Mike Woodard
Official portrait of Mike Woodard as North Carolina state senator
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 22nd district
Assumed office
January 1, 2013
Preceded byConstituency established
Personal details
Born
James Michael Woodard

(1959-02-20) February 20, 1959
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSarah Woodard
EducationDuke University (AB)
Website

James Michael Woodard (born February 20, 1959) is an American politician who has served in the North Carolina Senate from the 22nd district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he represents most of Durham County.

Before being elected to the state Senate, Woodard served on the Durham City Council from 2005 to 2012. Since 1996, Woodard has been an administrator at Duke University and the Duke University Health System. He has served as a trustee of the Durham Arts Council as well as its president.[1]

Woodard is a candidate in the 2023 Durham mayoral election.

Early life and education

James Michael Woodard was born on February 20, 1959, in Charleston, South Carolina.[2][3][4] His father, a service member in the United States Air Force, was stationed in Charleston at the time, and during Woodard's childhood, his family also lived in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mountain Home, Idaho.[4] When he was nine years old, he moved to Wilson, North Carolina, with his mother and brother after his father was deployed to Vietnam.[4][5] Woodard attended Duke University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981.[6][7]

Career

Duke University (1996–present)

Woodard has worked as an administrator at Duke University and the Duke University Health System since 1996.[1] In a 2010 profile of Woodard, his job was described as an "analyst for Duke's Administrative Systems Management office".[8]

Durham City Council (2005–2012)

Woodard was first elected to the Durham City Council in 2005, representing the city's third ward. He defeated incumbent city council member John Best Jr.[9] He was reelected to the city council in 2009, defeating Allan Polak.[10]

The News & Observer reported that during Woodard's time on the city council, he was "known for attending more Durham events than any other council member". He was considered a potential successor to Durham mayor Bill Bell, but he was elected to the North Carolina Senate before Bell's retirement in 2017.[11]

North Carolina Senate (2013–present)

Mike Woodard speaking to Wanda Page
Woodard speaking with Durham deputy city manager Wanda Page in 2019

Woodard was first elected to represent the 22nd district in the North Carolina Senate in 2012, defeating Kerry Sutton in the Democratic primary and Milton Holmes in the general election.[12][13] The 22nd district was an open seat after redistricting in North Carolina, and included parts of Durham, Person, and Caswell counties.[14] Woodard was reelected to the state senate in 2014,[15] 2016,[16] 2018,[17] 2020,[18] and 2022.[19] Following the 2020 North Carolina elections, the 22nd district was redrawn to comprise most of Durham County.[20]

2023 Durham mayoral campaign

Woodard announced his candidacy for mayor of Durham on July 11, 2023, after the incumbent mayor, Elaine O'Neal, decided not to seek reelection.[21] Woodard, who has continued to serve in the North Carolina Senate during his mayoral campaign, had previously considered running for state treasurer. He said that one of his goals is to improve communication between the members of the Durham City Council.[11] His platform includes increasing affordable housing in Durham and providing competitive wages for city employees.[22][23] His campaign was endorsed by the North Carolina State AFL-CIO,[24] the Friends of Durham PAC,[25] and the Professional Firefighters of Durham union (which co-endorsed DeDreana Freeman).[26]

Woodard advanced in the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 10, 2023, finishing second behind Durham City Council member Leonardo Williams. The general election between Woodard and Williams will be held on November 7, 2023.[27]

Electoral history

North Carolina Senate 22nd district Democratic primary election, 2012[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard 22,356 67.8
Democratic Kerry Sutton 10,621 32.2
Total votes 32,977 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard 67,484 65.4
Republican Milton Holmes 35,730 34.6
Total votes 103,214 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2014[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard (incumbent) 47,978 67.1
Republican Herman Joubert 23,491 32.9
Total votes 71,469 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2016[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard (incumbent) 74,693 65.6
Republican T. Greg Doucette 39,198 34.4
Total votes 113,891 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2018[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard (incumbent) 46,153 61.8
Republican Rick Padgett 26,989 36.1
Libertarian Ray Ubinger 1,527 2.1
Total votes 74,669 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2020[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard (incumbent) 60,402 58.4
Republican Rick Padgett 39,792 38.5
Libertarian Ray Ubinger 3,175 3.1
Total votes 103,369 100.0
North Carolina Senate 22nd district general election, 2022[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Woodard (incumbent) 60,402 78.4
Republican Larry Coleman 15,070 19.6
Libertarian Ray Ubinger 1,543 2.0
Total votes 77,015 100.0

Personal life

He is married to Sarah Woodard, an Episcopal minister and hospital chaplain.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Vaughan, Dawn Baumgartner; Childress, Greg; Bridges, Virginia (May 4, 2018). "Who's running for office in Durham in 2018 and why". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ Bergin, Mark (July 21, 2023). "Here's who is running for Durham mayor, local elections in 2023". WRAL-TV. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Mike Woodard". Indy Week. October 8, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mike Woodard – People's Alliance PAC 2014 Questionnaire for NC Senate Candidates". People's Alliance PAC. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "About – Mike Woodard". Mike Woodard for Mayor of Durham, NC. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ Spicer, Zoe (July 23, 2023). "An early look at the eight candidates running for Durham mayor". The Chronicle. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ "2023 Senate Occupations/Education/Military Experience". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Roth, Bryan (June 7, 2010). "Mike Woodard: Two Sides of Service". Duke Today. Duke University. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Durham's Bell Elected To Third Term As Mayor; Pitts Loses In Fayetteville". WRAL-TV. November 8, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ Sorg, Lisa (November 3, 2009). "Incumbents lead in Durham". Indy Week. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Vaughan, Dawn Baumgartner; Moore, Mary Helen (July 14, 2023). "NC Sen. Mike Woodard is running for mayor of Durham". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Leslie, Laura (May 9, 2012). "Open Triangle seats: who won?". WRAL-TV. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "11/06/2012 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ Sorg, Lisa (February 16, 2012). "Mike Woodard, Kerry Sutton running for Durham state senate seat". Indy Week. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "11/04/2014 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "11/08/2016 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "11/06/2018 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "11/03/2020 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  19. 1 2 "11/08/2022 Official General Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Legislative and Congressional Redistricting". North Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  21. ↑ Leslie, Laura (July 11, 2023). "NC senator and former city councilman to run for mayor of Durham". WRAL-TV. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  22. ↑ Donahue, Lillian (July 31, 2023). "Durham mayoral candidates talk community, affordable housing, growth and violence prevention". WNCN. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ Bokun, Ben (July 21, 2023). "Durham mayoral candidates explain their vision for city as filing period ends". WNCN. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  24. ↑ "N.C. Union Voter Guide for 2023". NC State AFL-CIO. September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Endorsements". Friends of Durham. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Voting has begun!". Professional Firefighters of Durham. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023 – via Facebook.
  27. ↑ Laidlaw, Justin (October 11, 2023). "Williams, Woodard Will Square Off for Durham Mayor; Baker Leads Field of At-Large Candidates". Indy Week. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ "05/08/2012 Official Primary Election Results – Statewide". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
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