Neal Hunt

Neal Hunt was born in Thomasville, North Carolina on September 17, 1942,{{cite web|title=Biography - Senator Neal K. Hunt|url=http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/41055/neal-hunt|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=14 December 2011}} but grew up in the Raleigh area graduating from Ravenscroft School in 1960.{{cite web|title=Alumnus Profile: State Senator Neal Hunt '60|url=http://www.ravenscroft.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=1160|publisher=Ravenscroft School|accessdate=14 December 2011|date=1 May 2009}} He then went on to receive his BS in Spanish from Hampden–Sydney College in 1964 and an MBA from Wharton School in 1968.

Hunt went to work for Wachovia in Raleigh becoming a regional manager for commercial real estate lending. Later, he started his own real estate development firm.

Hunt served for seven years on the Raleigh Planning Commission from 1993 to 2000. He then ran for an at-large seat on the Raleigh City Council winning two terms. He served from 2001 until his election to State Senate in 2004.

Hunt first won election to the 15th district of the North Carolina Senate in 2004 after defeating a five-term incumbent John H. Carrington and newcomer Jean Koch in the Republican primary with 62.36% of the vote.{{Cite FTP |title=2004 Primary Election Results NC State Senate District 15|url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2004_07_20/20040720_results_statewide.pdf|format=PDF|server=NC State Board of Elections|url-status=dead|accessdate=November 29, 2012}} Hunt then won the general election race against Libertarian candidate Lee Griffin with 84.58% of the vote.{{Cite FTP |title=2004 General Election Results NC State Senate District 15|url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2004_11_02/20041102_results_statewide.pdf|format=PDF|server=NC State Board of Elections|url-status=dead|accessdate=30 November 2011}}

In 2006, Hunt did not face any primary challenge and went on to face the Democratic nominee, community volunteer and former teacher Dorothy "Gerry" Bowles, who had previously lost to Carrington for the 15th district seat in 2002.{{cite news|last=Bonner|first=Lynn|title=Democrat challenges Hunt for seat in Senate District 15|newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer|date=November 2, 2006}} Hunt defeated Bowles 54.9%–45.1%.{{Cite FTP |title=2006 General Election Results|url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2006_11_07/20061107_results_statewide.pdf|accessdate=November 29, 2012|server=North Carolina State Board of Elections.|url-status=dead|format=PDF}} Neither Hunt nor his general election challengers faced any primaries in 2008. The general election featured Hunt vs. the Democratic nominee, financial adviser Chris Mintz, and the Libertarian candidate Jan MacKay. Hunt won re-election with 52.83% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2008 General Election Results|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/21334/en/vts.html?cid=295|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|accessdate=November 29, 2012}} Again having no primary challenger for his seat in 2010, Hunt faced Democratic candidate and state employee Charles Malone, in the general election. Hunt defeated Malone 60.55%–39.45%.{{cite web|title=2010 General Election Results|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/22580/41687/en/vts.html?cid=3015000|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|accessdate=November 29, 2012}}

Hunt was only challenged in the general election in 2012 by Sig Hutchinson, a Democratic marketing consultant and environmental activist.{{cite news|last=Frank|first=J. B.|title=Sig Hutchinson files to challenge Neal Hunt for state senate|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/node/23929|accessdate=November 29, 2012|newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer|date=February 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130130005138/http://projects.newsobserver.com/node/23929|archivedate=January 30, 2013}} Hunt defeated Hutchinson, 55.82%–44.18%.{{cite web|title=2012 General Election Results|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/42923/113555/Web01/en/summary.html|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|accessdate=November 29, 2012}}

Hunt is Co-Chair of the Appropriations/Base Budget standing committee in the state senate.{{cite web|title=Standing Committee Assignments, 2011-2012 Session|url=http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/reports/committeeAssignments.pl?nUserid=200&Chamber=S|publisher=North Carolina General Assembly|accessdate=November 29, 2012}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=Senate&nUserID=200 North Carolina General Assembly] profile page.
• [http://www.nealhunt.com/ Official campaign site]
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=41055 | fec= | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|1030739}}

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{{s-par|us-nc-sen}}

{{s-bef|before=John Carrington}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 15th district|years=2005-2015}}

{{s-aft|after=John Alexander}}

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{{North Carolina State Senators}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Neal}}

Category:Republican Party North Carolina state senators

Category:Raleigh City Council members

Category:Living people

Category:1942 births

Category:Ravenscroft School alumni

Category:People from Thomasville, North Carolina

Category:Politicians from Raleigh, North Carolina

Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly