Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr. (born February 15, 1947) was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly until he admitted to misappropriating over $200,000 in campaign donations. On May 16, 2017, he was sentenced in Federal Court in Winston-Salem. NC to eight months in Federal prison. He represented the state's thirty-sixth North Carolina Senate district, including constituents in Cabarrus and Union counties. An attorney from Concord, North Carolina, Hartsell has served in the state Senate since 1991.
Early life and education
Fletcher Hartsell was born on February 15, 1947, in Concord, North Carolina. Hartsell is the son of Doris W. Hartsell and the late Fletcher L. Hartsell Sr. of Concord. His father worked at Cannon Mills.
Following his graduation from Concord High School (North Carolina), Hartsell attended Davidson College where he earned an AB in Political Science in 1969. He served as Second Vice President in the Student Government Association.
Following his undergraduate studies at Davidson, Hartsell went on to study at Univ. of North Carolina School of Law where he obtained his J.D. degree. He made Dean's List and served as a Research Assistant to Professor Laurens Walker and Contributor to work on the December 1972 Harvard Law Review article "Adversary Presentation and Bias in Legal Decision Making."
Hartsell is an active alumnus having served on the Board of Visitors (1998–2002) and the General Alumni Association. He is currently a regional representative to the Law Alumni association.
Career
Fletcher Hartsell currently serves as President of Hartsell & Williams, P.A. in Concord, NC. He has been employed there since 1972. Notable service during his legal career includes the following: Barber–Scotia College – Adjunct Professor – Constitutional Law (1997) Cabarrus County Schools attorney (1979–97) Cabarrus County attorney (1985–2004, 2004–05) Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County, Attorney (1992–present) 19-A Judicial District Bar Association Secretary-Treasurer (1983–84 and 1987–97) President (1985–86) Cabarrus County Bar Association: President (1986–87) N.C. Bar Association, Board of Governors (2006–2009)
Military service
Fletcher Hartsell served in the US Army Reserves as a First Lieutenant. He was an Honor Graduate Officer Basic Course, U. S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, November 1972.
Religious leadership
Fletcher Hartsell has served throughout his life within the Southern Baptist Convention. He is currently a member of First Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC where he serves as an usher and Sunday School Teacher.
McGill Baptist Church (1955–91, 1992–2005) Deaconate (Chairman 1979–80, 1987–88) Sunday School Teacher Church Training Director Brotherhood Director West Cabarrus Church (1991–92) "Tentmaker Family" Sunday School Teacher Honorary Life Member Cabarrus Baptist Association Baptist Men's Director (1987–89) Parliamentarian (1985–89) New Church Starts Committee (1997–2001) Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Regional Baptist Men's Director (1988–90) Assistant Parliamentarian (1989) Christian Women's Job Corps of North Carolina Founding Board of Directors (1999–2001) Baptist Retirement Homes of North Carolina, Inc. Trustee (1998-2002) Southern Baptist Convention Overseas Missions Volunteer Guatemala (1985, 1986 and 2013) Bermuda (1987) Honduras (2000) National Fellowship of Baptist Lawyers (Secretary, 1989)
Civic activity
Fletcher Hartsell is actively involved in a variety of state and local associations including the following: Cabarrus Community Health Centers, Inc.: Incorporator and Founding Director (2003–12) Concord High School P.T.S.O.: Co-president (1995–96) Cabarrus Academy (now Cannon School) Board of Trustees (1984–88) Chair (1986–87) Concord Rotary Club (1982–present) North Carolina Economic Development Board: Member (2002–13) Public School Forum of North Carolina: Board of Directors (1997–2003) North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research: Board of Directors (1997–99) Gold History Corporation: Board of Directors (1995–2002) North Carolina Center for Voter Education: Board of Directors (2003–05)
Fletcher Hartsell serves on the board of directors of the conservative nonprofit Rightchange.com.
Political career
Hartsell faced no primary challenger and went on to defeat Democrat Mike Helms in the general election.
In 2012, Hartsell ran unopposed.