Jim Perry (politician)

Jim Perry
Member of the North Carolina Senate from the 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 31, 2019
Preceded by	Louis Pate
Personal details
Born	1971/1972 (age 49–50) Lenoir County, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Kinston, North Carolina[1]
Alma mater	North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Businessman / Private Investor

James Perry (born c. 1972) is a Republican member of the North Carolina State Senate, representing the 7th district.^[2] He was elected to Senate Leadership in his first full term when he was unanimously chosen as Majority Whip for the 2021-2022 Biennium by his colleagues.

He was appointed to the state Senate on January 31, 2019 by Governor Roy Cooper, to replace Louis Pate, who resigned due to health reasons.^[3] As is typical for newly appointed lawmakers, Perry was challenged in the 2020 Republican Primary. He handily defeated his opponent with 66% of the vote. Notably, he won 86% of the vote in his home county of Lenoir. He then advanced to the general election, where he defeated his opponent by 11 points in a race that was forecasted to be competitive. Perry is a prolific fundraiser, and public records available via the State Board of Elections website indicate he was the number three fundraiser out of the 120 members of the general assembly during the 2020 election cycle.

Perry is known to be outspoken on issues impacting rural communities. His voting record indicates he advocates for limited government as well as fiscal and personal responsibility. He is known to be a pragmatic lawmaker who has a fondness for data and strong accounting skills. He has been quoted multiple times as saying "I don't like for Government to tell people how to live their lives."

Senator Perry serves as Chairman of Health Care, Chairman of Appropriations on Health and Human Services and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on storm-related river debris and damage. Additionally, Perry serves on Finance, Appropriations - Base Budget, Elections and Redistricting and Pensions and Retirement and Aging. Additionally, Senator Perry serves on the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission and the Child Fatality Task Force. ^[4]

Early in his career, he worked as a personnel consultant for the Acute Care Industry, with a focus on perioperative services. Later, Senator Perry worked in the Dental Industry for 20 years, where served as the Chief Operating Officer of a Private Equity owned Dental Service Organization with 240 locations in 40 states and over 2,500 employees under its umbrella.

Perry previously served on the Board of Trustees for Lenoir Community College, where he and his wife funded an endowed scholarship. He has served on various non profit and association boards.

Senator Perry was a first generation college student. He was a 95B (Military Policeman) and utilized a GI Bill, Pell Grants and Student loans to pay for his college education. Perry earned an associate degree at Lenoir Community College. He then completed a bachelor's degree at North Carolina State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He later earned an MBA from Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a private investor who enjoys hunting and fishing in his semi retirement.

He and his wife, Rebecca, have three daughters: Taylor, Reagan and Jordan.

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