Meet your Town Council

Mayor’s Office: 828-879-2125
828-443-0881
[email protected]

What I love about Valdese is the small town quaintness, with all the amenities of a larger city but without the crowds. Walking down Main Street to grab coffee and a donut or a burger and a coke and chatting with a police officer downtown. Visiting the library for a good book or the recreation center for a game of hoops. Enjoy nature with a visit to McGalliard Falls Park or Valdese Lakeside Park. The sense of community with hometown sports and the music filling the streets on a summer Friday night. Our greatest asset is our citizens. Folks who greet you with a smile and a handshake. Neighbors who are always willing to lend a helping hand.

Goals:
I want to see Valdese grow and prosper and continue to be a welcome place for families, young and old to call home. We need to continue our effort to develop affordable housing for all. I would like to see more entrepreneurship, with the development of both small and large economic growth projects. And we must address our aging infrastructure.

Term 12/6/21 to 12/1/25

Ward 2
828-413-2862
[email protected]

I was born and raised in Valdese, attending Valdese Primary (later Elementary), and Valdese Junior High schools, before graduating from East Burke High School. Knowing my blood was “Carolina Blue”, I attended UNC-Chapel Hill, receiving a B.S. degree from the School of Pharmacy and dedicating the majority of my working career to the state of North Carolina as a pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy at Broughton Hospital. I married another Valdese native and Waldensian and we proudly made Valdese our home, raising our two sons in Valdese area schools and community.

I encourage friends and the Valdese community to become an active member of our town, participating in community events at the Recreation Center or Parks, attending shows and activities at the Old Rock School, enjoying fellowship and music on summer Family Friday nights, learning about our town’s history at the Waldensian museum…in other words, be ACTIVE and ENGAGED in town events! You’ll make friends and memories that will last a lifetime!

Term to expire 12/1/2025

Ward 1
828-879-8936
[email protected]

In 2005, my wife Linda and I fell in love with our new “hometown.” Valdese reflects the unique congeniality of the 19th-century Waldensian colonists and the 18th-century Scotch-Irish settlers who welcomed them and supported them through their difficult early years.

Being raised by parents who endured the Great Depression on a small family farm created an appreciation of hard-earned money. At age 17 my college tuition came from unloading “beehive” kilns in a brickyard; and in subsequent summers by sweating in a steel mill. The appreciation for folks who work hard to achieve life goals was the underpinning of a varied career. The common thread from science teacher to guidance counselor, to association manager, to general contractor, to property developer, and even the renovation of the old home that brought us to Valdese, was the unyielding desire to make a difference.

Respect for other people’s money and their rights to the entities they own was the foundation of two decades of managing associations belonging to thousands of members. If 45,000 individuals across several continents can participate in setting the goals of their membership association, why can’t 5000 friends and neighbors in proximity of each other set the goals of their town? I will strive to help answer that question as we work together for the “greatest small town in North Carolina.”

Term 12/4/23 to 12/1/25

Treasurer
Ward 3
828-432-7049
[email protected]

I have lived most of my life in Valdese. I was educated in the Valdese schools and returned to this town to begin my career as an educator. I love the small town atmosphere. As part of my day, I enjoy walking from my house through town each morning. This walk reinforces the things that I love about Valdese. I go by the Valdese Recreation Center and see the women and men in the pool enjoying exercise or lap swimming. I see people returning books at the Valdese Library and folks running into the post office before work. I get to smell the aroma of fresh bread being baked at the bakery. How lucky am I to live in a small town like Valdese!

As a town council member, I want to work with all citizens to make Valdese an attractive and exciting place to live. The town needs to work with economic development entities to attract new industry. In addition, the development of new housing further supports the town. The Valdese Lakeside Park will shape our future. Replacing and improving water lines and upgrading infrastructure should be a priority.

Term 12/6/21 to 12/1/25

Mayor Pro-Tem
Ward 4
828-874-3624
[email protected]

I was born and raised in the Town of Valdese where I have lived for over 30 years. I attended all the public schools here where I have many wonderful memories of our small town and the many services provided for our residents through the years. I am retired from Burke County Public Schools after 30 years of service. I find myself going to Valdese restaurants frequently and appreciate the chance to talk and meet with fellow residents. I enjoy attending Old Colony Players productions, Friday night concerts and summer festivals that give our people the opportunity to socialize, bond and celebrate each other.

As I begin serving on the Town Council, I’m reminded of all the past Town Council Members and Mayors who have led us over the years. In the current council chamber, there are pictures of past mayors, many men of respect and integrity. I hope I can serve as they have and always remember who we represent, ALL the citizens of Valdese. This is “the greatest small town in North Carolina.”

Term Expires 12/6/27

Ward 5
828-390-9541
[email protected]

I've called Valdese home for over two decades, having moved here when my father took on the role of pastor at the River of Life Church, which was formerly known as the Valdese Church of God. Over the years, I've lived in various places across North Carolina, but Valdese has truly become my home.

The sense of community spirit in Valdese is unparalleled. It's a place where neighbors genuinely watch out for one another, creating a safe haven in which I'm proud to raise my two boys. I met my husband here, and together we've woven the fabric of our family within the tight-knit bonds of this community.

Actively involved in our church, my husband and I serve as youth ministers, channeling our passion for outreach and community service. We're also the proud directors of Jethro's, a local community outreach and discipleship center that caters to all ages. Jethro's embodies our commitment to being a beacon of light in the darkness, mirroring the town's settlers' motto, "Lux Lucet in Tenebris" (A Light Shining in the Darkness).

Being a light in the darkness has been a guiding principle in both my personal life and our service to Valdese. It's a town with a rich history of resilience and community, and I'm honored to contribute to its legacy by continuing to be a source of positivity and support. Valdese isn't just a place on the map for me; it's a home where my family and I are dedicated to shining brightly for years to come.

Term Expires 12/6/27