Former Member, Recreation and Investment Partnership

Former Board Member, RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, North Carolina, District 13, 2016

No caucus information on file.

Former Board Member, Historic Salisbury Foundation

Former Realtor, Hunter Realty

Executive Director, The LandTrust for Central North Carolina, 2001-2015

Farmland Preservation Specialist, The LandTrust for Central North Carolina, 1999-2001

Member, Board of Directors, Blanche and Julian Robertson Foundation, 2015-present

Member, First United Methodist Church of Salisbury, present

FormerMember, Davidson County Tourism

Former Chair, North Carolina Land Trust Council

Former Chair, Rowan County Strategic Planning Commission

Former President, Rowan Jobs Initiative

Former Member, Rowan Salisbury Schools Impact Fund

Former Member, Smart Start Rowan

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

Why I'm Running
I love this region of North Carolina that I have called home for my entire life. We live in a very special part of the greatest State in the Union, with incredible human, historic, and natural resources. We also live in a wonderful country, and at a great time in history where we are blessed with many comforts unimaginable to our ancestors even a generation or two ago.
Yet, we have very real problems to address as a region, and as a country. Our economy has changed drastically in my lifetime, and continues to change in dramatic fashion. Our middle class -- the anchor of our economy -- is being squeezed like never before. I can attest to the challenges that escalating costs associated with health care, higher education, utilities, and housing are having on those trying to raise families in this region in 2016. Stagnant wages and a whole new generation of workers holding multiple jobs at less than 32 hours apiece (so that employers do not have to provide health benefits under the Affordable Care Act) is a reality for far too many.
I am a political outsider who loves solving problems. I love the people of the 13th District and want to represent them with a voice of reason, pragmatism, and results. The problems we face are too important to ignore. Yet, recent Congressional Sessions have demonstrated that Congress is unable to accomplish much of anything.
We need a change of tone in Washington. A commitment to recognize and speak truth. A willingness to make hard choices not motivated primarily by re-election aspirations. A focus on the world that our children--my children--will inherit from us.
This election cycle continues to set new lows in terms of civility and honest discussions of how to solve our very real and mounting challenges. When the dust settles after this election, I look forward to being in Washington at a time when truth-telling, civility, and solutions-driven pragmatism will once again be valued.
Our challenges deserve our immediate attention. No more kicking the can down the road. No more divisive politics as usual. No more games. Let's get to work!