▁to ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Georgia ▁and ▁gradu ating ▁with ▁an ▁Ed D ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 . ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁becoming ▁a ▁r ental ▁property ▁owner ▁and ▁manager , ▁Black wood ▁was ▁an ▁educ ator ▁and ▁school ▁administrator ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁ ▁Cong r essional ▁campaign , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Black wood ▁ran ▁for ▁Congress ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁against ▁long - term ▁inc umb ent ▁Bill ▁He f ner . ▁That ▁year , ▁Black wood ' s ▁main ▁primary ▁oppon ent ▁was ▁car ▁deal er ▁Sh err ill ▁Morgan ▁who ▁was ▁the ▁Republic ans ' ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁nom ine e ▁to ▁face ▁He f ner . ▁Morgan ▁only ▁lost ▁by ▁four ▁percentage ▁points ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁and ▁was ▁heavily ▁fav ored ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁nom ination ▁to ▁face ▁He f ner ▁again . ▁Morgan ▁did ▁not ▁get ▁enough ▁votes ▁to ▁avoid ▁a ▁run - off ▁election ▁and ▁Black wood ▁won ▁the ▁run - off ▁with ▁almost ▁ 6 4 % ▁of ▁the ▁vote . ▁He ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁lose ▁the ▁general ▁election ▁to ▁He f ner . ▁ ▁State ▁sen ate ▁campaign , ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁Black wood ▁next ▁sought ▁to ▁win ▁a ▁seat ▁in ▁the ▁North ▁Carolina ▁Senate ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁district . ▁There ▁were ▁two ▁seats ▁available ▁in ▁the ▁district ▁and ▁Black wood ▁along