Given the dedication you have to have for a role like this, in public service, what was the draw to where you would want to run for office and be a part of it? MW: Oh gosh. Well, I grew up in a family that was always active in our community, church work or in our neighborhood civic groups, whatever it was. So, I saw my parents do it and I would often go with them to volunteer or go to church. So, it just was always second nature for me. I guess it was just kind of, you know, in my DNA, I guess. And they were role models for me and work they did in the community. And I always enjoyed volunteering and helping out in the community. I put my roots down in Durham, settled there, and got involved in my neighborhood and some of the civic things that I did there. Just, you know, one step. Mine was a gradual kind of wade into it. So, I’d be reacting to a lot of different community groups and neighborhood groups, things like that. Durham, which is a unique community, we have something called the InterNeighborhood Council. It’s the association of neighborhood associations. And I was my neighborhood’s representative to the InterNeighborhood Council. And at the time there were three or so neighborhood associations around Durham. Legislator Q&A: Senator Mike Woodard And there’s where you get to know what’s going on all over town, neighborhood by neighborhood. So, the issues in the Watts Hospital neighborhood, where I live, are very different than what Walltown’s going through. And that’s totally different than what the Herndon Road community’s going through or what Campus Hills is going through, just to think of different geographic neighborhoods, or Old North Durham or Willowhaven. But you get to see what’s going on. I just found it fascinating to help. So, I became president, I was president of the InterNeighborhood Council, and in my term I was vice president, which is essentially president-elect. So for the couple of years I had an office in the Inter-Neighborhood Council, some great and interesting work and took on some real interesting issues and really became a voice for our neighborhoods.It was time for a city council election, a lot of people said, “You’d be great at that.” And so, I said yeah, I might enjoy it. So that’s sort of how I got there. I had worked with neighborhoods all over town. I showed up on day one with a pretty good knowledge of what I thought some of the needs, concerns and opportunities for the city were. I joke with people. I was sworn in on a Monday night. And I have a picture here. My parents swearing me in… It just was always second nature for me. I guess it was just kind of, you know, in my DNA, I guess. And I always enjoyed volunteering and helping out in the community. I put my roots down in Durham, settled there, and got involved in my neighborhood and some of the civic things that I did there. Just, you know, one step. » Sen. Mike Woodard, 22nd District, Durham County continues on page 20 NCLM.ORG 19
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