David Young

Biography

David Young is a Buncombe County commissioner, president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and a former candidate for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.

Early Life and Education 

David Wallace Young was born on Nov. 11, 1959, in Greensboro to Wallace and Carolyn Young. His father was an insurance salesman and his mother worked for North Carolina National Bank (now Bank of America).

He graduated from Grimsley High School in 1978.

He then went to UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a bachelor of science in industrial relations.

Professional Career 

After college, Young went to work for BB&T in Wilson, Tarboro, Greenville and Raleigh as a commercial lender.

After working there three years, he moved to Asheville and bought the Fugazy Travel Agency, which currently focuses on leisure, corporate and group travel.

Over the years, he's also invested in commercial and residential real estate. 

Political Career

Over the years, he's volunteered for various statewide and local Democratic campaigns.

In 1992, he ran for Buncombe County commissioner. He was re-elected to four-year terms in 1996, 2000 and 2004. In office, he helped start the Buncombe County Economic Development Commission, a quasi-governmental agency that recruits business.

A member of the commission board, he served as chairman from 2000 to 2003.

He's also served as board member of the Asheville Regional Airport Authority, serving as chairman from 2002 to 2004.

In 1998, he ran for Congress, losing to Rep. Charles Taylor.

In August of 2007, he was elected to a one-year term as president of the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

Since 2005, he has served on the University of North Carolina system board of governors. 

Treasurer Campaign 

In September of 2007, he announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.

He pledged to improve the annual cost-of-living adjustments for retired state workers.

He came in second in the Democratic primary with state Sen. Janet Cowell and Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel, winning 36 percent of the vote.

He has been endorsed by the N.C. Association of Educators, the Simkins PAC and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

Occupation

Contact Info

Email: david@davidyoung2008.com

Education

Military

Issues

How will you measure success in your first year in office?

"Easy. I think [I could measure it] really two ways. Number one, if we're maintaing our AAA bond rating in the state, and secondly, by the returns that we will have on our investment pool. If we're having above average returns, we're having a good thing."

Tell us about something you did for someone else.

"We agreed to raise the supplement for teachers in Buncombe County. I had a big hand in raising that."

What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district?

"Clearly the economy and creation of jobs and the inflationary time we're in."

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