Melanie Wade Goodwin

Melanie Wade Goodwin (July 22, 1970 – September 1, 2020) was an American politician who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 66th district as a member of the Democratic Party. She was the first member of the North Carolina General Assembly to give birth while in office.

Melanie Wade Goodwin
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 66th district
In office
January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2011
Preceded byWayne Goodwin (Redistricting)
Succeeded byKen Goodman
Personal details
Born(1970-07-22)July 22, 1970
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 2020(2020-09-01) (aged 50)
Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseWayne Goodwin
Children2
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)
Campbell University (JD)

Early life

Melanie Wade Goodwin was born to Albert and Nancy Wade on July 22, 1970, in Richmond, Virginia. in 1988, she graduated from Jesse O. Sanderson High School. In 1992, Goodwin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She later graduated from Campbell University with a Juris Doctor. In 2000, she was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar.[1][2]

On May 16, 1998, she married Wayne Goodwin, a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, with whom she had two children.[3][4]

North Carolina House of Representatives

In 2004, Wayne Goodwin announced that he would seek election as North Carolina's Labor Commissioner rather than seek a fifth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Melanie Goodwin ran as the Democratic nominee and won in the general election.[5][6] She was reelected in 2006, and 2008.[7][8] In 2009, she announced that she would not seek a fourth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[9]

In 2008, she gave birth to her second child, which was the first time a sitting member of the North Carolina General Assembly had given birth.[3]

Later life

Goodwin was appointed to serve as Deputy Commissioner of North Carolina's Industrial Commission on July 8, 2011. On March 1, 2019, she was named as Chief Deputy Commissioner by Chairman Philip Baddour III.[1]

In 2009, Goodwin was diagnosed with breast cancer, and died in Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 1, 2020.[3][10][11]

Electoral history

2008
North Carolina House of Representatives 66th district general election, 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Melanie Wade Goodwin (incumbent) 22,173 100%
Total votes 22,173 100%
Democratic hold

2006
North Carolina House of Representatives 66th district general election, 2006[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Melanie Wade Goodwin (incumbent) 9,578 70.55%
Republican David Browder 3,999 29.45%
Total votes 13,577 100%
Democratic hold

2004
North Carolina House of Representatives 66th district Democratic primary election, 2004[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Melanie Wade Goodwin 4,213 78.60%
Democratic Anthony G. Copeland 1,147 21.40%
Total votes 5,360 100%
North Carolina House of Representatives 66th district general election, 2004[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Melanie Wade Goodwin 18,240 94.85%
Independent Edward J. O’Neal (write-in) 990 5.15%
Total votes 19,230 100%
Democratic hold

References
  1. "Chief Deputy Commissioner's Biography". North Carolina Industrial Commission. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  2. "Melanie Wade Goodwin obituary". Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  3. "Ex-NC Rep. Goodwin, who made history with childbirth, dies". Associated Press. September 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020.
  4. "Unfinished business elsewhere". The News & Observer. October 29, 1998. p. 24. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Politics makes ..." The News & Observer. April 2, 2004. p. B5. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "2004 election results". Secretary of State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  7. "2006 election results". Secretary of State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  8. "2008 election results". Secretary of State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  9. "Rep. Goodwin won't run". The News & Observer. September 11, 2009. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Ex-NC Rep. Goodwin, who made history with childbirth, dies". Associated Press. September 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020.
  11. "Melanie Wade Goodwin". The News & Observer. September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  12. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  13. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  14. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  15. North Carolina State Board of Elections.
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