Nesbitt, who got his start by filling the unexpired state House term of his mother who died at 67, also died in office at 67.
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Led by a populism now lost in an era of partisanship, Nesbitt became a leading voice for mental health, education and the working poor.
“He was a giant figure,” said Sen. Dan Blue, a former House speaker who entered the legislature about the same time as Nesbitt. “He had a sense of mountain populism that ran through him and he sensed that his major charge was to look out for the average everyday person.”
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who served with Nesbitt in the legislature, said, “North Carolina has lost a great leader.”
“Martin was a fierce defender of his values, a champion for mental health, and a strong advocate for North Carolina’s children and public education system,” she said.
There are already discussions underway about who will be appointed to fill Nesbitt’s term. More on that soon.