The first of eight weeks of questions for the town board candidates
This is the informative, getting-to-know-you question so please weave a narrative about your life using these questions.
** Where did you grow up and go to school?
** Either how long have you lived in Wake Forest or why did you decide to move to Wake Forest and when?
** What is your occupation, and it can be retired.
** The names of your spouse and children or grandchildren – optional
** What are your pastimes, what do you do with your leisure time?
** What clubs or organizations do you belong to?
** Who are your heroes?
** What is the biggest challenge facing Wake Forest? Please don’t say growth; be much more specific.
** Were you at the town board work session on Sept. 3 when the commissioners heard the results of a study about incorporating the Wake Forest Fire Department into town government?
(Note: There are no questions about your religious life. I believe that is private but expresses itself in your life.)
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Greg Bartholomew
I am a native of Wake Forest, NC. I was born in 1954 and am the son of the late Elizabeth and James Bartholomew. As a child, I attended Wake Forest Elementary School and graduated from Wake Forest-Rolesville High School in 1972. After high school graduation, I continued my education at N.C. State University and then moved on to the U.S. Air Force. After finishing my stint in the military, my wife and I returned from California and purchased a farm near Rolesville.
Though I wasn’t always an in-town resident, my parents and siblings lived in Wake Forest. Therefore, Wake Forest was always my base of operations. My wife and I have resided in the area for the past three years.
I retired from the federal government at age 62. My wife, Diana, retired from Wake County Public Schools in 2015 with over 30 years of service as an educator.
Diana and I have two sons. Both are graduates of Wake Forest High School with undergraduate degrees in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One son lives in Durham, while the other son currently resides in Allen, Texas. We are blessed with two grandchildren. One is a girl, age 6, and the other is a boy, age 4.
As for my hobbies, I enjoy reading. You can understand a lot about a person by what they read. Recent books I have read are: Duty and Honor, Fire and Fury, Six Blood Brothers, John McCain, A Higher Loyalty, and Deep Run Roots. Magazines that I subscribe to and read are: This Old House, Our State, Civil War, World War II, Fine Homebuilding and Auto Restorer. I have a great interest in maintaining and restoring cars and old houses.
Current organizations that I am a local member of: the B.W. Wells Association and Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce. My heroes are the World War II generation and all military members, police, fire fighters, paramedics, and all the people who work to make our society safe and livable.
The largest problem facing Wake Forest now is lack of adequate state maintained highways. We currently have a transportation crisis in the areas of Heritage, Capital Boulevard, Highway 98 from Durham east to Highway 401. We can’t afford to wait 10 -20 years for relief. Our future is based on how we resolve the issues today. Should we be forced to curtail growth now in order to lessen our traffic problems?
Yes, I was at the Board of Commissioners work session regarding the Fire Department. In fact, I have attended all meetings since May.
Jim Dyer
I am a native of North Carolina. As a small child, I lived in public (government) housing. I came from a broken home. Never met my father. At the age of eight I was placed in care of what then was the Baptist Orphanage of North Carolina. I was way behind in school and my third grade teacher kept me in at recess and taught me how to read and write. The unconditional love and encouragement I received at the “orphan home, as we called it, put my life on a different trajectory. I did well in school and life was good. I was taught a great work ethic and responsibility, and most importantly, I had a heavenly Father that loved me. Fast forward, I left the orphanage as a teenager. Everything I owned fit in a small hand bag. I had less than five dollars in my pocket. I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to get there. I was walking. This I knew, The Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina had saved me from a life without hope. This I also knew. Somehow, some way, I was going to college and one day I was going to be in a position to give back. I currently serve on the Board of Trustees for the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina. After working my way through three years of college, I enlisted in the Army. The best thing that happened at college at UNC Chapel Hill was that I met Ruth Ann Walters from Wake Forest, NC. I did return to college and graduated after going to Officer Candidate School (OCS), helicopter flight school and a tour of duty in Vietnam, and most importantly married Ruth Ann.
The leadership training and leadership opportunities during my 22 years in the Army equipped me well for civilian leadership. In addition to all the leadership schools I attended, I had the opportunity to teach those skills to others. I also had the privilege to work on the personal staff of two different four star generals. I retired as a lieutenant colonel. After retirement from the Army, we decided to come back to our roots. Ruth Ann grew up here and graduated from Wake Forest High School. We had gotten married here. We both love calling Wake Forest our home.
We both started new careers and became very active in the community. I got my real estate broker’s license, enjoyed some success and shortly thereafter was asked to be broker-in-charge of a 32-agent office. The Lord called me out of that business after 10 years and I began to prepare for full-time ministry as a work place chaplain. I was ordained at 55 and continue working as a chaplain.
Along the way I was recognized as the “Person Who Most Exemplifies Greater Wake Forest” in the initial Best of the Best Award and received the Koinonia Community Service Award. My wife, Ruth Ann, is a recipient of the Peggy Allen Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service. With the help of a few friends she launched the cultural arts movement that continues to enrich our community. I am over seventy. I have failed retirement several times. The Lord has blessed me with good health and I continue to work. I cut my own grass with a push mower. Just a few weeks before the filing date for Wake Forest Town Commissioner, I was approached by friends and suggested that I might run. I gave the Sunday school response. (That’s what you say when one really wants to say, NO.) “I will pray about it.”
Well, I did pray about it and have met with or had phone conversations with eight former commissioners. I love Wake Forest. I have been in advisory and leadership roles for over 40 years. This is a nonpartisan race, I do not have a political agenda beyond a willing desire to serve our community with integrity, listen to my neighbors and make decisions that will not change our quality of life or detract from the core values of the citizens of Wake Forest. Ruth Ann and I have been back in Wake Forest for 30 years, we have two adult children. Our grandchildren are the sixth generation living in Wake Forest.
Almost everyone in our town is concerned with growth and traffic. I believe in planned, managed and balanced growth. If we put up a fence around Wake Forest and locked the gates, we are going to continue to grow. Our children are going to have children and we want that to stay here. This is a great place to live! We are going to grow. In conjunction with DOT and town planners the traffic issues are being addressed and long range plans are being made. Compliments to our town planners and current Board of Commissioners, numerous road and sidewalk projects are currently already under construction and others scheduled. It takes time and planning and, of course, funding. Wake Forest has done a great job in obtaining federal grants to subsidize most of these projects. That’s our tax dollars at work! Division in our community is a concern that bothers me. The explosive growth in the last decade has brought large subdivisions spread around what were local farms when I moved to Wake Forest 30 years ago. From attending Town Board meetings, many newcomers feel that they have no voice in our town government. They play a very important role in what makes Wake Forest a great place to live!
The most recent Town Board meeting (Sept. 3) focused on the desire of our fire department to transition from an independent nonprofit organization into our town government. The firefighters would receive benefits similar to our police department. That is the way most towns in North Carolina operate. This transition will cost our citizens a few extra dollars. We need to take care of those who take care of us!
For the citizens that do not know me, I live in the Historic District on North Main Street, I was the master of ceremony for the Wake Forest fireworks for over 20 years. I am a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion. I was the chaplain of the VFW for over 20 years. I have been a professional real bearded Santa for 30 years and have been featured in Our State magazine. I was Santa in the Wake Forest Christmas Parade starting in 1991 for 20 years. I have appearances scheduled for Heritage, Traditions, Cimarron, North Hampton HOAs, Goddard School and two days at RDU, and too many volunteer charity events to mention. I am a member of the International Santa Hall of Fame and have made appearances at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
As a work place chaplain and Santa, my biggest job is to listen. I pledge to do the same as your Wake Forest Town Commissioner.
Heather Loftin Holding
I’m Heather Loftin Holding. I’ve lived in the Town of Wake Forest since 1986, having moved here with my family as a teenager. I graduated from Wake Forest-Rolesville High School and Wake Forest University, earning a BS degree in Business. I have previously worked in the floral industry, in restaurant management, in the computer software industry, as a business sales broker, and have helped run a family-owned small business. Currently, I am a residential real estate broker and also own a business that facilitates & designs high school leadership programs.
I have two daughters, Lauren and Rachel, who attend Wake Forest High School and Wake Forest Middle School. My pastime activities usually involve adventures with them. We enjoy experiencing nature with activities like hiking or kayaking. We also enjoy traveling to explore new places. Over Labor Day weekend, I completed a bucket list item of skydiving.
I have been involved with numerous local charitable organizations over the years (Koinonia Foundation, Trentini Foundation, Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, to name a few) At the moment, I am the Advisory Board Chair for the Kerr Family YMCA. I also serve as Treasurer of the Wakefield/Wake Forest Rotary Club. I am a member of Wake Forest Baptist Church.
My heroes have always been the first responders in our community. Our firefighters, police officers, and EMTs are amazing. I cannot imagine some of the dangerous situations into which they willingly insert themselves.
I did attend the work session on September 3rd regarding the study results.
Thanks for your support! Please contact me with any questions or comments at the following:
Heather Loftin Holding
Heatherforwakeforest.com. (Or on facebook)
919-815-5927
Anne Reeve
1) I grew up Greenville, SC, attended Wade Hampton HS and Furman University.
2) I have lived in WF since October, 1987. 5 other couples also moved here from N. Raleigh. We all feel like it is home.
3) I am a retired Association Executive. Was Executive Director for State, Regional and National professional and trade non-profit associations.
4) My husband is Mike Reeve (aka Santa Mike). I have no children. I do have 2 stepchildren, 3 grandsons and 1 great grandson.
5) My heros are: My Husband,Veterans, Neil Armstrong, my Parents, Neil Armstrong, and all of my Aunts and Uncles
6) As Wake Forest continues to grow, we will need to be pro-active with infra-structure. The new Transportation Plan will be approved soon. It is a great wish list of what we want to accomplish through partnering with NCDOT.
7) I did attend the Sept. 3 Town Board meeting, as a seated Commissioner. I was impressed with the presentation of the feasibility of the Fire Department merging with the Town.
Chad Sary
I grew up in Edenton, NC and attended East Carolina University. I’ve been a resident of Wake Forest since 2004. I have been involved in local government most of my professional career and actually worked as a planner for the Town of Wake Forest for almost 15 years. I currently provide planning consulting services to municipalities across the state. I am married to Tracy (19 years) and have two sons (Ben & Nicholas). My leisure time is spent with my family, watching or coaching my kids in the various sports they play and attending ECU athletic events. I am a member of Crossroads Fellowship Church (Wake Forest Campus), served on the Town’s Planning Board and participated in countless community committees and events during my tenure with the Town.
I think the biggest challenges that Wake Forest will and already face are 1) growing the employment base & 2) housing affordability. 1) I would like to see the Town continue to search for ways to attract larger employers (technology based, medical, financial, manufacturing, etc.). Too many of our citizens have to drive 45 minutes or more to Raleigh or Durham because the employment opportunities just are not here. 2) Wake Forest is a desirable place to live and with 63 people moving to Wake County every day, housing costs will continue to rise. I would like to see a more diverse housing stock with price ranges that can support our workforce.
Yes – I was in attendance at the September Commissioners meeting regarding the Wake Forest Fire Department.
Sean Sullivan
I was born in Geneva New York, grew up in Binghamton and attended Catholic schools. I moved to the Raleigh area in my late 20s when there were plenty of job opportunities. After a year in Raleigh I got married and found a home in Granville County off Woodland Church Road. I then moved to Wake Forest to be in the Wake County school district and have lived here for over 25 years. All 3 of my sons attended Wake Forest Elementary, Middle, and High Schools.
While working, I attended Wesleyan College and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree with a double major in Accounting and Business Administration. In 1993, I passed the exam to become a Certified Payroll Professional. Currently employed as the Payroll Manager for the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority. I am a current member and past president of the NC State Chapter of the American Payroll Association.
As my sons were growing up I was involved with cub scouting, boy scouts, and helped with the high school marching band. You would have also seen me in the concessions stand helping out the football moms during high school football games. Now that the kids are grown up you may find me around town enjoying yard sales, estate sales, and rock hounding.
If you asked who my heroes are I would list three local residents who have made lasting impressions on me based on their leadership skills. Hugh McLean and Jessica McDade have done great work with the kids at the Wake Forest Boys and Girls Club where my boys were members for many years. Blair Bost was a scout leader for Troop 500 Boy Scouts. She gave the scouts great advice at the end of each meeting with words of wisdom via some kind of great story.
The continued growth of the area is the biggest challenge for Wake Forest. With this growth comes more traffic congestion, making commutes longer. As small businesses continue to invest in downtown we will need to make traveling into downtown a pleasant experience so customers will return as well as spread the word of what a great town we have here in Wake Forest.
I attended the Town Board’s meeting on the feasibility study on the merger of the Wake Forest Fire Department as this is an additional financial challenge for the town. Incorporating this merger would require the annexation of more county land into the town. This merger can be a great addition to the success of the town.
Adam Wright
** Where did you grow up and go to school? I grew up in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I went to UNC- Wilmington and finished my degree at Southern New Hampshire University.
** Either how long have you lived in Wake Forest or why did you decide to move to Wake Forest and when? My wife and I moved to Wake Forest in 2011. I had a job already here and the housing was more affordable here than in Raleigh where we had been living. We also fell in love with the charm of the town as well.
** What is your occupation, and it can be retired. I am an AR specialist for 1-800-PACK-RAT’s freight division.
** The names of your spouse and children or grandchildren – optional My wife, Kara, and I just celebrated our 3rd anniversary. We have 2 wonderful dogs – Luke a Goldendoodle and Madison a Shi-poo.
** What are your pastimes, what do you do with your leisure time? I enjoy watching Carolina Panther’s football and Atlanta Braves baseball. If I am not watching sports, I am probably at the dog park throwing the ball for Luke.
** What clubs or organizations do you belong to? None at this time.
** Who are your heroes? Teddy Roosevelt is one of my favorite politicians because he tried to do what was right by the people and would fiercely fight for them and the conservation of our beautiful land.
** Based on what you know now, what is the biggest challenge facing Wake Forest? Please don’t say growth; be much more specific if that is your answer. Wake Forest has only 1,200 businesses for its 45,000 citizens. While our housing development has been tremendous, our business sector has been lagging. Based on the 2017 Census update, the average commute for members of our community is over 30 mins. We need more small business growth to keep up with our population growth.
** Were you at the town board work session on Sept. 3 when the commissioners heard the results of a study about incorporating the Wake Forest Fire Department into town government? I was and found it very informative!
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