Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I have a degree in Chemistry. I have held responsible management positions in international and national companies primarily in the medical products field.

Currently I am President of a small consulting company, J Shea Inc, and have extensive consulting experience, serving clients in Asia, Europe, and North America in the medical products fields. I am also a member of the Board of Directors of Biodelivery Sciences International Inc., serving as a Chairman of their Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of their Audit Committee.

A resident of Dare County for 21 years, I am completing a first term as County Commissioner and serving as Chairman of the County Audit Committee. I am a member of the Tourism Board, Serving on the Finance and Budget Committee and Grant Committee. I am a member of Dare County Airport Authority having served as a Vice chair.

Additionally, I have served as a Chairman of the Pastoral Council of my church, Flotilla Commander of the local Coast Guard Auxiliary operating in Dare County and in prior years a Flotilla operating in the New York area and served as President of a community blood bank in New Jersey.

I have been actively involved with efforts to keep open the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area for public access from threats from those who wish to drastically restrict human access to these public beaches and in efforts to replace the Bonner bridge, the major access to the southern part of Dare County. 

This bridge is well past its design life and is the major access for goods, services and emergencies for residents and visitors to the southern part of the County. A failure of this vital lifeline could have catastrophic affects for residents and visitors.

Dare County like many other counties in our state is facing many challenges for the coming years. These include declining revenues due to the state of the economy, high unemployment, a need to continue to provide essential services and in some cases increased demand because of the economy, the possibility that the Federal Government and our State will force additional unfunded mandates down to the county level because of shortfalls in revenues at the Federal and State level and potential new legislation.

We in Dare County are also faced with the possibility that when the Park Service issues the final regulations for public access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, some time after January, 2011, these may be more restrictive than those presently in effect. Should this happen, further restricting peoples access to these beaches will result in another blow to our economy which is based in large part on our tourist industry.

For the County to continue to provide essential services for our residents, it will require the Board of Commissioners and County Managers to develop solutions and seek ways to bring new sources of employment and revenues to provide these services without eliminating services or solving these problems through increased taxes alone.

I believe my experience and managerial abilities will enable me to help lead Dare County into the future and cope with the present and future challenges.