Wednesday, September 27, 2023

114 West Elm Street
Graham, NC 27253
Ph: 336.228.7851

Biographical information on Burlington mayoral and city council candidates

BURLINGTON MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Ian Baltutis

Full name: Ian Baltutis
Nickname, if any: N/A
Born: Date of birth: August 10, 1985
Place of birth: Minneapolis, Hennipen County, Minnesota
Education: Washburn Senior High School, 2004; B.S. Business Administration: Entrepreneurship & Minor: Journalism and Communications, Elon University, 2008
Military service: N/A
Occupation/place of employment: Inventor & Entrepreneur – The Vibration Solution, LLC
Family: Spouse – N/A
Children – N/A
Religion/church affiliation: Unitarian Universalist
Organizations: Alamance Chamber of Commerce; NC League of Municipalities – Board of Directors; Elon University Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Advisory Board Member; Old North State Boy Scout Council – Board of Directors, Alamance Rotary Club
Political career: City of Burlington – Mayor, 6 years, 3 terms, 2015, 2017, & 2019
Address: 702 W Davis St, Burlington

 

Walter Boyd

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Full name: Walter Yates Boyd, Jr.
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: February 14, 1956
Place of birth: Burlington, Alamance County
Education: Elon College, BA in biology and chemistry, 1976; UNC-Greensboro, MA in biology, 1980; NC Central University, JD, 1984; The George Washington University, LL.M in Patent and Trade Regulation Law, 1985
Military service: —
Occupation/place of employment: Retired
Family: Spouse – —
Children – —
Religion/church affiliation: United Church of Christ
Organizations: —
Political career: —
Address: 407 Meadowood Dr., Burlington

 

Jim Butler

Full name: James Bryan Butler
Nickname, if any: Jim
Born: Date of birth: August 4, 1965
Place of birth: Burlington/Alamance County
Education: Eastern Guilford High School; University of Alabama
Military service: N/A
Occupation/place of employment: Executive Director of Operations / Modern Automotive Network
Family: Spouse – Kim Butler, married 30 years
Children – Megan Butler (27), Nathan Butler (25), Grayson Butler (21)
Religion/church affiliation: St. Marks Church (25 year member)
Organizations: Alamance Community College – Board of Trustees; Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation – Board of Trustees; Burlington / Graham – MPO / TAC – Board Member; United Way of Alamance County – Past Chairman; BSA Old North State Council – Past Executive Board Member
Political career: Burlington City Council – first elected 2007
Address: 520 Meadowood Dr., Burlington

 

Caleb J. Massey

Full name: Caleb Massey
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: September17, 1987
Place of birth: Bedford, Virginia
Education: Associates in Mortuary Science from Gupton-Jones College
Military service: N/A
Occupation/place of employment: Funeral Director at Lowe Funeral Home & Crematory
Family: Spouse – Alicia Rumley Massey, married one year
Children – three children: Lily, Nolan, and, Gabriel
Religion/church affiliation: Christian/Westside Fellowship Church
Organizations: Founder of Grace Hands, a non-profit, that helps with the financial burdens of families needing assistance with cremations at any funeral home in Alamance County; Wreaths Across America, whose mission is to remember, honor, and teach by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery; Feed The Hunger Ministry, a Christian ministry that helps identify vulnerable children at risk of starvation or malnutrition, and provide immediate nutritional resources, as well as help with the long-term success of the children through education and spiritual growth; and Meridzo Ministries.
Political career: No former political office held
Address: 1017 Tarleton Ave., Burlington

 

Donna Vanhook

Full name: Donna M. Vanhook
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: —
Place of birth: —
Education: AAS in Criminal Justice/Corrections & AAS in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Alamance Community College, 1991 & 1994; Basic Law Enforcement Training/Police Academy, 1995; BA in Religious Studies, Elon University, 2007; Master of Divinity, Shaw University Divinity School, 2010; MA in Nonprofit Management, High Point University, 2015.
Military service: —
Occupation/place of employment: Associate Pastor at Union Chapel United Church of Christ; Social Justice Fellow with the N.C. Black Alliance Faith Engagement Team.
Family: Spouse – —
Children – —
Religion/church affiliation: United Church of Christ
Organizations: Burlington Minimum Housing Commissioner, Clergy with United Church of Christ; Former Certified Law Enforcement Officer.
Political career: —
Address: 317 Caswell Street, Burlington

 

BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

 

Charlie Beasley

Full name: Charles Allen Beasley
Nickname, if any: Charlie
Born: Date of birth: December12, 1984
Place of birth: Staunton,Virginia
Education: Radford University B.S. Exercise, Sport and Health Managemeent graduated Magna Cum Laude, 2006
Military service: N/A
Occupation/place of employment: Director of Quality
Family: Spouse – Megan Beasley, married 12 years
Children – Three
Religion/church affiliation: Christian
Organizations: —
Political career: No Previous Political Office
Address: 1134 Cardross St., Burlington

 

Dejuana Warren Bigelow

[Editor’s Note: Refused to repond to the newspaper’s questionnaire or request for biographical information.

