Chris Heagarty

{{Short description|American politician from North Carolina}}

{{distinguish|Chris Hegarty (disambiguation){{!}}Chris Hegarty}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| image =

| imagesize =

| name = Chris Heagarty

| image name =

| office = Member of the Wake County School Board
from the 7th district

| term_start = December 11, 2018

| term_end =

| predecessor = Kathy Hartenstine

| successor =

| state_house1 = North Carolina

| state1 = North Carolina

| district1 = 41st

| term_start1 = October 30, 2009

| term_end1 = January 1, 2011

| predecessor1 = Ty Harrell

| successor1 = Tom Murry

| party = Democratic

| birth_place =

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| children =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = William G. Enloe High School

| alma_mater = North Carolina State University (BA)

| residence = Raleigh, North Carolina

| profession =

}}

John Christopher Heagarty is an American politician. He was appointed by Governor Bev Perdue to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2009 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rep. Ty Harrell, a fellow Democrat.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/146611.html#|title=Heagarty chosen for seat in House - Politics - NewsObserver.com|accessdate=2009-12-22 |publisher=The News & Observer|last=Observer|first=The News &|date=2009-10-18}} Heagarty represented the 41st House district in western Wake County.

A long-time resident of Wake County, Heagarty attended York Elementary School and William G. Enloe High School. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in multi-disciplinary studies with a concentration in political communications.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article222943785.html|title=Former state lawmaker becomes newest Wake County school board member|last=Hui|first=T. Keung|date=2018-12-11|work=The News & Observer|access-date=2019-12-22}}

Heagarty lobbied at the North Carolina General Assembly for the NC Association of Electric Cooperatives Inc.{{cite web|url=http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/lobbyists/Lobbyist.aspx?PId=8059664|title=North Carolina Department of Secretary of State Lobbying Registration|author=North Carolina Department of Secretary of State|publisher=North Carolina Department of Secretary of State|accessdate=2010-07-25}} He next served as executive director and lobbyist for the non-partisan North Carolina Center for Voter Education from 2000 until he left in 2007 to pursue a J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University.{{cite web|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/voter_education_head_leaving|title=Voter Education head leaving - newsobserver.com projects|accessdate=2009-12-22|publisher=The News & Observer|last=Observer|first=The News &|date=2007-08-14|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024234910/http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/voter_education_head_leaving|archivedate=2008-10-24}}

Morrisville Councilman Tom Murry defeated Heagarty in the 2010 general election by a 54-46% margin. After his loss, Heagarty went on to head the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission and the City of Oaks Foundation, a land conservancy.

Upon the death and posthumous re-election of Wake County School Board member Kathy Hartenstine, Heagarty applied to be appointed to the position. As he was the only contender for the District 7 seat, he was chosen to serve on the school board.[https://assistive.eboardsolutions.com/AboutUs/AboutUs.aspx?S=920&TID=1 Wake County Board of Education members] He was elected to full terms on the board in 2020 and 2022.[http://www.wakegov.com/elections/data/Past%20Election%20Results/2020-11-03%20-%20General%20Election/20201103.Summary.htm Wake County Board of Elections: results of 2020 general election]