Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Over the last seven years, I have served on numerous appointed boards for CMS and Mecklenburg County and as such have worked to find better and more efficient ways to locate and build schools.  My involvement on these committees has allowed me to develop positive working relationships with many current CMS Board members and staff.  I am an advocate of jointly locating schools with other public facilities (libraries, parks, fire stations, etc.).  I also believe we need to lobby the North Carolina General Assembly to amend the regulations governing the use of lease-purchase construction agreements with private developers.

I am very familiar with the operations, issues and challenges of CMS.  As you learn more about my background, you will see that my wife, Janet, and I are products of CMS.  Janet is a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School and I graduated from Independence High School.  As a result of the growth in southern Mecklenburg County, my children have been among the first students to attend Hawk Ridge Elementary, Endhaven Elementary, and Community House Middle School.  They are currently attending Ardrey Kell High School.  In addition, to "opening" new schools, our family has also experienced the education challenges of having a special needs child in CMS.

I am a Scoutmaster, a Sunday school teacher and served as a Pop Warner football coach for 5 years.  In June, I was elected as Vice Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Parks-n-Recreation Commission.  Through these volunteer activities, I have the opportunity to talk to youth and their parents on a daily basis.  I understand their educational needs and desires.  More importantly, my volunteer activities provide me with the opportunity to teach youth to set and achieve personal goals while becoming leaders and productive citizens.

Candidate Statement:

As a youth growing up in Charlotte, I was constantly surrounded by men and women who took time away from their families and jobs to work with me and other youth like me.  These adults served as coaches, Boy Scout leaders, Sunday school teachers, youth group advisers, and Young Life leaders.  As I have grown older with children of my own, I have come to realize the profound impact these adults had shaping my life, political beliefs, and religious understandings.  As you learn more about me, you will quickly realize that much of my professional life has been spent dedicated to improving the economic health and vitality of local communities, while my volunteer activities have been focused on helping to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual lives of youth.

I bring a common sense, pragmatic leadership style to the District 6 race and I understand and respect the unprecedented opportunity to be part of a new board that will work to improve the relationship between the school system and the citizens of Mecklenburg County.  We need to develop a rational student assignment plan that ensures proximity of residence to school as a high priority, takes into consideration transportation costs, and keeps classmates together as they move through the system.  Fiscally, we need to look at consolidation of services with the county as a way to improve operational efficiencies and we need to identify additional savings in the capital program, such as uniform school designs, alternative school locations, and changes to the state's lease-purchase regulations.

My passion to positively impact the lives of youth in Mecklenburg County and my belief that a quality education is the key to success are the reasons I am seeking the District 6 School Board seat.  I ask for your support on November 3rd.