The Alamance County Board of Elections lists the candidate’s full name as Dejuana Warren Bigelow, which is how she will be listed on the ballot. Her address is listed as 1710 Hanford Hills Road, Graham.]

 

Bob Byrd

Full name: Robert E. Byrd
Nickname, if any: Bob
Born: Date of birth: December 3, 1948
Place of birth: Erie/Erie County/Pennsylvania
Education: McDowell High School, 1966; B.S. in music education, Penn State University, 1970; M.H.A. (Master of Health Administration), Duke University, 1978
Military service: None
Occupation/place of employment: Retired Healthcare Executive, Cone Health/Alamance Regional Medical Center (35 years)
Family: Spouse – Barbara Bennett Byrd, married 36 years
Children – None
Religion/church affiliation: Graham Presbyterian Church
Organizations: Alamance Eldercare (Immediate Past Chair); Burlington-Alamance Sister Cities (Treasurer); Allied Churches of Alamance County (Board of Directors); Alamance Racial Equity Alliance (Board of Directors); Young Musicians of Alamance (Board of Directors)
Political career: Alamance County Commissioner, 2014
Address: 2826 Charlotte Lane, Burlington

 

Wendy Jordan

Full name: Wendy P. Jordan
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: January 11, 1965
Place of birth: Burlington/Alamance County
Education: B.S. in Criminal Justice, Liberty University, 2010
Military service: N/A
Occupation/place of employment: City of Burlington Police Department 28 ½ years, Retired
Family: Spouse – Ken Jordan, married 25 years
Children – Cameron Smith 12-year marine veteran; Angela Eumana, self-employed
Religion/church affiliation: Westside Fellowship
Organizations: —
Political career: —
Address: 1530 Wickham St., Burlington

 

Harold Owen

Full name: Harold Thomas Owen
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: June 5, 1953
Place of birth: Oxford, Granville County North Carolina
Education: J.F. Webb High School 1971; B.S. in Recreation and Parks Administration, North Carolina State University 1975; M.P.A. in Public Administration, University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1994
Military service: None
Occupation/place of employment: O&L Association, LLC; Municipal Operations Consultant for North Carolina League of Municipalities; Retired City Manager for Burlington
Family: Spouse – Denane Owen, married 42 years
Children – Dr. Christina Beck (40 yrs old), Constance McCall (35 yrs old)
Religion/church affiliation: Baptist
Organizations: North Carolina Arboretum Board of Directors; Alamance County Transportation Board of Directors; Burlington/Alamance YMCA Board of Directors; North Carolina State University Alumni Association; New Leaf Society Board Member
Political career: Elected to Burlington City Council in 2017
Address: 223 Engleman Avenue, Burlington

 

Ronnie Wall

Full name: Ronnie K. Wall
Nickname, if any: —
Born: Date of birth: February 11, 1957
Place of birth: —
Education: Hugh M. Cummings, 1975; B.A. in Industrial Education, NC State University, 1979; Masters in Driver Education, A&T State University, 1982; Masters in Educational Administration, A&T State University, 1984
Military service: —
Occupation/place of employment: The Burlington School
Family: Spouse – Susie B. Wall, married 17 years
Children – Ann Johnson, 34; Maggie Pinson, 31
Religion/church affiliation: Baptist, First Baptist Downtown
Organizations: Former Department of Transportation member; Former President of N.C. League of Municipalities; Former member (Executive Board) Metro Mayors; Former member of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council
Political career: Burlington City Council, two years; Burlington mayor, eight years
Address: 613 Meadowood Drive, Burlington


For other Burlington election coverage, see these stories:

Background on the newspaper questionnaire, introduction of the candidates for mayor (5) and city council (6): https://alamancenews.com/background-the-candidates-questionnaire-and-the-newspapers-coverage/

Where do the candidates stand on the issues? Candidates for mayor and city council respond to an issues questionnaire to express their positions on various issues they may confront: https://alamancenews.com/mayoral-council-candidates-differ-over-police-funding-gay-rights-ordinance-covid-vaccination-mandate-for-city-employees/

Campaign finance reports reveal money pouring into Burlington campaigns:  https://alamancenews.com/donations-pour-into-campaigns-for-burlington-municipal-races/

Mayor concerned about proliferation of political signs — both in city right-of-ways and on city properties, such as parks: https://alamancenews.com/mayor-campaign-signs-proliferate-on-city-property-rights-of-way/

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