WS Chronicle

Ken Spaulding, a former state legislator and Durham attorney, has already announced his intention to run for governor in 2016.

The Democrat cited the new voter suppression law – which he calls a continued effort by Gov. Pat McCrory and the extremists of the Republican Party to turn the clock back – as a main motivation for his running.

“I am willing to make this effort and sacrifice for the people of this state who are hurting and tired of the professional politicians making our lives harder and our children’s lives less secure,” he said.

Spaulding filed his organizational papers with the State Board of Elections last August and has been raising funds and getting his name out since then. He raised an impressive $100,000 in the last quarter of 2013. Education, the respect for teachers and state employees, jobs, business, Medicaid expansion, women’s rights, veteran’s rights, unemployment benefits extension, and seniors’ rights are all issues that Spaulding has been campaigning on as he has been traveling the state.

Spaulding is a graduate of Howard University and the UNC School of Law. He served in a number of internships, including ones with United States Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.

1974, Spaulding initiated and executed negotiations that eliminated segregated caseloads for parole and probation officers throughout the entire state of North Carolina. During his early career, he also represented Durham City police officers in winning approval from the Durham City Council for off-duty court time pay.

In 1978, Spaulding was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, where he served until 1984, when he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House. While in the General Assembly, he introduced and secured passage of the state’s first Rape Victim Assistance Program. He also helped to aid a special provision to the state budget that allowed adults who were unable to read or write to attend any of the state’s community colleges at no cost to achieve literacy and introduced the legislation that allowed public housing tenants the opportunity to serve and vote on local housing authority boards.

Spaulding is the son of Asa T. Spaulding Sr., former president of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Elna Spaulding, Durham’s first female county commissioner. He and his wife, Wendy, have five children.

Learn more about Spualding at www.kenspaulding.com.