Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

I have been blessed during my life. My wife Mary and I have two boys, Harrison and Benjamin, who attend elementary school in Chapel Hill. We own our home and actively participate in various community, church, and professional organizations. 

I grew up in the Village of Poland, Ohio, son of a laborer and homemaker, one of five siblings. My father was a janitor in our public school system, disabled at the age of 43. Our family struggled to make ends meet.  To help out, I worked part-time jobs throughout junior and high school.  Fortunate to attain an excellent education from a terrific public school system, my childhood experiences motivated me to attend college. I look back fondly on those days -- in a small town in America.

First in my family to attend college, I earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1981 and began a 13-year career with General Motors.  First, as a product engineer, I excelled to lead engineer within three years.  From 1984 -1986 I earned an MBA, with a major in Finance from Indiana University (IU).  I returned to General Motors in Finance and worked for the Saturn project, the Electric Vehicle program and the corporate finance group at GM headquarters.  From 1990-1994, I attended law school at IU.  From 1994 to present I have been a successful attorney, starting my own law firm in 2001.

Actively involved since 1990, I volunteer in church and civic organizations. I was Treasurer for the Knights of Columbus, a Co-Director of the Operation LAMB program (raise funds for the mentally handicapped in our community), and a Fund Raiser for the Boy Scouts.  Professionally, I am a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) since 1995 and have served as Vice-Chair and Chair of two committees.

As mayor of Chapel Hill, I will lead by example to respect the environment, protect and improve our neighborhoods and downtown, and support education at "all levels" in our town.  I will bring common sense, open public dialog and accountability back to Chapel Hill.  For too long the voice of the residents has been ignored in favor of closed-door meetings and partisan games.  I Love Chapel Hill and returned here several years ago to enjoy the wonderful life style I remembered.  We can continue to prosper as a community by managing our growth using "smart growth," being fiscally prudent, and renewing and protecting the legacy of our downtown and neighborhoods.  Although economic times will continue to affect our major employers (UNC, BC/BS, & the School system), we can still prosper as a community.  Open, Fair, Responsible and Reasonable government will be my model to aspire to and employ.  With my broad base of experience and focused leadership, providing more balanced decisions that are cost effective and results oriented; Chapel Hill will prosper to even greater heights. 

For the past two years, council member Matt Czajkowski has tried to raise a number of important issues during town council meetings, but found himself without an ally to second many of his motions regarding the important issues we face.  If Matt is elected as Mayor, most likely there will be no other moderate, reasonable voice on the council and therefore, no one to second his motions.  However, voting for me as mayor and keeping Matt as a Town Council member, together we will bring back a balanced perspective.  As mayor, I will build a productive, cooperative bridge between Matt and the rest of the town council.

Please vote for me, Kevin Wolff, as Mayor of Chapel Hill.