Thomas Wright

Biography

Thomas Wright is a former Democratic state representative from Wilmington who has been indicted on fraud charges. He was expelled on March 20, 2008.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Edward Wright was born on Aug. 7, 1955, in Wilmington to William D. and Sarah G. Wright. His father was a maintenance mechanic, carpenter and brick mason.

In 1972, his brother, Joe, was falsely accused of firebombing a grocery store and shooting at emergency workers. He spent four and a half years in prison as one of the Wilmington 10, but the conviction was later overturned.

Wright graduated from Hoggard High School in Wilmington in 1973. He was involved in student government.

He attended Southeastern Community College in Whiteville from 1973 to 1974.

He attended UNC-Wilmington from June of 1976 to May of 1978. He did not earn a degree. 

Family and Religion

He is married to Joyce Wright, a self-employed cosmetologist. The two were married on Aug. 15, 1981.

He is Catholic.

Professional Career

After college, he worked for the Wilmington Fire Department for seven years as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. 

From 1986 to 1987, he worked as a shift supervisor for the New Hanover County emergency medical service. 

From 1987 to 1989, he served as president and co-founder of Medical Transportation Specialists Inc., an ambulance contractor. 

In 1992, he helped form the New Hanover Community Health Center. 

He currently lists his occupation as a self-employed safety and health consultant and an EMS instructor.

Political Career

In 1990, he was appointed to the Wilmington City Council. He lost a bid for the seat by 16 votes in 1991. 

He was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1992. He is now in his eighth term.

In 1999, Wright was head of the joint House and Senate black caucus.

He gave a brief nominating speech for Jim Black in the race for speaker of the House and led the part of the black caucus that supported Black over former Speaker Dan Blue.

Black won by a single vote and later put Wright in charge of a key budget subcommittee. His effectiveness ranking soared in the new positions.

Black is now serving time in a federal prison for taking cash illegally from three chiropractors.

Campaign Finance Hearings

Based on a complaint from campaign finance activist Joe Sinsheimer, the State Board of Elections began investigating Wright's finances in early 2007.

At hearings on May 15, investigators testified that a review of his bank records showed Wright may have spent as much as $222,000 in campaign contributions on personal items. Donations were spent at Victoria's Secret, Circuit City and Home Depot, as well as on airline tickets and hotel rooms.

He may also have accepted $14,225 from corporations, which is prohibited under state law, and used a false letter from a state worker to get a $150,000 bank loan. 

Citing his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, Wright refused to testify.

Indictments and Expulsion

On Dec. 10, a Wake County grand jury indicted Wright on five counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and one count of obstruction of justice. 

Despite multiple calls for him to resign, Wright refused, leading House leadership to consider expelling him, the first time that has happened in North Carolina since 1880.

He appeared before a Wake magistrate on Dec. 14. 

On March 20, 2008, the House met in a special session to consider expelling Wright. During the session, he argued that the courts and voters should decide his fate, not his fellow legislators.

An amendment offered by Rep. Earl Jones to censure Wright — a move that would allow him to stay in office — failed by a vote of 102-12. 

Members of the House then voted to expel Wright by a vote of 109-5, and he was escorted from the floor by the Sergeant at Arms.

On April 7, a Wake County Superior Court jury found him guilty of three out of four counts of fraud, and Judge Henry Hight sentenced him to five to eight years in prison.

In August, a separate jury found him guilty of obstruction of justice. 

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith and Denise Jones. Some information comes from the Wilmington Star-News.

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