What can you tell our readers about yourself and your background?
I grew up in Davie and Forsyth Counties. I moved to Kernersville in 1995 after attending college and I have lived here ever since. I have an Associate’s degree in Architectural Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. My wife Suellen is a teacher at Kernersville Elementary School. I have a son Blaine, who I recently accompanied at the World Scouting Jamboree with and a daughter, Macy. Our family is a member of the Kernersville Moravian Church. I am a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, a licensed general contractor, and a licensed real estate broker.
I have always had a passion for giving back to my community. As an active Board of Directors member of local non-profit organizations including the Körner’s Folly Foundation, the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the PJC Botanical Garden Advisory Board, and the Kernersville Museum Foundation, I have gained valuable experience and insight while providing meaningful service. Working side-by-side with the many dedicated volunteers and civic club organizations, I have an appreciation for the caring commitment of those who live and work in Kernersville to make it the great place it is today.
I am proud to currently be serving my third consecutive term as Town Alderman and I look forward to continuing in this position to work towards maintaining and building a strong quality of life for many years to come.
Raising my family here affords me the opportunity to experience the day-to-day issues many of us face. I am proud of my past and present contributions to help make the Town of Kernersville the best it can be. As a three-term Alderman I feel that we've had a productive four years. The board voted to clean up one end of West Mountain Street near downtown by getting rid of the eye sores the citizens have been looking at for years. The School Tools Building (corner of Mountain and Main St.) is now Founder’s Park and the old gas station (corner of Mountain and Cherry St.) is now part of an expanded Kernersville Museum site. This allows for a better use of space downtown.
I have had the opportunity to run as many as three small construction related companies in Kernersville at the same time. This experience allowed me to observe the best ways to be an effective contributor to our Town. For example, in 2009 I helped develop along with the Kernersville Mayor and Board to pass a “Green Building” rebate program for the Town of Kernersville. The program was the third of its kind in the State. My goal was to help bring awareness of sustainable construction in Kernersville to better the quality of life for our citizens. I feel that my experience and education in building, real estate, and knowledge of the Town of Kernersville makes me qualified for the Board of Alderman position.
When I first decided to seek the position over four years ago, I gave considerable thought to what it would take to be a successful Alderman. It starts with a strong conviction to better your community for the present and the future. To approach the position with the high personal standards of character and ethics that the community entrusts you with. You focus on moving the city forward from a big picture approach rather than pursuing a specific agenda or belief.
You have to do your homework and be prepared to put in the long hours necessary to effectively analyze the details and explore all the options. This includes the ability to be a good listener to all stakeholders from residents, local business people and service providers as well as staff. You accomplish this through effective communication where you are accessible and sympathetic to those who are concerned.
You must understand and have the aptitude and experience required to handle the town’s crucial legal and financial responsibilities that the position requires so you can make educated and informed decisions which includes understand both the short and long-term impact of your actions. I personally believe you have to have an open mind as well as respect points of view that might be different than yours. And it all starts with a caring heart and compassion for others in the community.
I am fortunate to have a diverse experience and background in our community. From my success in local business ventures, to raising my family in town, to my active community involvement through the years, have all laid the groundwork for being a successful aldermen. Clearly, my deeply involved day to day experience over the past four years serving as an energetic alderman has allowed me to gain further insight and skills that will allow me to become even more effective in the future.
In addition, I have been fortunate enough to meet with government officials on the Federal, State, County and local levels (outside of Kernersville) to learn what opportunities and resources are available to our Town that we can readily tap into.
I would be remise if I did not mention my ongoing experience working with the current Aldermen, town officials and staff to create a meaningful and constructive team approach where we all work towards the common good of all.
As alderman, there has been personal satisfaction in seeing Town projects from start through implementation to completion that will also provide valuable insight for future projects. From the original conception of Founders Park, to the recent completion of the Fire Chief Walter M. Summerville III Memorial Fire Station, the experienced gained in the past four years has given me additional expertise that I can apply to be even better at serving our community.
Thanks to our strategic long-term comprehensive planning approach in Kernersville, we have accomplished some needed projects while being fiscally responsible without sacrificing quality. Our new Public Works administration building located at 509 Michael Street is an excellent example.
Not only did we build a long overdue and needed Fire Chief Walter M. Summerville III Memorial Fire Station, but we built one that included a top notch standalone training center to greatly enhance the work and safety of our first responders.
I also take great pride in what we have accomplished in our downtown area off West Mountain between Main Street and Cherry Street. The evolution of this enhancement will have a great reflection on the quality of life in Kernersville for many years to come. We removed the School Tools Building (corner of Mountain and Main St.) which is now Founder’s Park and the old gas station (corner of Mountain and Cherry St.) is now part of an expanded Kernersville Museum site. Plus, we added additional room for parking by opening up the space nearby on North Cherry Street. This will create a better flow of use from Harmon Park through our downtown shopping area.
