West Council

“"I remember vividly my first impression of the Institute of Government. I was a newly elected city council member and I desperately needed some guidance concerning my job description. Our town population was around 1500 and I was the first woman elected to city office. I needed help. I came to the Institute for the class for newly elected officials and I was overwhelmed. Jake Wicker sensed my apprehension and spent some extra time just answering my questions and assuring me that "old pros" didn't have all of the answers but the staff there would always be willing to help. That was in 1981 and I have called on various staff persons at the Institute over the years and I have always received the help I needed. It is such a comfort to know that we have such a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips."

-Brenda Oliver, Mayor, Sylva, NC

"I went to the Institute's new elected official school when I was first elected in 1997. There is always a faculty member at the Institute that I can call on to answer my questions. The Institute gives elected officials like me a sense of confidence because we know there is a place that we can call to get the right answer."

-Rodney Locks, City Council Member, Brevard

"I attended the Institute’s Municipal and County Administration Course several years ago. I was exposed to folks that are the experts in the state of North Carolina in their field, and that is particularly valuable when you are in a small municipality and your resources are limited. To know that I can pick up the phone or email one of the Institute faculty members to ask them questions is so helpful. I know the response I get is the answer to my question."

-Karen Andrews, Town Manager, Rutherfordton

"The Institute provides a sense of continuity for local government officials. While local elected officials come and go in North Carolina, the Institute remains our institutional memory of local government in the state."

-Chris Carter, City Manager, City of Hendersonville

West Regional Council

Brandi Adkins, Finance Officer, Yancey County
Karen Andrews, Town Manager, Rutherfordton
Todd Bailey, County Attorney, Yancey County
Stan Boyd, Director of Engineering Services, MSD, Buncombe County
Bob Boyette, City Manager, Marion
Nancy Brooks, Finance Director (retired), Buncombe County
Chris Callahan, Town Attorney, Lake Lure
Walter Clark, Town Attorney, Canton
Mike Decker, Town Administrator, Franklin
Marlene Hyatt, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, Waynesville
Bill Gibson, Executive Director, Southwestern Region A Council of Governments
Sam Greenwood, Manager, Macon County
Elton Guffey, Magistrate, Murphy
Leon Killian, County Attorney, Haywood County
Larry Leake, County Attorney, Madison County
Rodney Locks, Council Member, Brevard
Joseph Martin, Director, Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District
David Neumann, County Attorney, Transylvania County
Rachel Ramsey, Magistrate (retired), Polk County
Brenda Oliver, Mayor, Sylva
Ronald K. Payne, Superior Court Judge, Asheville
Thomas H. Thompson, Clerk of Superior Court, Hendersonville
Dennis Jay Winner, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge, Asheville

Contact Kyle Gray at 919-962-8477 or gray@sog.unc.edu if you would like to join the West Regional Council.