Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

For over a dozen years I served in various leadership positions in our community:

• Board Member and President of my Neighborhood Association, 1998 to present. By working with the Town and the University, we changed the development ground rules so that neighborhoods surrounding campus receive better protection from UNC growth.
• Planning Board member, 2004 - 2007.  I was catalyst for forming the Tree Protection Committee which has been instrumental in helping to draft a more comprehensive tree protection ordinance.
• Horace Williams Citizens Committee, Vice-Chair, 2005 - 2006. We completed the final report which the Council adopted as the guiding principles for the development of the Carolina North property.
• Citizens Budget & Finance Committee, Chair, 2004 - 2005. We assisted the Council in finding ways to keep a tax increase to a minimum.
• Chapel Hill Public Library Foundation, President, 2006 - 2009. During this time we raised over $300,000 for our public library to purchase books, DVDs, and other materials.
• Chapel Hill Public Library Building Committee member, 2006 - 2007. During this period we completed the plans for the library expansion.
• OWASA, 2007 - 2009, Strategic Planning Committee Chair, Community Outreach Community Chair, Budget and Finance Committee member. The Board guided our water utility through the unsettling period of our last major drought.

The next four years will be a critical time for the town of Chapel Hill as we face serious issues resulting from an unpredictable economic environment. This period will require the citizens of Chapel Hill to elect experienced common-sense leaders.

For over a dozen years I served in various leadership positions in our community.

Professionally, I have over twenty years experience with managing budgets through difficult economic cycles as the Chief Executive Officer of several privately held companies.

These experiences have collectively prepared me to help guide Chapel Hill through uncertain, yet exciting times. Thus I am announcing my candidacy for the Chapel Hill Town Council.

I believe the following major issues will be critical for our community in the next several years:

• Fiscal Responsibility - Finding a better balance between essential town services and progressive social policies. I will not be using taxpayer's dollars to finance this campaign.

• Thoughtful Growth - Managing responsible, aesthetic growth by revitalizing downtown, expanding the commercial tax base and infilling our transit corridors.

• Town Gown Relations - Partnering with the University for the community benefit as Carolina North and University Square's development begins.

• Environmental Awareness - Continuing the Town's stewardship of our environmental assets.

I am a local entrepreneur with deep roots in this community. My family has lived in Chapel Hill for the past thirteen years. My wife is active in the local arts community, my oldest daughter graduated from Chapel Hill High and UNC Chapel Hill, and my youngest graduated from East Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill is a very special place. I want to continue to work to make this an interesting, diverse, and stimulating place to live for everyone -- whether you are a life-long resident, a newcomer or someone who has yet to call Chapel Hill home.