North Carolina has lost a titan of state politics with the passing of Jim Hunt, a four-term governor whose legacy in education and economic policy shaped the Tar Heel State for decades, as the New York Post reports.

In a nutshell, Hunt, who died peacefully at his Wilson County home on Thursday at age 88, served an unprecedented 16 years as governor across two stints, leaving an indelible mark on public education and steering the state toward a high-tech economy.

For hardworking taxpayers across North Carolina, Hunt’s policies often meant higher public spending on initiatives like early childhood programs, which could strain local budgets and increase financial burdens on families already grappling with tight margins.

Early Years and Political Rise

Born in Greensboro in 1937 and raised on a family farm in Wilson County, Hunt’s roots were humble before he ventured abroad to work with the Ford Foundation in Nepal after law school.

Back home, he climbed the Democratic ranks fast, becoming president of the state’s Young Democrats in 1968 and winning the lieutenant governor seat in 1972.

During that time, he collaborated with a Republican governor to make North Carolina the first state with full-day kindergarten -- a rare bipartisan win in an era of sharp divides.

Governorship and Economic Shifts

Elected governor in 1976, Hunt broke barriers by becoming the first to serve successive four-year terms after a constitutional tweak, holding office from 1977 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 2001.

Under his watch, the state pivoted from a reliance on textiles and tobacco to a modern, high-tech economy, a transition that reshaped job markets for better or worse.

While some celebrate this as progress, many rural communities feel left behind, grappling with job losses as traditional industries fade without a clear replacement.

Education Reforms and National Impact

Hunt’s passion for education reform put him on the national stage, helping establish the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the 1980s and pushing for standardized testing across the country.

In the 1990s, his Smart Start initiative became a model for early childhood education, though critics argue it bloated state budgets without guaranteed outcomes for every child.

“If there is one person that is responsible for remaking and reforming education in the nation, particularly in the Southeast and starting with North Carolina, it is Jim Hunt,” said former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes in 2009, a glowing tribute that sidesteps how these reforms often burdened local districts with unfunded mandates.

Later Years and Continued Influence

Even after leaving office in 2001, Hunt didn’t fade away, founding the Durham-based Hunt Institute to train political leaders on education policy and staying active in Democratic campaigns for figures like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Well into his 80s, he pressed Republican lawmakers to prioritize education funding over further income tax cuts -- a stance some might call noble, though it conveniently ignored the relief those cuts offered overtaxed citizens.

“He devoted his life to serving the people of North Carolina, guided by a belief that public service should expand opportunity,” said his daughter, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, a sentiment that rings true even if one questions whether bigger government was always the answer.