Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Mike Woodard was elected to the Durham City Council in November 2005.

During his tenure, Mike has concentrated on issues related to:

• land use and planning, serving two terms as chairman of the Joint City-County Planning Committee;
• transportation, serving as chairman of the regional Transportation Advisory Committee;
• the environment, serving on the Open Space and Trails Commission and the Environmental Affairs Board;
• economic development, serving on the board of Downtown Durham, Inc., and on various committees of the Durham Chamber of Commerce;
• crime and its root causes, having been an active member of Partners Against Crime, as well as co-founding the Durham Mentoring Alliance and serving as co-chairman of the Mayor's Task Force on Domestic Violence;
• neighborhoods, serving on the Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission and having served as president of the InterNeighborhood Council before his election; and
• recreation, serving on the Recreation Advisory Committee and the Hollow Rock Park Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional group planning an innovative new park.

In his professional life, Mike is a long-time administrator with Duke University and the Duke Health System. Currently, he works in the Financial Services Division on the implementation of Duke's computer-based financial system. He graduated from Duke with degrees in economics and political science.

Mike has been active in community affairs for more than 25 years. He served as State President of the North Carolina Jaycees and President of the Durham Jaycees, and in 2000 founded the TROSA Jaycees. In addition, Mike has held leadership roles with St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the Durham Rotary Club, the Durham Arts Council, the Dispute Settlement Center, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, and Triangle United Way.

Mike has been active in the Watts Hospital-Hillandale Neighborhood Association, and is the first elected official to be a graduate of Durham's Neighborhood College.

Candidate Statement:

In 2005, I made a very simple promise to the citizens of Durham -- that I'd be a councilman they could be proud of. Four years later, I've made good on that promise.

Our city has made great strides over the past four years, and I'm proud to have played a leadership role in helping us reach new heights. Yet we have much more to do, and I would like to continue to serve the citizens of Durham in making our city even greater.

In the next four years, I will continue to concentrate on the following issues:

• A safer Durham: finding short-term and long-term solutions to crime, especially youth crime and increasing domestic crime; providing adequate resources for our police officers and fire fighters; and making our streets and sidewalks safe to travel on.
• An economically viable Durham: spreading economic development to all parts of the city; investing in our neglected infrastructure; enhancing transportation options; providing affordable housing; and maintaining sustainable growth and sound land-use policies.
• A cleaner, greener Durham: continuing implementation of an effective comprehensive solid waste program; cleaner streets and public spaces; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; implementing plans for regional light rail; and energy efficient buildings and services that save tax dollars.
• Effective leadership: maintaining accessibility to all residents; maintaining accountability and confidence in City government; continuing excellent participation at Council and committee meetings, as well as attendance at public functions.

I respectfully ask for your vote on November 6 and for your continued support during the next four years.