New Bern, NC -- Rep. William Wainwright who served for four years as the No. 2 leader of the chamber has died at age 64.
Rep. Wainwright of Craven County died just before 6 p.m. Tuesday at Carolina East Medical Center, a caretaker said.
Wainwright had medical issues over the past two or three months, including heart problems.
He first joined the Legislature in 1991 and was elected House speaker pro tempore in 2007. He served in that position for four years and was a close ally of Gov. Bev Perdue.
Wainwright was most recently deputy minority leader.
Associated Press