Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Like many Cary residents, Jennifer Robinson moved to Cary, North Carolina in pursuit of a better quality of life for her family. She transplanted from Virginia in 1995 to work in the software industry.

Before leaving the workforce to focus her time on her children and Council work, Jennifer worked on a variety of software systems for both government agencies and private companies.

"Throughout both my career and my public service, I have always held firm to the values of my father who raised me to 'leave a place better than you found it'."

Jennifer became active in local government issues soon after moving to Cary. As a community acitivist, she advocated on behalf of her neighbors for many years and served on Cary's Growth Management Task Force. In 1999, she was appointed to serve the last two years of a seat on the Cary Town Council. Jennifer has subsequently been re-elected to the Cary Town Council twice.

Jennifer is the Council's representative to the Cary Economic Development Commission, the Cary Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board, and the Triangle J Council of Governments. In addition, she is active in Cary's Chamber of Commerce and gives her time to many organizations that promote quality of life for our citizens. Jennifer is the founding president of the Cary Community Foundation which gives every citizen and business of Cary an opportunity to give back to their community.

Jennifer lives is western Cary with her husband, Paul, and their four children (ages 12, 10, 6 and 3). In addition to her Council work, Jennifer has enjoyed coaching her son's soccer team, being an active volunteer and room-mom in her children's school, and teaching 5th/6th Grade Girls' Sunday School. When she is not working, Jennifer also enjoys exercising at the YMCA, cycling, gardening, and painting.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve as a Councilmember for the Town of Cary for the last ten years.   I strive to be a strong advocate for the citizens of Cary, focusing on the matters that are of highest priority to residents: good planning, sound budgeting, provision of important roads, services and amenities, protection of the environment and open space, economic development, and careful attention to infill development. 

In working hard to get things done for District A, I have helped to achieve:

• Land plans that guide location and densities of new growth
• Land banking program to reserve land now for future purposes
• Tree Preservation Task Force and ordinance changes
• Regional library in western Cary
• Land acquisition for future Agriculture Park
• Expansion of important roads: Hwy 55, Davis Drive, High House Road, Louis Stephens Drive, Green Level to Durham Road, and Morrisville Parkway
• Renovation of Cary Elementary
• Land preservation and greenway development
• Traffic signals at problem intersections and the synchronized signal system
• Ceiling on percentage of operating budget used to cover debt
• Maintenance of a generous fund balance reserve for emergencies

As the Town handles the fragile balance between careful budgeting and the provision of services, we need a Council that recognizes the priorities of the citizens and business community.  If re-elected to serve as the representative for District A, I will continue to listen to the citizens' concerns and represent the interests of our community as we address:

• Sound planning for balanced growth
• Improving roads to ease traffic congestion
• Preserving open space
• Expanding greenway and cycling facilities
• Improving our local economy
• Responsible budgeting
• Ensuring a high quality of life for all citizens