Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I grew up in Guilford County, spending most of my life as a resident of High Point, attending what were then High Point City Schools, and graduating from High Point Central High School.  I received degrees from both Davidson College (BA) and Wake Forest University (MBA). 

My interest in public service grew from an appointment on High Point's Planning & Zoning Commission, 1992-1998.  My final year I was chairman of the commission.  Since 2000 I have been a member of High Point City Council as the Ward 4 representative.  Presently I am a member of council's Finance Committee and chair of the Planning & Development Committee.  As a council member, I also serve on two regional governmental organizations:  the Piedmont Triad Council of Government Executive Board (PTCOG) and the board of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (P.A.R.T.).  

During my time on council, two initiatives stand out as important milestones for our city ... the establishment of our Furniture Market Authority, and the beginning of our effort for core city revitalization (The City Project).  The Furniture Market Authority has enabled the High Point Market to retain its position as the world's premier wholesale residential furniture market, strengthening the twice yearly gathering of 80,000 visitors as the largest business event in North Carolina.  The City Project is in the early stages of implementation, and promises to bring vitality back to our older industrial and retail neighborhoods. 

My wife of 34 years is a Spanish instructor and chairs the foreign language department where she teaches.  Our son is a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy, and our daughter is in her final semester of law school.  I make my living working in the furniture industry, supplying component parts to furniture manufacturers. 

After ten years as High Point's Ward 4 City Council representative, I am seeking the District 2 seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.  City government is best served by bringing in new people with fresh perspectives to the process.  The other reason for pursuit of the Commissioner's seat is that High Point deserves more vigorous representation in Guilford County government.

Of primary concern is our county's current push to consolidate municipal services under the county's umbrella.  In February of this year, Guilford County presented the City of Greensboro with a joint resolution urging the merger of the following governmental services:  land use planning (zoning), inspections, purchasing, human resources, parks & recreation, and geographic information systems (GIS).  With only 16% of the population living outside our cities, expansion of Guilford County government makes little sense. 84% of residents live within the corporate limits of Guilford County cities, making it the fourth most urbanized county in North Carolina, just behind Mecklenburg, Durham, and Forsyth. 

There is no deficiency in High Point's ability to perform the services that Guilford County seeks to control.  I suspect the same goes for other cities in our county. The county has less experience in these functional areas, and consolidation will invite inefficiency.  We should remember the last instance of Guilford County consolidation ... Guilford County Schools.  High Point and other Guilford cities are best served from local city halls ... not from a county office building complex in downtown Greensboro.

Collaboration between county and city government needs to be strengthened to best serve all the residents of Guilford.  I pledge to work toward a more cooperative and collaborative relationship between Guilford County government and the City of High Point.  Ten years of experience on regional boards and as a city councilman will certainly help in these efforts.

Thank you.