately began running for the 2008 elections, winning by more than 30,000 votes.

Trivia

He is a lifelong teetotaler. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Tina
Children
Daughters, Jenny Leigh and Aspen

Larry Kissell is a U.S. representative from the Eighth Congressional District.

Early Life and Education

Larry Kissell was born on Jan. 31, 1951, in Troy, N.C.

He grew up in Biscoe, graduating from East Montgomery High School.

He attended Wake Forest University, earning a bachelor of arts in economics in 1973.

Professional Career

Larry Kissell worked for 27 years at Renfro, a hosiery mill in Star, N.C., which closed in 2003.

In 2001, he moved into education, working as a civics teacher at East Montgomery High School.

Political Career

In 2006, Kissell ran for the Eighth Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes.

In April of that year, he began a regular blog for The Daily Kos, a liberal Web site. 

In the Democratic primary, he beat John Autry and Mark Ortiz, after Fayetteville lawyer Tim Dunn dropped out. 

In  his campaign, Kissell criticized Hayes for casting the tie-breaking vote for the Central America Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA. He brought a goat named CAFTA to several campaign appearances.

After a recount, Kissell lost by just 329 votes. He immediately announced his campaign for the same seat in 2008.

Kissell won that race by more than 30,000 votes. 

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education



Military

Not specified.

Links


http://larry-kissell.dailykos.com/







N&O Profile:









You must be logged in to post a comment on this blog. If you already have an N&O online user account, click here to log in. Otherwise, click here to register (it's free!).