As an Alderman, there is always great excitement in welcoming the success of bringing a new regional Veterans Hospital to Kernersville as well as a new Public Library.
And of course seeing the completion of the new accessible playground at the 4th of July Park was truly a proud moment for all of us.
I have always approached life as an optimist. Where others might be disappointed, I tend to be more hopeful.
Being able to see the big picture and have a wide understanding of the complexities associated with various projects and issues I realize sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. And I focus on looking for opportunities to best resolve problems when they arise.
Of course like everyone, I find it disappointing that infrastructure projects, including roads, are a disruptive aspect and inconvenience to us all. I certainly wish they could be completed faster but I also realize these projects have unforeseen issues including weather that cannot be controlled. So we often have to deal with the constraints at hand.
Likewise, I am disappointed when I see vacant storefronts and buildings. I would certainly prefer to see vibrant businesses serving our community and adding to our tax base but I also appreciate this takes time.
But what probably disappoints me the most, is seeing our beautiful public spaces vandalized for no good reason at all. The cost of these senseless acts is more than people realize. I encourage all citizens to contact the local authorities whenever they see something wrong and together, we can work to protect property for the benefit of all.
This is an exciting time for the Town of Kernersville with the quality of new development coming soon. With the anticipation of new residential, retail and commercial businesses (as well as public and non-profit expansion projects) opening over the next couple of years we need to be diligent that there is a natural assimilation to the existing town culture and hospitable environment that we are proud to have here in Kernersville.
We also need to be aware of and accommodate this new growth including increased traffic and demands on our town infrastructure so it does not have an adverse impact on our quality of life.
In addition to the significant structural growth taking place, we must monitor the changing demographics in our community from the additional children in our school system, the increase in local manufacturing and service workforce as well as our increasing aging senior population.
Especially as a town alderman, it is paramount that we make sure our town government and staff are providing the additional services needed while maximizing the efficiencies and resources required of a strong town government. And of course, Kernersville does not exist in a vacuum and we must be cognizant of the change taking place in the communities around us as well.
I am also proud that 12 years ago I help implement a ‘Green Building’ initiative for Kernersville and I am sensitive that our new growth and development does not have a negative impact on our environment.
For example, in 2009 I helped develop along with the Kernersville Mayor and Board to pass a “Green Building” rebate program for the Town of Kernersville.
Keeping an eye on the changes to the towns around us as well.
I grew up in Davie and Forsyth Counties. I moved to Kernersville in 1995 after attending college. I have an Associates degree in Architectural Technology and a Bachelors degree in Construction Management. My wife Suellen is a teacher at Kernersville Elementary School. I have a son, Blaine and daughter, Macy. We attend Kernersville Moravian Church. I am a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser, a licensed general contractor, and a licensed real estate broker.
As an active Board of Directors member of local non-profit organizations including the Körner’s Folly Foundation, the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the PJC Botanical Garden Advisory Board, and the Kernersville Museum Foundation, I have gained valuable experience and insight. Working side-by-side with the many dedicated volunteers and civic club organizations, I have an appreciation for the caring commitment of those who live and work in Kernersville to make it the great place it is today.
Raising my family here affords me the opportunity to experience the day-to-day issues many of us face. I am proud of my past and present contributions to help make the Town of Kernersville the best it can be. As a current Alderman I feel that we've had a productive two years. The board voted to clean up one end of West Mountain Street near downtown by getting rid of the eye sores the citizens have been looking at for years. The School Tools Building (corner of Mountain and Main St.) and the old gas station (corner of Mountain and Cherry St.) This allows for a better use of space downtown. I have had the opportunity to run as many as three small construction related companies in Kernersville at the same time. Because of this I found myself at many of the Alderman meetings since 1996. I observed the best ways to be an effective contributor to our Town. For example, in 2009 I helped develop with the Kernersville Mayor and Board to pass a “Green Building” rebate program for the Town of Kernersville. The program was the third of its kind in the State. My goal was to help bring awareness of sustainable construction in Kernersville to better the quality of life for our citizens. I feel that my experience and education in building, real estate, and knowledge of the Town of Kernersville makes me qualified for the Board of Alderman position.
My campaign focus has been to let the citizens know I'm committed to making their voice heard in Town Hall. I feel it is important that I actively represent the people of Kernersville in issues that directly impact them as well as be a strong advocate to make sure their concerns are addressed. If re-elected, I will continue to play an active role in making our community, a safer, better place for all our citizens, to raise our children, and run our local businesses.
