Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

George is a life long resident of Mecklenburg County, born and reared in Pineville. He attended Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and is a graduate of South Mecklenburg High School. After finishing high school, he entered the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where he received meritorious promotions to the rank of PFC and Lance Corporal. He obtained the rank of Sergeant by the end of his enlistment in 1976. George returned to Charlotte and served as a counselor for the National conference of Christians and Jews, now the National Council of Community and Justice. In 1978, he was employed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and served 27 years, 12 of which he spent as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer (DARE) until he retired in June of 2005.

George received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2003. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1991. In 1983, George received an Associate Degree in Correctional Science from Central Piedmont Community College and in 1979; he received an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement. He was a spring of 1992 Fellow in the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and was a Fellow in the Broad Institute of Governance.

George is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, and he continues to serve on a number of other boards and commissions; to include, serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at St. Paul Baptist Church, Board of Directors for Cities in Schools, advisory board of the Charlotte Junior League to name a few.

George was elected to the board of Education in 1995, was re-elected each term thereafter, until he was appointed to serve on the County Commission in 2008.

After having served 16 years as an elected official, I am still passionate about serving the residents of this community. I accomplished much during my tenure as a school board member and I continue to stand up for the residents of this community as a member of the County Commission.

As a Commissioner, I chair the County's Efficient and Effective Government Committee; serve as a member of the Economic Development Committee, and the Criminal Justice Safety Committee. Additionally, I serve as Chairman of the Centralina Government Economic Development Commission and as the liaison for the Mecklenburg County Fire Commission.

A few of my accomplishments on the County Commission include: (1) my opposition to tax re-evaluation, which led to a unanimous vote to delay property re-evaluation in this community until 2011; (2) my research and study of the water rates, which lead to a much fairer County water rate for the residents of our community; and (3) my efforts to bring Child Support Enforcement under the county’s authority, after the state decided it would no longer have this division under its authority.

My campaign will focus on three issues: 1) Education; because I truly believe that one of the ways that we provide an equal playing field for all children is to  provide a high quality education for all of our children. 2) Economic Development; because It is critically important that this community has a strong and viable local economy area, and 3)  Community Safety; because I believe that the residents of our community have the right to expect to live, work, and play in a crime free environment.

Please allow me to continue the work that I am doing. I ask for your vote to allow me to continue to serve the citizens of District 3 and of Mecklenburg County. Thank You.