Mel Watt

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Mel Watt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 5, 1993–
Preceded by	None (District Created After 1990 Census)
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	August 26, 1945 (age 61) Steele Creek, North Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Eulada Watt
Religion	Presbyterian

Melvin Luther (Mel) Watt (born August 26, 1945), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the Twelfth District of North Carolina (map).

Born in Steele Creek, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Watt attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Yale University Law School. He served a single term in the North Carolina Senate (1985–1986), before returning to his law practice and running private business. He was elected to the House in 1992 and serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He previously served on the Joint Economic Committee. In the 109th Congress, he chaired the Congressional Black Caucus. He is a member of the NAACP.

One of the most liberal Southern Democrats, Watt was elected to his seventh consecutive term in the 2004 Congressional elections, earning 67 percent of the popular vote and defeating Republican Ada Fisher. Watt is a strong supporter of improving education, protecting the environment, and establishing equality for all Americans.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Congressman Watt Elected to Be Chair of the CBC
• Information from Project Vote Smart
  • Vote Smart Biography
  • Campaign Finances
  • Issue Positions
  • Voting record
• Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
• Ralph Nader controversy

Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus
Diggs • Stokes • Rangel • Burke • Mitchell • Collins • Fauntroy • Dixon • Leland • Dymally • Dellums • Towns • Mfume • Payne • Waters • Clyburn • Johnson • Cummings • Watt • Kilpatrick

North Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators: Elizabeth Dole (R), Richard Burr (R) Representative(s): G. K. Butterfield (D), Bob Etheridge (D), Walter B. Jones (R), David Price (D), Virginia Foxx (R), Howard Coble (R), Mike McIntyre (D), Robin Hayes (R), Sue Myrick (R), Patrick McHenry (R), Heath Shuler (D), Mel Watt (D), Brad Miller (D) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands