Why are you running?

The second of eight weeks of questions for the town board candidates

** What was your thinking and what were the reasons you decided to run for a seat on the Wake Forest Town Board.

** Have you attended any town board meetings this year or in recent years? What did you learn or take away from those meetings?

** Have you attended any planning board meetings this year or in recent years?

** Have you ever served on the town’s advisory boards? If so, which one and when?

** Have you read the current town budget?

** Have you read the current Capital Improvement Plan?

** Have you looked through or read the Unified Development Ordinance which governs land use and building in town?

** Have you spoken with any past or present town commissioner about their experiences?

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Election Day for the November Wake Forest municipal elections is Nov. 5 with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is no early voting for Wake Forest elections, and you do not have to show an ID to vote in this election.

If you are not registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Oct. 11. You can register to vote online by going to www.wakegov.com, choosing Board of Elections on the first page and Register to Vote on the second. While there you can learn all the other locations in Wake County where you can register.

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Jim Dyer

What was I thinking and what were the reasons I decided to run for a seat on the Wake Forest Town Board? Friends approached me about the possibility of running when two incumbents announced they were not going to seek reelection. Frankly, this was something that I had never considered. I have met with eight former Town Commissioners and was encouraged to seek one of the vacant seats. I love Wake Forest and have watched it grow from a few thousand residents to over forty five thousand. My wife actually grew up in Wake Forest and graduated from Wake Forest High School. We were married here over fifty years ago. After living all over the United States we chose to come home when I retired from the Army.

I have always taken a great interest in the candidates running for office and participated in the political process by voting in every election and working at the polls in an official capacity or supporting a particular candidate. This is my home town and I have a vested interest in our future. My children and grandchildren live in the area. (They are the sixth generation on the family farm.) I have attended numerous Town Board meetings and several Planning Board meetings over my 30 years in Wake Forest and enjoyed watching the town business. I found all the meetings informative. Most meetings that I attended had an agenda item of specific interest to me. I do believe our town does an excellent job of keeping the community informed without attending Town Board meetings through news releases, the town website and other social media. I worked on the Wake Forest Fourth of July Committee for over 20 years and we approached the Town Board annually for partial funding for the fireworks and children’s parade. As a resident of the Wake Forest Historic District, it’s a privilege to serve currently on the Historic Preservation Commission. My wife was on this board previously and played a key role in updating the new Historic Property Handbook & Design Guidelines. My wife and I have represented the Town of Wake Forest at numerous Preservation North Carolina Meetings over the last decade.

The Government Finance Officers Association recognized the Town of Wake Forest with a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in 2017 and I am impressed with all the work that went into our 159 page town budget. One of my responsibilities as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina is the annual budget review. The attention to detail and planning is laborious and time consuming. The Strategies, Goals, and Values statements of the Wake Forest budget make me extremely proud of our town. I graduated from the first Leadership Wake Forest program sponsored by the Greater Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce back in the ‘90’s. Our town has changed in so many areas and I am making a serious effort to “get up to speed.”

The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is the five-year plan identifying capital outlay and improvement needs of our community with cost that exceed twenty five thousand dollars and have a useful life of five years or more. This CIP is updated annually and I have reviewed the current 23 projects. The Unified Development Ordinance governs land use, zoning, subdivision, and infrastructure standards. I am currently reviewing these documents.  We have professionals on our town staff that understands and oversees these rather complicated regulations.

Heather Loftin Holding

Wake Forest has been part of my life since my family moved here in 1986 while I was in high school. After leaving to attend Wake Forest University, I chose to make Wake Forest my home upon graduation. Ever since, I’ve served my community of Wake Forest in a volunteer capacity and have helped affect meaningful change here.  After serving Wake Forest as a dedicated volunteer, I’m ready to serve the community as a government official representing our residents.

Change and growth are a constant. If growth wasn’t happening in Wake Forest, you probably wouldn’t live here. Growth can be positive and negative. When I moved here in 1986, we had to drive at least 30 minutes to shop for clothes, dine out and go to cultural events. Now, we have everything right here. Smart growth is important and will be considered by me on a case by case basis should I get your vote on Nov. 5

I’ve attended board meetings on and off over the last 20 years, depending on the issues. If I cannot attend, I watch them on the Town’s website. I’ve learned that being a Town official is a tough job, but one I want to take on. I want to apply my long-term knowledge of the Town to keeping it a thriving community and a place where people want to move, work and raise their families.

I’ve attended planning board meetings in the past, but more importantly, I’m a 2017 graduate of the Wake Forest Planning Board Academy, a training program for citizens aspiring to serve on the Planning Board. Its purpose is to reduce the learning curve of newly appointed Planning Board. This training has prepared me for a seat on the Wake Forest Town board and I’m ready to serve my Wake Forest constituents!

While I haven’t served on a Town advisory board, I have served on several community boards since 1996, such as the Wake Forest Birthplace Museum Board (8 years); The Trentini Foundation that has awarded thousands of dollars  in scholarships to local high schoolers (15 years); The Koinonia Foundation (12 years); The Wake Forest Chamber Board (6 years); The Wake Forest Chamber Foundation (2 years);  The YMCA Advisory Board (3 years); The YMCA We Build People fundraising campaign chair  (6 years), and the Wakefield Rotary Board (3 years).

** Have you read the current town budget?

Yes, but I’ve gone beyond reading it–I understand it. I majored in business and finances at Wake Forest University. I’ve worked in budget and forecasting in my corporate life and as a small business owner.  I will be a fiscally responsible steward of our Town’s budget when elected.

