Thom Goolsby Explained

Thomas Goolsby
State Senate:North Carolina
District:9th
Term Start:January 1, 2011
Term End:August 4, 2014[1]
Predecessor:Julia Boseman
Successor:Michael Lee
Birth Date:September 11, 1961
Birth Place:Dothan, Alabama
Nationality:American
Spouse:Rachael Goolsby
Party:Republican
Children:Fleming, Lilli, and Alabama
Residence:Wilmington, North Carolina
Alma Mater:The Citadel,
Golden Gate University,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Profession:Lawyer, adjunct professor of law, president of Empowered Investor

Thomas Cowart Goolsby (born September 11, 1961) is a former Republican North Carolina State Senator representing New Hanover County.

A graduate of The Citadel and regimental commander of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, Goolsby served as a Marine Corps officer after college. Governor Jim Martin appointed him counsel to the State Crime Commission before he opened his legal practice, the Goolsby Law Firm, in Wilmington. He is a former chairman of the New Hanover County Republican Party and an adjunct professor of law at Campbell University.

Goolsby earned an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the president of Empowered Investor Inc. However, the investment adviser registrations of Goolsby, his partner James Upham, and the firm were revoked for at least ten years in 2014. Empowered Investor, Upham and Goolsby also were ordered to cease and desist from engaging in any practice involving securities or financial services business in North Carolina. At that time Goolsby claimed that the business was closed.[2] He lives in Wilmington with his wife Rachael and three children, Fleming, Lilli, and Alabama.[3]

Political career

2004 North Carolina Attorney General Republican primary

Goolsby ran for the Republican nomination in the 2004 North Carolina Attorney General election, but lost the nomination to Joe Knott.[4]

Election 2010

Goolsby won the race for District 9 of the North Carolina State Senate in the November 2, 2010 general election. He defeated James Leutze (D) with 57% of the vote.[5]

In polling prior to the election, Goolsby held a significant lead over Leutze. Both candidates campaigned on the need to cut state spending and control taxes.[6]

Campaign contributions

In 2010, Goolsby raised $394,588 in campaign contributions.[7]

Election 2012

Goolsby was unopposed in the Republican primary on May 8, 2012. He faced Democratic nominee Deb Butler in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8]

During the general election campaign, Goolsby was criticized for his support of mandatory, trans-vaginal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions. Though Goolsby went on to win re-election, Butler's campaign ad on this topic generated national and international attention.[9]

As state senator

Goolsby sponsored legislation that repealed the state's Racial Justice Act, which had prohibited the imposition of the death penalty on the basis of race.[10] As a member of the University of North Board of Governors he favored the re-installation of the controversial statue "Silent Sam" following its toppling by protesters.[11]

Goolsby has penned a number of opinion columns in local newspapers critical of the Moral Mondays protests, calling them "Moron Mondays" and later "Money Mondays", and referring to protestors as "mostly white, angry, aged former hippies."[12] [13] [14]

Goolsby chose not to run for re-election in 2014, and he resigned from the legislature in August 2014, before the expiration of his term.[15] His resignation followed the revocation by the secretary of state of his registration as an investment adviser, and his consent to the order. Clients had reportedly complained about losing money in volatile investments they never wanted.[16] [17]

Committees

Goolsby served as vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary I committee and chairman of both the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety and the Appropriations Committee on Justice and Public Safety. He chaired interim committees on pharmaceutical liability, retitling of manufactured homes and consolidation of judicial and prosecutorial districts. He was a member of interim committees on government operations, modernization of banking, energy policy and marine fisheries.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://ncleg.net/gascripts/members/viewMember.pl?sChamber=senate&nUserID=331 NC General Assembly
  2. Web site: Goolsby, partner ordered to stop work as investment advisers.
  3. http://www.thomgoolsby.com/about/ Senator Thom Goolsby: Bio
  4. Web site: Our Campaigns - NC Attorney General - R Primary Race - Jul 20, 2004 . 2024-08-06 . www.ourcampaigns.com.
  5. http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/22580/39565/en/summary.html General Election Results
  6. http://cjtv.carolinajournal.com/display_video.php?id=896&type=5 Carolina Journal: N.C. Senate candidates call for budget cuts
  7. http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=121837 2010 campaign contributions
  8. http://www.ncsbe.gov/content.aspx?id=82 North Carolina Board of Elections "Candidate lists," Accessed March 9, 2012
  9. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/10/17/north-carolina-campaign-ad-shows-transvaginal-probe-latest-war-on-women-weapon/ The Washington Post' ' "North Carolina campaign ad shows transvaginal probe, latest war on women weapon" Accessed June 8, 2013
  10. Web site: Goolsby Defends Potential Racial Justice Act Repeal. 2013-08-01.
  11. Web site: UNC Board of Governors Says Silent Sam Will Be Reinstalled . 24 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Goolsby rips NAACP protests as 'Moron Monday'. 10 June 2013. 2013-08-01.
  13. News: Thom Goolsby. Moron Monday shows radical Left just doesn't get it. Chatham Journal. 2013-06-07.
  14. News: Thom Goolsby. 'Moron Monday' Remarks Way Off Base. Elkin Tribune.
  15. http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/08/04/4050669/goolsby-resigns-from-nc-senate.html?sp=/99/102/105/135/1554/ News & Observer
  16. Web site: N.C. Senator, partner lose investment adviser tags.
  17. Web site: Goolsby, partner ordered to stop investment services. 23 May 2014.
  18. http://ncleg.net/gascripts/members/reports/committeeAssignments.pl?nUserid=331&Chamber=S Senator Thom Goolsby: Committees