Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Bill James is a 14 year veteran of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners and serves approximately 150,000 individuals in Southern Mecklenburg including the independent towns of Matthews, Mint Hill & Pineville and Charlotte areas south of 51. He is running unopposed for his 8th term this November. Bill is a conservative Republican who has taken the lead in securing neighborhood schools for Mecklenburg County and opposed property & sales tax increases. He was the named plaintiff that sued and won against the State of North Carolina (and the Democrats) in 2005 for their attempts to pursue 'partial' ballot counting ('James V Bartlett').

Commissioner James, a CPA for about 30 years, founded and serves on the Board's Audit Review Committee and has served as the past chair of the Effective and Efficient Government Committee. Prior to his election to office, James served as the first Chairman of the City of Charlotte's Privatization Advisory Committee (1994-1996) and as a member of the County's Citizen Capital Budget Advisory Committee (1995) evaluating school bonds. He earned his MBA in accounting from Nova-Southeastern University (1980) and a BS in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University (1978). He lives in Matthews, NC, with his wife and four children.

Key Accomplishments:

• Forcing Mecklenburg County to push away from the debt table (letter to rating agencies).
• Forcing the recording of Closed Session minutes (spy pen).
• Helped the folks of Shanamara Subdivision get money back from double property taxation.
• Pushed and got adopted new rules allowing 5,000 County employees to give to more than just the 'approved' charities (now called the 'combined campaign').
• Pushed for and got adopted 287g program to arrest illegals and continues to support this program for ALL inmates that are booked (not just those arrested for specific acts).
• Pushed for 'no illegals' policy at CPCC to comply with Federal law (it is illegal for County dollars to go towards the education of illegals).
• Supports the expansion of Charter Schools and allowing Charter Schools to have access to County Capital dollars (current litigation underway against County).
• Helped force disclosure of 60% + fraud rate from CMS' Free and Reduced Lunch program.
• Opposes expansion of the sales tax base (requested by the Democrats as a 'revenue' enhancement) which would force working men and women in trades (plumbers, electricians, etc..) to collect sales taxes on their services.
• Supported and got Board approval for additional COUNTY funding for DA's office ($1.5 million) to prosecute more cases.
• Opposes County Management & Commissioners from serving on non-profit boards or businesses that get money from the County. Democrats refuse to adopt.