Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

I was born and raised in eastern North Carolina and understand the issues and challenges of people, businesses, and municipalities in our part of the state. I know and appreciate the value and benefits of living in both small towns and dynamic cities. I have also traveled abroad extensively. Wherever I go -- in North Carolina, other states, or around the world -- I find that it is always the vital neighborhoods and dynamic business environment that make communities excellent.

I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I double majored in journalism and psychology. In seminary and graduate school, at Florida State University, I majored in Christian Studies and the history of religions. I also received a degree in clinical psychology from ECU and worked as a therapist in Greenville part-time for 10 years.

At ECU, where I have taught since 1985, I have worked to provide, for the broader community, various opportunities, such as the annual "Jarvis Lecture on Christianity and Culture," one of the most popular lecture series at the university. For seven years I led summer study abroad programs to Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Some of my research addresses the societal impact of unfolding biomedical science and attempts to generate a needed conversation to prepare us for future developments. On the City Council and at ECU I will continue to work to help ECU be a good citizen of the community so that all of our lives can be enriched.

Community participation has been a priority for me over the years. I served on the Ayden-Grifton-Winterville Mental Health Satellite Advisory Board, co-founded a rape and spouse abuse program, and served as president of a telephone crisis line volunteer organization. My civic involvement also includes frequent speaking at area churches and other organizations.

In this very challenging economic environment, I am proud to have worked on developing a prudent city budget, which required no cuts in essential services and no increases in taxes. Indeed, the city has been able to hire, or has budgeted for, 9 new police officers, 12 new fire and rescue workers, and a neighborhood ombudsman, and significantly upgraded its law enforcement technology. Forbes magazine recently ranked Greenville #2 in the nation in its list of "Best Small Places for Business and Careers," citing our high job and income growth and low cost of doing business.

With your help I will continue to work for:

- Smart, planned growth that benefits all our citizens, small and large businesses, and neighborhoods.
- Quality of life initiatives that build a city where people can live, work, and play safely.
- An informed, active citizenry that fosters open, responsible government.
I will continue to approach issues thoughtfully and with the interests of all our people, businesses, and neighborhoods in mind. I have a vision of Greenville as a vibrant educational, health, and cultural hub in North Carolina; a powerful economic center with many biotech, green, and other industries; a beautiful, walkable, bikeable, inclusive, safe city with a dynamic uptown; and a city famous for its towering oak trees, flowered parks, clean air, and healthy citizens. We must act today to make sure our city is a place where we and our children and our grandchildren will enjoy living and working.

As exemplified in my Town Hall meetings and my twice-monthly newsletter -- now sent by request to interested citizens -- I will keep you informed about your city government and explain my votes on important issues.