I have enjoyed meeting and talking to the people in our community. It’s important to manage our Town's growth so it has a positive impact on the quality of everyday life. In the previous few weeks several citizens expressed their thoughts and concerns about the construction traffic around the site of the Old Winston Road traffic circle and Main Street. This is valid concern as it has affected a large majority of our citizens in their daily routine. The current Alderman and I have had active discussions with representatives of NCDOT to address these concerns in hopes to speed up this process and express our citizens concerns for safety. Issues concerning economic development, residential growth and public service also require an appreciation for comprehensive planning to maximize our resources while enhancing our quality of life in Kernersville. A good example is the construction on our new Fire & Rescue Station on Highway 66.I am proud to be a member of a caring and involved community.
Sustainable growth is always a challenge for small towns like ours. Kernersville’s central geographic location has allowed us to attract quality companies. This has allowed us to experience positive economic growth in town. Moving forward, as we have in the past, we must continue to properly manage this development with sustainable growth to ensure the quality of life for our citizens. This includes issues such as maintaining the best traffic flow patterns possible, keeping the town streets pedestrian friendly as well as providing a safe environment for the public throughout our community. We also want to make sure that local citizens continue to have a voice in their government for both future growth and current issues facing our Town.
One of our immediate needs is to improve the quality of our paved streets. The public works department continues to do a great job in Kernersville. They have completed projects with minimal resources trying to keep our streets in good condition. Alderman Neal and I have met with representatives from the NCDOT and we can expect them to work in further paving of sections of Main, Salisbury, and Mountain Street in 2019. Our roads need to be addressed to keep them safe for everyone.
Yes, Kernersville has made great strides in preparation for our Town’s economic development. We currently have some major projects planned and underway where we will need to effectively integrate them into our community, especially with our existing infrastructure. The current road/traffic issues are an important reminder that comprehensive planning is required to maximize our town resources while providing a strong quality-of-life standard. We also need to work with all stakeholders to make sure we can continue to build a meaningful and vibrant downtown.
Kernersville is a wonderful place to live and work which is why our Town’s population continues to grow so rapidly. Preserving our superior local atmosphere will continue to generate and attract economic growth. We will need to continue to be diligent about town services and sustainable growth while providing a safe and enjoyable setting for our citizens.
In the next ten years we should also be able to implement our planned pedestrian walkways, including greenways and sidewalks, which will be necessary for maintaining a healthy environment that directly impacts economic growth.
I have been a big proponent of public and private collaboration. The key to successful balance within our community is for both interests to work together towards common goals. We are fortunate in Kernersville to have citizens and a business community that strive to make the most of this balance. Keeping informed of issues that affect the public good raises consumer and customer awareness of businesses that support these shared interests and ultimately, these businesses are the ones that become sustainable and successful. Since good communication between all parties help foster the right solutions, maintaining a proactive dialogue is important.
We have a thriving Chamber of Commerce and excellent staff in the Town’s Community Development Department that understand our town’s needs as well. Creating an environment and opportunities where professional businesses are encouraged and benefit from supporting public interest initiatives work best. The Chamber’s ‘Eating for Education’ program is a great example of this where our local restaurants (as well as other local businesses) raise funds to support funding of grants for our children’s schools. Shared interests and goals that support enhancements to our quality of life serve our citizens and town the best way possible.
I believe the number one priority of an alderman is to be the best steward and advisor possible for the citizens and the town of Kernersville while maintaining a solid quality of life for town residents. I do not believe it is the government’s role to run deficits or surpluses. We should make policy choices that will maximize the potential of our citizens to enjoy their lives and contribute the best they can and never burden them with unnecessary taxes.
Public Safety concerns should always be the top priority so we need to be prepared to address any issues that arise .I intend to continue to work with my fellow alderman to oversee, facilitate insightful planning and help manage the town government to ensure that it is run in the most cost effective and efficient way possible.
My record of leadership and active involvement in the Town of Kernersville has me positioned to be one of the best candidates on the ballot. I would ask that all voters keep my dedication to the Town of Kernersville in mind when voting. IF elected I will continue to be a voice for the people.
First, I would like to thank the citizens who voted for me in the last election to be their Alderman and I hope I have met their expectations.
My record of leadership as well as my active involvement during the past two years as an Alderman in the Town of Kernersville has me positioned to be one of the best candidates on the ballot. I would like to ask all voters to keep my dedication and commitment to the Town of Kernersville in mind when voting. If re-elected I will continue to be a voice for the people and invest the time needed to do my job to the fullest extent possible. My experience and expertise will be beneficial to monitoring our town’s growth over the next two years which will have significant and long-term impact on our community.
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