Title: Mayor Pro Tem

Municipality: Albemarle

Position Interested In: 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?

I have been on the NCLM Board of Directors for three different terms. In 2014, I was elected to a two-year term on the Board and also appointed to the RMS Board (at that time there was a seat on the RMS Board for a NCLM Board member - this seat no longer exists). I finished my two three year terms on the RMS Board in 2020. In 2021, I was appointed to serve on the NCLM Board in one of the President's Appointments. I was also appointed to the Executive Committee that year. In 2022, I was elected to serve a two-year term in an At-Large Seat. In April 2023 I was elected Second Vice President, in April 2024, I was elected First Vice President and I am now ready for the challenge and opportunity to serve as the President of our great organization as we move forward.

I was on the Board during the development of Vision 2030. It seems like yesterday that this plan was only a vision...and now in less than five years we will be in 2030. This plan was a very involved process using the talents and time of many individuals who genuinely cared for the future of all towns, cities and villages in our great state.

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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 bring over 25 years of elected local government service - as a County Commissioner from 1994-2000 and as a City Council member from 2003 - until the present. During all the years of elected public service, I have been on the Regional Council of Government Board...serving for three years as the Chairman of the Centralina Region.

For the past 18 years I have consistently been re-appointed to the State Child Fatality Task Force (by the Speaker of the House each time) as the representative for the NCLM. In this role I am regularly with members of the General Assembly and state agencies discussing the issues around keeping our children safe. In 2012, I was elected to Co-Chair the Unintentional Death Prevention Sub-Committee of the Task Force. I am still in that role.

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Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities?

I have lived in Stanly County my entire life. I have an Associate's Degree from Stanly Community College, a Bachelor's Degree from Gardner-Webb University and a Master's Degree from NC A&T State University. I also received a Court Administration Certification from Michigan State University. I was employed by the State of North Caroline (Administrative Office of the Courts) for over 30 years having retired in 2014. Upon my retirement, I was presented with the Order of the Longleaf Pine. I am a graduate of Leadership North Carolina, the Institute of Political Leadership and am a fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

I have been involved with Special Olympics, Retired Governmental Employee's Association, YMCA Learn to Swim (teaching swimming lessons to Second Graders); play piano and lead Hymn Sings at several nursing homes each week and volunteer at other community events.

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Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees? 

• CityVision Annual Conference

• Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days

• Legislative Goals Planning Events or Process

• Regional Meetings

• Legislative Lobby Days

• Legislative Policy Committee

• Technical Advisory Committees

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Please provide any other information you would like the Nominations Committee to consider.

I am ready for this next opportunity to lead, serve, energize and work with the over 560 Cities, towns and villages to assist them in providing the best possible services to each of the citizens in our Great State that we call Home.