Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

My wife and I grew up in Edgecombe County and chose to return after college graduation.  We are the parent of three adult daughters, all graduates of Edgecombe County Public Schools.  Our oldest daughter graduated with B.S. and M.D. degrees from East Carolina University.  Our middle daughter received B.S. degrees from North Carolina State University and will graduate in May from NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine with a D.V.M.  Our youngest daughter is a graduate of East Carolina University's College of Nursing.  My wife, a Meredith College graduate, completed her MAEd at East Carolina University.  An educator for 27 years, she pioneered the Help One Student to Succeed (H.O.S.T.S.) program in our local elementary schools.  A National Board certified teacher, she currently teaches reading.

After graduation from East Carolina University, I entered the retail sales business in 1977.  In recent years, I have weathered some of the toughest economic times in my 33 years of being in business.  I presently serve on two boards -- the Edgecombe County Board of Adjustments and the West Edgecombe Rescue Squad Board of Directors.  I was one of three principles in the planning, incorporating, and building of the West Edgecombe Rescue Squad that opened in 1984.  During my years of service in the rescue squad, I was Chairman of the Board of Directors for three years and an active Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) from 1984-1987.  I was also a member of the West Edgecombe Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, serving as treasurer and overseeing the financing of the current WEVFD building.  I am extremely active in my church, West Edgecombe Baptists, serving in various roles.  Most recently, I chaired the committee that was responsible for planning and building our family life center that has approximately 10,000 square feet and was completed in 2008.

I feel that my strongest qualification for candidacy as Edgecombe County Commissioner is that I am fortunate enough to have been formally educated.  I strongly believe that education is the greatest contributing factor to the success of ANY individual.  Likewise, I believe that my success in the retail business and the fact that I was able to put three children through college and professional school without any financial assistance illustrates that I am a fiscally responsible person, a second qualification that makes me a strong candidate.  Having lived in Edgecombe County my entire life and having chosen to raise my children here, I have been and will continue to be dedicated to this great county, constituting my third qualification for commissioner.  From my candidate biography, you can see that I firmly believe active involvement in one's community is essential for any candidate seeking public office.  I am not about to become involved in our county -- I have been involved all of my life.

As the prospective District 6 Edgecombe County Commissioner, I wish I could guarantee lower taxes, more jobs, and new industry. However, in these harsh economic times, we must acknowledge that these things are unrealistic and simply cannot be promised.  Rather, I believe that we must examine our county's expenses in hopes of reducing them.  Wasted tax dollars is one of the greatest tragedies at the federal, state, and local levels and I believe anyone in a position of county service has an obligation to all residents to eliminate inappropriate spending.  Though I cannot promise lower taxes and more jobs, I can promise that I will be dedicated to the residents of Edgecombe County.  I will work for the greater good of our county, with emphasis on education and the judicious spending of the county's tax dollars.