Don Vaughan

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 3, 2008 - 9:21am.
Tags:

Office District Status
N.C. Senator N.C. Senate 27 Incumbent
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2008 2010
Level of Government  
N.C. Senate  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
, 1952 Greensboro, NC Greensboro, NC

Synopsis

Don Vaughan is a Democratic state senator from Greensboro and a former longtime City Councilman.

Trivia

He trained his dog, Remington, as a champion hunting retriever. 

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Biography

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Don Vaughan is a Democratic state senator from Greensboro and a former longtime City Councilman.

Early Life and Education

Donald R. Vaughan was born in 1952 in Greensboro to Ray and Kitty Vaughan. His father worked for the Western Electric Corp., and hismother worked for a department store and later the Greensboro News-Record.

He attended Lindley Elementary and Lindley Jr. High.

When Vaughan was nine years old, his father died.

He graduated from Grimsley High School in 1970. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout around that time.

He earned a bachelor's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1974.

He then received a lectureship to the School of Government and Public Administration at American University in Washington, D.C., to teach undergraduate political science and attend graduate school.

He then earned a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Professional Career

In 1982, he became vice president of Stedman Corp., a North Carolina-based textile and apparel mangacturer.

He is now a lawyer with his own practice in downtown Greensboro. 

Family

In 1999, he married Nancy Mincello, also a member of the Greensboro City Council.

He has a daughter, Catherine, and two stepsons, John and Michael. 

Political Career

While in graduate school at American University, Vaughan worked as a legislative clerk for two years for U.S. Sen. Robert Morgan. 

After law school, he worked for Gov. Jim Hunt's economic advisor as an attorney to the governor's small and large business councils. 

In 1991, he was elected to the Greensboro City Council, serving seven terms in total, including two as mayor pro tem. 

In 2008, he successfully ran for the open state Senate seat being vacated by now U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, defeating Republican Joe Wilson, 69 to 31 percent.

In an interview after the election, he said he had "big shoes to fill."

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

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