Mel Watt

Mel Watt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1993
Preceded by	None (District Created After 1990 Census)
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Eulada Watt
Residence	Charlotte, North Carolina
Alma mater	University of North Carolina, Yale University
Occupation	attorney

Melvin Luther (Mel) Watt (born August 26, 1945), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing the North Carolina's 12th congressional district.

Born in Steele Creek, North Carolina, a community in the southwest corner of Charlotte. He served a single term in the North Carolina Senate (1985–1986), before returning to his law practice and running private business. He was elected to the House in 1992 by defeating Barbara Gore Washington (R) and Curtis Wade Krumel (L). He serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He previously served on the Joint Economic Committee. In the 109th Congress, he chaired the Congressional Black Caucus. He is a member of the NAACP.

One of the most liberal Southern Democrats, Watt was elected to his seventh consecutive term in the 2004 Congressional elections, earning 67 percent of the popular vote and defeating Republican Ada Fisher.

Early life

Watt is a graduate of York Road High School in Charlotte. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967 with a BS degree in Business Administration and was the president of the business honors fraternity as a result of having the highest academic average in the Business School. In 1970 he received a JD degree from Yale University Law School and was a published member of the Yale Law Journal. He has been awarded honorary degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Bennett College and Fisk University.

Family

Watt is married to Eulada Paysour Watt, an educator. They have two sons, Brian and Jason, both of whom are graduates of Yale University and have earned graduate degrees.

Career

Watt practiced law from 1970-1992, specializing in minority business and economic development law in a general practice law firm best known for its civil rights reputation. He has been an owner of several small businesses.

Watt was the campaign manager of Harvey Gantt's campaigns for City Council, for Mayor of Charlotte and for the United States Senate. Watt served one term in the North Carolina Senate (1985-86) where he was called “the conscience of the Senate.” He did not seek a second term in the state Senate and announced that he would not consider running for elective office again until his children completed high school.

Accomplishments

In 1992, Watt was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 12th Congressional District and became one of only two African American members elected to Congress from North Carolina in the 20th century.

Watt was unanimously elected and served as the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (2005-2006).

Watt is a member of the Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church and a life member of the NAACP. He served as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar and has been a member of many professional, community and civic boards and organizations.

Since 1995 he has been the starting pitcher for the Democratic baseball team in the annual Congressional Baseball Game and was named most valuable player in 1995, 1996 and 2000.

Committee Assignments

• Financial Services Committee
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Chairman)
• Judiciary Committee
  • Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
  • Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property
  • Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

Controversies

Gerrymandered district

The 12th district, in its original configuration, was criticized as a gerrymandered district. It was originally drawn in 1992 as a 64 percent black majority district stretching from Gastonia to Durham. It was very long and thin as it followed Interstate 85 almost exactly. The Wall Street Journal called the district "political pornography." It was thrown out as unconstitutional in 1996 and has been redrawn several times.

Regardless of the district's configuration, Watt has had virtually no difficulty winning reelection in the heavily Democratic district.

Opposition to increased oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

In 2003, Watt opposed efforts by the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans to increase regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "I don't see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing", Mr. Watt said.

Ralph Nader incident

In 2004, Ralph Nader attended a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus, where he alleges that Congressman Watt twice uttered an "obscene racial epithet" towards him. It was alleged that Watt said: "You're just another arrogant white man — telling us what we can do — it's all about your ego — another f--king arrogant white man." Although Nader wrote a letter to the Caucus demanding an apology, none was offered.

External links

• Congressman Mel Watt official U.S. House site
• Mel Watt for Congress official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• Congressman Watt Elected to Be Chair of the CBC civilrights.org, December 13, 2004