** Have you read the current Capital Improvement Plan?

Yes, and I’m thrilled that so many high priority projects are currently being implemented such as the downtown streetscape, the Ailey Young house and the new fire station

** Have you looked through or read the Unified Development Ordinance which governs land use and building in town?

Yes, in fact we studied the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) as part of the Wake Forest Planning Academy. Participation in the Planning Academy combined with my work as a realtor gives me the knowledge necessary of zoning laws and how the UDO affects land usage.

** Have you spoken with any past or present town commissioner about their experiences?

Yes, before I filed to run for Wake Forest commissioner, I spoke to several sitting and past Town Commissioners as well as the Mayor, about their experiences, challenges and the future of our town. I gained knowledge, understanding and ideas as to what it takes to effectively serve constituents and advocate for our community.

Anne Reeve

Commissioner Reeve did not respond to this week’s questions.

Chad Sary

I decided to run for Town Commissioner simply because Wake Forest is my home. I have no political agenda, I just want to use my professional experiences in local government and knowledge of our Town’s history to serve our citizens. I bought my first house in Wake Forest, Tracy and I have raised our children here and I spent a large portion of my professional career working for the Town of Wake Forest. It is my desire to serve and give back to the community that has been so generous to my family and I over the last two decades.

During my 15 year tenure in the Town’s Planning Department, I provided supported to many Town committees and boards such as the Urban Forestry Board (formerly the Tree Board), Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, Design Review Committee and Board of Commissioners just to name a few.  I also served on the Town’s Planning Board.

In my current role as a municipal planning consultant, I actually facilitate advisory board training sessions and strategic planning retreats for elected officials in Towns and Counties across the state, so my knowledge of local government and its unique processes is extensive.

I have reviewed the Town’s budget and Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and have done so for many years. In regard to the Unified Development Ordinance, I led the committee that over saw the preparation of that document nearly 7 years ago.  While it was a grueling three year long process, it did result in a consolidated development ordinance consistent with the Town’s long range goals (at that time).

I am fortunate to have great relationships with many past and current Town Commissioners.  I have consulted many of them for guidance and wisdom in the past and during this campaign.

Sean Sullivan

As a parent of 3 kids growing up in Wake Forest, I always made sure the kids were involved with some kind of activity. Along with my kids, I was involved with soccer, baseball, football, marching band, cub scouting, and boy scouting. Learning by experiencing are values I feel are important to not just children but adults.

During my career I have been involved with the North Carolina Chapter of the American Payroll Association as a member and past president. I have also been a committee member of the Carolinas Payroll Conference, which is held annually for over 200 attendees. Throughout my career I have been a contributing member on project management teams.

I have been a resident of Wake Forest for over 25 years and have not only experienced the growth of the town but have also followed it by reading the local news and watching Town Meetings on the internet. My conviction of learning by being involved has contributed to my interest in running for Town Commissioner. Running for a seat on the board is not something I take lightly but I know my experience and beliefs make me a worthy choice to be a contributing member of the Wake Forest Town Board.

I have read the Town’s Budget, Unified Development Ordinance, and Capital Improvement Plan, which show the Town has a sound conservative plan in place to be financially strong and responsible. I have intentions to contact a few of the past commissioners to ask for their advice as to how to be a member of a team committed to make the best decisions impacting the Town in a positive manner.

Adam Wright

I am running for Town Commissioner because I felt that for too long the voice of the community has not been represented. I want to be the voice of the community and make sure it is their views being represented and not those of the developers.

I have attended many [town board] meetings this year. I learned that our rezoning process is not transparent enough.  I have not made it to a planning board meeting yet.

I have not served on an advisory board.

I have read the current budget.

I have read the CIP. Who knew it’d cost an estimated $200k to paint our town name on the water tower? Some pretty neat projects in the works.

I have not made it all the way through the UDO. However, I read the majority of it.

I have a few meetings [with past or present town commissioners] in the works. However, we have not yet met.

Greg Bartholomew

While on vacation in Texas last year, doctors there diagnosed me with potentially stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer. They recommended that I go home immediately and get my affairs in order. As it turned out, the cancer was Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma which consisted of abnormal cells in the pancreas and liver areas. In addition to the cancer, I developed Rhabdomyolysis which resulted in kidney failure with several weeks of dialysis. After six weeks at Duke University Hospital as an inpatient, my health improved enough to begin Chemotherapy. The treatment ended successfully in December of 2018 with no evidence of cancer at that time.

I had a lot of time to ponder what I would do if I survived the illness. Well, I came to the conclusion that the Lord had a plan for me. I felt the calling to serve the citizens of my beloved home town, Wake Forest!

I have attended all Town Board meetings since May. Our current board members are very dedicated to making Wake Forest a better place to live. It has been disappointing to me that more citizens have not attended the meetings. Hopefully they are watching the meeting via the town TV channel. I encourage Wake Forest citizens, both new and old, to become an active part of this process we call government. All actions taken by the town and the board are transparent; but you have to know where to look and what to look for. I encourage citizens to visit the online town website in order to access the communication department.  There you can sign up for “E-Notifier.”  All information you want will be emailed to you.

I have also attended planning workshops since May 2019. Unfortunately, I have not served on any advisory boards to date. I have read the 2019-2020 budget, Capital Improvement Plan, and the Unified Development Ordinance.  My head is still dizzy from the information.

Yes, I have talked with Commissioners about the aspects and time needed to be a representative. It can easily become a very time consuming occupation. I am committed 100 percent to whatever time it takes. In addition to the time for preparation and meetings, Commissioners act as full time ambassadors for our town and citizens. We have two ears to listen and only one mouth. We must listen to the voice of our citizens twice as much as we talk.

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