Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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16 UCW JULY 31-AUGUST 6, 2019 Best of Fayetteville Most Responsive City Politician Fayetteville City Councilman Johnny Dawkins, District 5 910-433-1992 or www.cityoffayetteville.org Johnny Dawkins grew up immersed in the importance of public service and continues his family's tradition of working to better the community. He is in his second term on Fayetteville City Council, after a 12-year break. His grandfather, Johnny Sr., served in the North Caro- lina House for three years. His father, J.L., served on City Council for 12 years and as Fayetteville mayor for 13 years. As a man of action with almost 40 years of service, the list of Dawkins' accomplishments is long. As a student at Wake Forest University, he created the Brian Piccolo Drive for Cancer Research, which has raised millions of dollars in the last four decades. He's served in the community in many ways, too — on the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council and as an honorary member of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He is also a former honorary wing commander of the 43rd Airlift Wing at Pope Field. He has served on the board of directors of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, on the board of deacons at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, on the board of directors of the Fayetteville Tech- nical Community College and Fayetteville State University Foundations, on the National Executive Board of the Health Insurance Agent's association and on the board of directors of the Care Clinic Foundation. When he is not serving the public, he is a benefits technology consultant at EbenConcepts in Fayetteville. At the heart of it all is his love for this community and his desire to make Fayetteville a more prosperous city that will give citizens a better quality of life. In a season of big changes for this area, Dawkins knows being available to his constitu- ents is important — so much so that he made himself a promise. "My focus is to respond to a citizen within 24 hours," he said. Most Responsive County Politician Cumberland County Commissioner Michael Boose 910-678-7771 or www.co.cumberland.nc.us Some people talk about how much they care about the community. Other people show their passion through service. Cumberland County Com- missioner Michael Boose takes the latter approach. Boose has practiced law in Fayetteville for more than 35 years. He spent several years working as an assistant district attorney in District 2 and Superior Court. He also formerly served as the town attorney for both Hope Mills and Spring Lake. He currently practices law in historic downtown Fayetteville as a senior partner at the Boose Law Offices. Boose is much more than a good lawyer. He has a heart for the community. He was elected to a four-year term as a Cumberland County commissioner at large and has served 18 years on the Cumberland County Board of Education. While there, he was elected to serve four terms as the board's chairman. Gov. Pat McCrory appointed Boose the North Carolina chairman of the board of the Federal Military Interstate Compact Commission for Children. Boose also served as a member of the board of trustees for Fayetteville Tech- nical Community College for 12 years, and he is a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor. He also served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County and is a member of the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club of Fayetteville, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, and the Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce. He supports the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Cape Fear Botanical Garden and Teen Court. All of these activities confirm his passion for his community and the fact that he responds to the needs of its people. p o l i t i c s