Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

PERSONAL: Lifelong resident of Guilford County. 

Family: Spouse Linda Faircloth.  Three daughters, Three grandchildren.

EDUCATION: Greensboro Public Schools, Greensboro Senior High

Guilford College: A.A. and B.S. Degrees in Management
UNC-Greensboro: Master of Public Affairs Degree

MILITARY SERVICE: U.S.Army & Army Reserve  1957-1968

EMPLOYMENT: Greensboro Police Department  1961-1972

Commission Director, N.C. Department of Justice 1972-1975
Chief of Police, City of Salisbury, NC 1975-1976
Chief of Police, City of High Point, NC 1976-1992
V. Pres./Owner/Broker, Coldwell Banker Triad, Realtors 1994-Present

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:  Covenant Church United Methodist. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE (Past & Present):  High Point Partners;

 Boys and Girls Club; Rotary Club; Crimestoppers; H.P. Realtors
 Association; Preddy WWII Veterans Foundation; Human Relations  
 Commission; Economic Development Corporation; City Employee
 Foundation; Alliance for Workforce Preparedness; Heart of the
 Triad Committee; High Point Housing Authority; Downtown
 Improvement Committee; High Point Area Arts Council; Core City
 Steering Committee; Chamber of Commerce; United Way.

ELECTIVE OFFICES: High Point City Council Member At-Large  2003-2005

High Point City Council Member At-Large  2005-2008, Mayor Pro Tem  2006-2007
High Point City Council Member Ward 6 2008-2010

I have served the citizens of Guilford County and North Carolina in public offices for more than 37 years.  My formal education, years as Chief of Police and service on City Council have provided a strong concentration in policy development, budgeting and oversight.  As a successful private business owner, I understand serving clients, making payrolls, and pursuing a reasonable profit for my company.  This combination of experiences enables me to view the business of government with an eye toward effective and efficient public policy and public funding. 

I am a fiscal conservative and a proponent of a free market economy.  I oppose unnecessary government red tape, taxation and unbridled spending that saps our entrepreneurial spirit and undercuts our middle class.  We must inspire and assist businesses to invest and to put people back to work.  Citizens and businesses at work and prospering can build our tax base without undue tax increases. 

Public safety is paramount.  I support strong, honest law enforcement and dedicated prosecutors and judges who follow the rule of law and respect the Constitution.
 
I support a public school system with devoted teachers who produce well educated students, prepared to compete in society and a world economy. I also, however, defend a parent's right to choose alternative school education if the public system is failing its purpose.  Scarce tax dollars committed to funding public education must be directed toward the classroom. 

We are the envy of the world because of years of hard work by our senior citizens and because of the protections provided us by our military veterans.  Their health and financial issues must be fairly and consistently addressed.  Likewise, the young people of today who will become our leaders of tomorrow must be protected from policy decisions that threaten their financial future and their quality of life.  If we fail either, we fail as a society.