He received his BA degree in Political Science in 1970, his Juris Doctor degree in 1974, and his Master of Public Administration degree in 1978, all from UNC. He served on the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees from 1995-2003, and the Board of Visitors from 1991-1995. He was Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1997-1999. He served five terms in the North Carolina Senate from 2003 to 2012. In the Senate he co-chaired the Education/Higher Education Committee and the Appropriations Committee. Prior to his service in the Senate he was the County Manager of Wake County, North Carolina from 1984-2000. In addition he has worked as a management consultant providing assistance with strategic planning, business objectives, marketing and organizational development for private sector clients.