Joe Hackney

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Rep. Joe Hackney

Joe Hackney (born September 23, 1945 in Chatham County, NC) is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's fifty-fourth House district, including constituents in Chatham, Orange, and Moore counties. A farmer and attorney from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Hackney is currently (2007-2008 session) serving in his fourteenth term in the state House of Representatives. He is the current Speaker of the House.

Hackney attended North Carolina State University before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned bachelor's and Juris Doctor degrees. He worked as a prosecutor from 1971-74 before going into private practice. In 1974, he was campaign manager for Congressman Ike Andrews.[1]

He served two terms (four years) as Speaker pro tempore of the state House, and two terms as House Majority Leader (or Democratic leader, when no party had a majority in 2003-2004). On January 10, 2007, Hackney was nominated by the Democratic majority as Speaker of the House. [2] [3] He was elected speaker when the new legislature convened on January 24, with all 68 House Democrats supporting him. [4]