Title: City council member

Municipality: Winston-Salem

Positions Interested In: Second Vice President

Q&A's:

TELL US WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO SERVE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION AT THE LEAGUE. IN PARTICULAR, SPECIFY GOALS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH AS AN OFFICER OR BOARD MEMBER AND INDICATE HOW, IF ATTAINED, THEY WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE VISION 2030 – THE LEAGUE’S FUTURE VISION OF HOW CITIES AND TOWNS WILL OPERATE IN 2030?

The top goal of the League at the current time is the improvement of our relationship with the General Assembly and the development community. The past two sessions of the GA have seen devastating legislation introduced. This has required an "all hands on deck" type of response from the League and its members. It is impossible to move forward when it takes all our efforts just to remain where we are. We must work with our elected representatives to instill in them that we are the solution and not the problem.

The second area I would like to see the League address is the financial help we provided our smaller members via the ARPA grant from the state. The League identified a need, developed a solution and then implemented it. This program has been very successful, but it needs to be continued past 2026 when the state funding runs out.

Lastly, the League needs to find a permanent home for our organization. We have adequate rented facilities, but the prudent financial decision is to own our own home.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL. YOU MAY WANT TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON YOUR SERVICE ON THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODY, OTHER RELATED BOARDS AND SPECIAL AREAS OF INTEREST?

I have served on the Winston-Salem City Council for 25 years. I have served as Chair of the Finance Committee for most of my tenure. The City has maintained a AAA bond rating for my entire tenure. During this period, I have lived through the 9/11 recession, the Great Recession of 2009-2014, Covid, and now the war with Iran. Covid was especially difficult as we did not know what to expect and had to make up the rules as we went along. The effects of Covid are still felt today.

Serving on the Board of Trustees of Winston-Salem State University was very helpful in developing skills in dealing with the State. WSSU's relationship with the General Assembly was critical to its survival and prosperity. I served on a number of committees over my 8 years including chairing the Audit Committee.

I have served on the Finance Committee and the Building Committee for the League. The financial condition is always important to understand. The League is in a strong financial situation, and I hope to keep it there. The Building Committee is still in the planning stage, but ownership of a facility should still our long-range goal.

Lastly, I served on the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service under three different governors, Perdue, McCrory, and Cooper. I was president for a number of years.

See resume for more about my background.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND/OR COMMUNITY OR CIVIC ACTIVITIES?

My most relevant experience is owning and managing a small business for 35 years. Running a business teaches you how all the parts must fix together for the organization to succeed. Generating revenue, controlling expenses, personnel issues, negotiating insurance coverage; These are all things I have done in managing a business and also managing a city. Running a small business and running a city are very similar. You wear lots of hats and must put all the pieces together to have the organization work.

Over the years I have served on numerous non-profit and community boards. The lesson I learned there and one I have tried to instill in my children is this, The community only exists if we all work to make it so. I have always stepped up with organizations I believe in and did my park to help them succeed. I have served on boards associated with my church, St Paul's Episcopal, Boy Scouts, Forsyth Country Day School, Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and others.
I have volunteered at our homeless shelters for over 40 years.

I have a BA in Economics from the University of the South, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING NCLM EVENTS OR COMMITTEES?

• CityVision Annual Conference
• Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days
• Regional Meetings
• Legislative Lobby Days
• Building Committee, Finance Committee

PLEASE PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER?

Please see resume for more complete information.