Kenneth Lewis (North Carolina attorney)
Kenneth (Ken) Lewis (born 1961) is an attorney from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2009, he announced his run for the United States Senate in North Carolina.
Professional career
Lewis graduated from Duke University and Harvard Law School, while working on campus during the semester and temp jobs in the summer. In 1987, Lewis was the first African-American lawyer hired by Moore & Van Allen, where he later became the first African-American partner. His specialty was business law. After years at Moore & Can Allen, he started his own law practice providing legal services to nonprofit organizations and small businesses. His clients included a nationally-recognized Small Business Administration lender called the Self-Help Ventures Fund; The Downtown Housing Improvement Corporation, one of North Carolina’s most successful nonprofit housing developers; and several nationally-prominent affordable housing and community development organizations. In 2006, the firm merged with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, a North Carolina based law firm.
Political career
While working as an attorney, Lewis served in various non-profit organizations in North Carolina. He served on the Governor’s Efficiency Commission, which sought to reduce budget deficits and improve the delivery of services by state government in North Carolina. He also was on the Board of Directors of the Center for Community Self-Help, that tries to improve the lives of North Carolinians by providing low-interest financing to small business, supporting employee-owned businesses, fighting predatory lending practices, and transforming neighborhoods through community development. He also served on the Treasurer’s Public Finance Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, the leading organization in the Research Triangle Park devoted to supporting innovative start-up and growth companies. He also served in leadership roles in Planned Parenthood, Action for Children, Children First and the North Carolina Baptist Hospital.
In 2009 Lewis announced that he is running in the May 4 Democratic Primary for United States Senate. In the primary, his opponents are Cal Cunningham and Elaine Marshall. The winner of the primary will face U.S. Senator Richard Burr.
Private life
Lewis is married to Holly Ewell Lewis. They live in Chapel Hill with their three children, Evan (15), Marshall (14) and Maya (9).