Jim Neal
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- For the hockey player, see James Neal.
| Jim Neal | |
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| Election date 6 May 2008 |
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| Opponent(s) | Kay Hagan and others |
| Incumbent | Elizabeth Dole (R) |
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| Born | November 6, 1956 Greensboro, North Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | Winston and James |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Chicago |
James Weatherly "Jim" Neal, Jr. (born 1956) is a North Carolina Democrat and a businessman and investment banker who was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in 2008 (for the seat currently occupied by Republican Elizabeth Dole). He is originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, and currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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[edit] Early life and education
Jim Neal was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1956 to James Neal and Mildred Hartzoge Neal. He attended Walter Hines Page High School (Greensboro, NC) in the early 1970’s, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978 with a degree in business administration. After graduating from UNC, he worked as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs, and later obtained a masters degree in business administration from the University of Chicago in 1983.[1] [2]
[edit] Political involvement
The 2008 campaign for United States Senate was Jim Neal's first attempt at elective office. He has, however, been involved in politics for many years. Neal worked as a volunteer with the presidential campaigns of both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. In 2004 he worked as a fundraiser for Senate candidate Erskine Bowles. In 2004 he worked as a full-time fundraiser for presidential candidate Wesley Clark. After Clark dropped out of the race, Neal went on to join John Kerry's campaign. In the 2008 Democratic primary, Neal faced state Sen. Kay R. Hagan of Greensboro, doctor Howard Staley, and Lexington trucker Duskin Lassiter in the primary, and had been endorsed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. [2] Hagan ended up winning the nomination and will challenge Senator Elizabeth Dole in the November election.
[edit] Family
Neal lives in Chapel Hill with the younger of his two sons, Winston; the older, James, is currently working in New York City.[2] The divorced Neal is openly gay, but declared that it would not hurt his chances for securing the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race. "[It's] no secret and no big deal to me — I wouldn't be running if I didn't think otherwise." [3][4]
[edit] Professional career
Following graduation from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978, he joined Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst. He returned to school at the University of Chicago where he earned an MBA and worked a series of part-time jobs to pay his way through school. As an investment banker at Salomon Brothers he earned a reputation for leadership and innovative strategies while advising Fortune 500 companies on how to play successful roles in a changing global economy.
Neal worked as a senior investment banker with E.F. Hutton and Bear Stearns, serving clients that ranged from Bank of America and American Express to Lincoln National Corporation and Transamerica.
For the past two decades, Neal has focused his career on information technology and healthcare companies, including serving as chief executive officer of RxMarketplace.com, a start-up firm that helped pharmacists offer patients prescription drugs at more affordable prices.[5]
Since 2000, Neal has led several private companies prior to founding The Agema Group, a financial advisory firm based in Chapel Hill.[2]
[edit] Accomplishments
Neal has continued his active involvement in nonprofit groups and political initiatives, as a member of the Board of Governors of The New School from 2002 to 2006, he also served as a national finance committee member for Wes Clark for President and the Kerry-Edwards campaigns, as well as acting as a national fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Erskine Bowles in 2004.
Neal has served his community as an overnight volunteer at a homeless shelter, a lay minister to mentally ill residents of an assisted-care facility, and a sponsor of a post-war Vietnamese refugee family in alliance with the International Rescue Committee.
[edit] North Carolina Democratic primary 2008
In the North Carolina Democratic Primary on May 6th, 2008, Jim Neal faced state Senator Kay Hagan, podiatrist Howard Staley, trucker Duskin Lassiter, and lawyer Marcus Williams. Hagan defeated Neal with 60% of the vote to his 18%, although Neal carried two counties in western North Carolina.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Jim Neal Biography. Jim Neal for Senate website.
- ^ a b c d Profile of U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Neal. News & Observer (2007-10-04). Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Neal: Being gay 'no big deal'. News & Observer (2007-10-22).
- ^ Good morning, Jim Neal. BlueNC.com (2007-10-20).
- ^ Jim Neal Biography. Jim Neal for Senate website.
- ^ US SENATE - DEM. North Carolina Board of Elections.
