Fred Aikens

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on January 16, 2008 - 11:33am.
Tags:

Office District Status
Auditor Statewide Candidate
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat
Level of Government  
 
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
, Wilmington, NC Raleigh, NC

Synopsis

Fred Aikens is a former statewide candidate. A retired U.S. army colonel, Aikens worked as a fiscal analyst at the state legislature from 1978 to 1993. In January of 2008, he announced he would run for the Democratic nomination for state auditor to face incumbent Republican Les Merritt in the fall. He lost to former auditor's employee Beth Wood in the May primary.

Trivia

He attends the Wake Chapel Church in Raleigh. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Lucy
Children
Natasha Aikens-Miles and Lucinda Aikens-Wade

Fred Aikens is a former candidate for state auditor.

Early Life and Education

Fred Aikens is a native of Wilmington.

He graduated from Williston Senior High School in 1968.

He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from UNC-Wilmington in 1975 and a master's degree in city and regional planning from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1979.

He earned a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2000.

Family

Aikens and his wife, Lucy, are the parents to two adult daughters Natasha Aikens-Miles and Lucinda Aikens-Wade.

Military Service

Aikens was director of operations for the HQ XVIII Airborne Corps from November of 2001 to November of 2002.

Called back to duty in 2003, Aikens was commander of his unit in Iraq and deputy commander for contingency base camps in Kuwait. 

He retired as a colonel. 

Professional Career

From 1978 to 1993, Aikens worked as a fiscal analyst for the state legislature, helping lawmakers write the budgets for the transportation and agriculture departments.

In 1993, he left to serve as deputy secretary of the state Department of Transportation.

In late 1997, the State Bureau of Investigation found that Aikens had stopped an internal investigation into a Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner's use of state employees as security guards and drivers.

Aikens then worked as a deputy secretary for the state Department of Correction until he retired in 2006.

He now works part-time as a consultant.

Political Career

Aikens chaired the State Government Information Technology Management Council.

He is a former member of the Information Resources Management Council.

He's currently on the Wake County Citizen's Facilities Advisory Council. He joined the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation in 2007, saying he wanted the group to recover from criticism that it gave college scholarships to relatives of legislators. 

Auditor Campaign

In January of 2008, he announced he would run for the Democratic nomination for state auditor. 

He said he wanted to clean up corruption in Raleigh and increase accountability. 

He will face Beth Wood in the primary. Incumbent Republican Les Merritt is seeking re-election.

All three candidates in the auditor's race accepted public financing under a new program for down-ballot races.

Wood defeated him, 64 to 36 percent, in the May primary.

Occupation

retired colonel
U.S. Army and N.C. National Guard






Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education

bachelor of science
UNC-Wilmington
Graduated: 1975		 master of city planning
UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1979		 master of strategic studies
U.S. Army War College
Graduated: 2000

Military

Years of service:
 Branch:
Army

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