Thomas Cowart Goolsby (born September 11, 1961) is a former
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
North Carolina State Senator representing
New Hanover County
New Hanover County is one of 100 counties located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 225,702. Though the second-smallest NC county in land area, it is one of the most populous, as its county seat, Wilm ...
.
A graduate of
The Citadel
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a Public college, public United States senior military college, senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1842, it is one ...
and regimental commander of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, Goolsby served as a
Marine Corps
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
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
Campbell University is a private Baptist university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (Southern Baptist Convention). Southern Baptist ConventionColleges and Universities sbc.net ...
.
Goolsby earned an
M.B.A.
A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as account ...
from
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University (GGU or Golden Gate) is a private university in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1901, GGU specializes in educating professionals through its schools of law, business, taxation, and accounting. The university offers s ...
and his
J.D. from the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
. 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. He lives in Wilmington with his wife Rachael and three children, Fleming, Lilli, and Alabama.
Political career
Election 2010
Goolsby won the race for District 9 of the
North Carolina State Senate
The North Carolina Senate is the upper chamber of the North Carolina General Assembly, which along with the North Carolina House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the state legislature of North Carolina. The term of office for e ...
in the November 2, 2010 general election. He defeated James Leutze (D) with 57% of the vote.
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.
Campaign contributions
In 2010, Goolsby raised $394,588 in campaign contributions.
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.
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.
As state senator
Goolsby sponsored legislation that repealed the state's
Racial Justice Act
The North Carolina Racial Justice Act of 2009 prohibited seeking or imposing the death penalty on the basis of race. It passed both the North Carolina State Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives and was signed into law by Governor Bev ...
, which had prohibited the imposition of the death penalty on the basis of race.
As a member of the University of North Board of Governors he favored the re-installation of the controversial statue "
Silent Sam
The Confederate Monument, University of North Carolina, commonly known as ''Silent Sam'', is a bronze statue of a Confederate soldier by Canadian sculptor John A. Wilson, which once stood on McCorkle Place of the University of North Carolin ...
" following its toppling by protesters.
Goolsby has penned a number of opinion columns in local newspapers critical of the
Moral Mondays
Moral Mondays are protests that originated in North Carolina, United States and emerged elsewhere in the United States. Led by religious progressives, the leaders of the protesters sought to restore "morality" in the public sphere. Protests began ...
protests, calling them "Moron Mondays" and later "Money Mondays", and referring to protestors as "mostly white, angry, aged former hippies."
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. 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.
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.
Senator Thom Goolsby: Committees
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External links
Official Senate Website
Senator Thom Goolsby: Committees
Thom Goolsby's official campaign Web site
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goolsby, Thom
1961 births
Living people
Campbell University faculty
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina alumni
Golden Gate University alumni
North Carolina lawyers
Republican Party North Carolina state senators
People from Dothan, Alabama
United States Marines
University of North Carolina School of Law alumni
21st-century American politicians