Hello! After serving the past couple weeks as Carrboro Town Manager, I’d like to introduce myself. I am grateful and excited to join with the Town Council, town staff, and you to achieve extraordinary outcomes in our community.
Twenty years ago, I served as Assistant to the Town Manager for the Town of Carrboro. Since then, my career path has included serving as the Elon Town Manager, as well as executive management positions with the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, GA and most recently, the City of Asheville. While I had great experiences in those communities, I am pleased to be back in Carrboro!
Each community has its own distinct character, and Carrboro has long held a special place in my heart. It’s still the progressive, open, welcoming, and culturally diverse community that I remember – but there are more than a few changes. I look forward to visiting my old favorites – coffee at Open Eye, concerts at Cat’s Cradle, and hikes along the Adams Tract – while discovering what’s new at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park on Hillsborough Road and the new Grata Café at Carr Mill Mall, just to name a few.
I know the past 17 months have been challenging, and I want to thank you for showing concern for neighbors and the most vulnerable members of our community as we seek ways to continue to help during the ongoing pandemic. If we continue to work together, then our town will emerge stronger. There is a lot of excitement on the horizon - the development of a comprehensive plan, downtown redevelopment, racial equity initiatives, and the 203 Project that will bring a new library and cultural center to the heart of town.
I consider it a privilege and an honor to have been selected by the Town Council to serve as the town manager to lead an organization made up of dedicated professionals who work around the clock to provide an exceptional level of customer service in a professional, responsive, and courteous manner. It will take all of us - elected officials, town staff, and you working together to move our community forward.
As I get started, I will be learning about the organization and reconnecting with the community to better understand the challenges and opportunities that are in front of us. Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have to help us achieve our goals.
I look forward to seeing you around town.
Sincerely,
Richard
Richard J. White III
Carrboro Town Manager