Deep roots and dedication to service
I am a life-long resident of Orange County and I am raising my family here.
I grew up in and attended public schools in Chapel Hill. I earned my undergraduate degree at UNC and learned the importance of being a public servant here in our community.
I teach my kids what my parents taught me: that our community is what we work together to make it, and that each of us must fight to guarantee access to opportunity for all.
My parents also instilled in me a strong sense of the value of local government, and it makes sense that I became engaged in community service at an early age.
In fact, at age 7, I remember stuffing campaign envelopes for Howard Lee, the first African-American person to serve as mayor of Chapel Hill, in his bid for lieutenant governor.
I care deeply about making Orange County a wonderful place for my family and yours.
Over the years, I served on the Town of Chapel Hill’s Housing Advisory Board and the Ephesus Elementary School Improvement Team, was a mentor for the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program, learned to wield power tools with Habitat for Humanity, served on several statewide nonprofit boards, and represented the Orange County Democratic Party as a poll greeter and poll observer.
I have received recognition for my public service, including the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, the Orange County Key Volunteer Service Award, and the Neighbors United Community Service Award. I was also recently named the inaugural Affordable Housing Champion by the UNC Department of City and Regional Planning.
My local advocacy and volunteer work has made my appreciation for our community — and my connection to it — even stronger.
My wife, Alyson Grine, is a North Carolina Superior Court Judge for Judicial District 18 (Orange and Chatham Counties). Together, we have two children, Hazel and Wyatt. Like me, our kids were born here. We are so proud of Hazel, an aspiring social worker who is studying at Appalachian State University, and Wyatt, an avid soccer player who attends the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
I ran for Chapel Hill Town Council to make sure my family would enjoy a bright future here— and that many others would too.
My professional work has also always served the public interest—from my experience with the Orange County Family Resource Centers managing community centers in Chapel Hill public housing, Carrboro’s Carr Court, and Northern Orange’s Cedar Grove; my work to improve health care in developing countries; and my recent work on innovation in public health and renewable energy.
Whether in my work or my public service, I listen first and partner with communities to find solutions together.
