Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

David L. Howard was born and raised in Charlotte, where he works daily to improve conditions for all citizens of his hometown. He has been Vice President of Special Projects and Community Affairs of The Housing Partnership since 1997.

Locally, his most visible role has been that of immediate-past chairman of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission. David has been successful in reformatting, redefining and restructuring the commission and the role of chairman. In addition to his role as chairman, David has served on the nominating committee and retreat follow-up committee in his six years on the commission.

On a national level, David has been appointed as an Urban Community Adviser for the National Urban Land Institute (ULI) in Washington DC. This nine member committee provides expert insight on urban development matters. Additionally, David was selected as a 2009 American Memorial Fellow by The German Marshal Fund of Washington, DC. Awarded annually to 55 emerging leaders from across the United States, this fellowship gave him the opportunity to travel to Europe this summer, where he visited five counties over a 25-day period.

David has also been working in Charlotte's communities for more than 16 years. As an avid political follower, he was honored to represent the Office of Congressman Mel Watt (NC12) at the 2003 & 2004 National African American Leadership Summits on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. David has also served on numerous non-profit and community organization boards, demonstrating his respect for Charlotte's past, while building for its future.

David is married to Mary Walker-Howard (Charlotte) and has three children and one grandson. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, holds a BA in Sociology and a certification as a Housing Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.

Candidate Statement:

The City of Charlotte deserves: strong, diverse neighborhoods; a robust employment structure that both hires and retains its citizens; and city government dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life. We require leadership that is knowledgeable, involved, pragmatic and able to leverage past strengths to build a solid foundation for our future.

If Charlotte is to fulfill its glorious potential, we must learn from our past, commit to improving our present and establish a solid foundation for our future.

If and when I'm elected to serve, I will be completely dedicated to addressing the unique needs of Charlotte and its citizens. My primary goals are to:

1. Strengthen and preserve our neighborhoods 2. Support efforts to create new jobs and promote job retention 3. Improve the quality of life for all of our citizens by promoting public safety, improved air quality, accessible and amenable transportation options, better conditions for the elderly and other strong community minded initiatives

By achieving these goals, we will be optimally positioned to take advantage of the new opportunities that will invariably arise once our nation's current economic challenges subside. Charlotte's future is bright and full of potential. I believe that my vision, thoughts and ideas can help more fully bring that potential to fruition.

As a council member, I will establish strong working relationships with businesses and neighborhoods alike. We all share the same ultimate goal: safe communities where people can live, work and play. As a husband and a father in this city, Charlotte's issues affect me on a personal level. In addressing them head-on, I will be simultaneously serving your best interests and those of my own family.