Michael Weisel

Biography

Michael Weisel is a former candidate for state treasurer. 

Early Life and Education 

Michael Lloyd Weisel was born on Sept. 13, 1957, in Rumford, Maine, to Alan and Marjorie Weisel. His father was a financial management executive; his mother was a school nurse.

He graduated from Ward Melville High School in Setauket, N.Y., in 1974.

He then went to Guilford College, graduating with a bachelor of science in business management and history and an associate's degree in accounting in 1977.

He then went to Campbell University Law School, earning a law degree in 1980.

He also earned a master's degree in history from N.C. State University in 2003. He is currently finishing his dissertation for a doctorate in business history at Duke University.

Professional Career

After college, he worked as a tax attorney in Durham and Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, for three years.

He then moved into pension fund and money management. From 1988 to 1990, he worked for Wells Fargo Bank in Washington, D.C. From 1990 to 1995, he worked for Kemper Financial Services in Raleigh.

From 1996 to 2003, he worked as a corporate attorney for Allen & Pinnix in Raleigh, and from 2003 to 2007 he worked for Taylor Penry Rash & Riemann. 

In 2006, he served as general counsel for the N.C. speaker pro tem.  

He currently works as an attorney for Bailey & Dixon in Raleigh. 

Political Career

Over the years, he worked as a campaign staffer for a number of Democratic candidates, including U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan and President Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign in 1980.

From 1980 to 1982, he was president of Durham County Young Democrats. 

In 1992, he considered running for state treasurer, but pulled out after incumbent Harlan Boyles decided not to retire. 

In 1996, Boyles again said he would retire.

Weisel ran for state treasurer, earning the endorsement of the N.C. Association of Educators, the North Carolina chapter of the AFL-CIO and other groups and raising over $700,000. He lost the Democratic primary, however, when Boyles again decided not to retire.

From 1999 to 2003, he served two terms as chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party. 

2008 Treasurer Campaign

In 2007, he announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for state treasurer. 

His campaign focused on maintaining the retirement fund's fiscal integrity and the state's AAA bond rating and finding creative solutions to the state's financial problems.

He ran against state Sen. Janet Cowell and Buncombe County Commissioner David Young in the Democratic primary, coming in third with 17 percent of the vote.

His campaign was endorsed by former Sen. Morgan. 

Occupation

Contact Info

Email: info@weisel2008.org

Education

Military

Links