Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Donald R. (Don) Vaughan grew up in Greensboro.

He entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970 and was the first person to be awarded highest honors in speech in 1974. Following graduation, he received a Lectureship to the School of Government and Public Administration at American University in Washington to teach undergraduate political science and attend graduate school. Looking for a job to help pay his way through graduate school, he sat on the doorstep of then - United States Senator Sam Ervin, hoping to be the first person to get a job when the new United States Senator from North Carolina arrived in 1975. Senator Robert Morgan hired Don as his legislative clerk, where he served two years before returning to law school at Wake Forest University School of Law. Following graduation he was hired by Governor James B. Hunt's economic advisor to work as an attorney to the Governor's small and large business councils.

Don has since practiced law in Greensboro from his downtown law office. He was first elected in 1991 to the Greensboro City Council, serving two terms as Mayor Pro Tem. He married the love of his life Nancy Mincello in 1999, also a member of the City Council. Their daughter Catherine was born in 2000 and she is entering the second grade this year.

I love Greensboro. I was born here and have chosen to practice law and raise my family here. I believe I can make a positive difference for our city at the North Carolina General Assembly. I have over forty years of experience serving our community, since my teenage days as Parks and Recreation playground director to my time on the Greensboro City Council, to the many boards and commissions on which I've been pleased to serve. I have always been proud to call Greensboro home.

I am a proven leader for Greensboro. Serving on City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem, I have led the fight on jobs for the region and infrastructure around the Triad.

As a member of the General Assembly, I will be a strong advocate for Greensboro.  I will bring experience, honesty and sensible solutions to the General Assembly. I have always made this my home, and I recognize the issues most important to North Carolina and our region.