Greenville City Council District 5

Your current job and title:

I have practiced law in Greenville since I graduated from law school in 1986. I am the owner of and attorney with The Robinson Law Firm, P.A. I have operated this firm since 1999. I previously practiced law as a partner with James Hite Avery Clark and Robinson from 1989-1999 and as an associate attorney with James M. Roberts, Attorneys at Law, from 1986-1989.

Your highest level of education:

I received my undergraduate degree in Political Science from East Carolina University in 1983. I received my Juris Doctorate Degree from Campbell University School of Law in
1986. While in law school, I was a member of the Campbell Law Review, a journal operated by students who rank in the top 5% of their class. I was also amember of Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Barristers, and a legal case summary writer for the Campbell Law Observer. I was a member of Campbell’s 1985 moot court team that competed in the national finals for the American Bar Association’s Appellate Advocacy Competition before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

If you're elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?

My top priority is to Grow Greenville Greater in order to make it a destination city – a city which provides top level education and health care, diverse job opportunities, and excellent amenities, while being a friendly city in which to live, raise a family, work and retire. This has been and will continue to be the core tenet of my focus and advocacy for our great city.

To accomplish this priority, I will continue to focus my efforts on public safety, strategic and structured development, economic growth, and parks, recreation and green spaces. I will also continue to court and develop beneficial partnerships at the local, state and federal level that serve the best
interests of these goals.

Our citizens need to feel safe in their homes and communities and as they travel our roadways. This year we have had several shootings, many gang-related, that have caused our citizens great concern. Unfortunately, our city also ranks at the top in the state for vehicle accidents with personal injuries and property damages. Citizens often describe our streets as “racetracks” for reckless drivers. My efforts to date have already reduced the Greenville police officer shortage from approximately 40 to 13. I will continue my focus and priority on lowering the number of police officer vacancies to ensure the city has an adequate number of
properly trained officers to serve our community and address these issues.

Fire and rescue also funnel into the goal of public safety. I will continue the city’s efforts to update existing fire and EMS facilities while building new fire and rescue departments
to prioritize and lower response times to an accident, fire or medical emergency. On this topic, it is great news that the city is expected to start construction on a new fire and rescue
department beside South Central High School in District 5 within the next few months. Also, the city recently took steps to ensure there is a certified paramedic on each call for EMS service. This is critical for medical care when serious injuries are incurred, and life is in jeopardy.

Strategic and structured development contributes to economic growth by creating jobs for our citizens and adding to the tax base for the assessment of property and sales taxes. These taxes constitute a majority of the city’s operational budget. The growth of our tax base permits the tax rate to be lowered while still allowing the tax revenues to increase. This development also contributes to making us a destination city to work in and retire.

Parks, recreation and green spaces are essential to ahealthy lifestyle -- physically, mentally and emotionally. Growth in these areas should be earnestlyconsidered when the city is considering new development and creating its new Horizons Plan to replace the city’s current Horizons 2026 plan. Since the beginning of my time on the Council, one of my top priorities has been building a youth sports complex in Greenville. I called on my relationships with community leaders as well as youth sports coaches and parents to promote this vision. After years of discussions and studies, I was thrilled when the City Council unanimously approved a sports complex lease with ECU on Sept. 8, 2025. This is the first step in accomplishing my goal. I believe this will put Greenville “on the map” for numerous families from all over NC and the region as they travel with their kids. Additionally, it is expected to add over $40 million annually to the local economy as these families stay at local hotels, eat at local restaurants and patronize numerous local businesses. I look forward to finding more ways to improve our parks, recreation and green spaces.

Collaboration and viable relationships are key components to achieving the priorities identified. Recognizing the value of collaboration and partnerships to the city, I have worked relentlessly and tirelessly behind the scenes to build meaningful relationships with leaders and officials at East
Carolina University, the ECU Health Medical Center, the Brody School of Medicine, Pitt Community College, elected members of the North Carolina General Assembly as well as Congress, and local business developers and leaders in my desire to Grow Greenville Greater! These relationships have been courted on a weekly basis during my two terms as District 5 Council member. My lifelong residency in Greenville and 39 years of practicing law have provided the opportunities to build these beneficial relationships. In my third term, I will continue to use these relationships to the benefit of our city.

If you're elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?

When I served on the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2016-2022, including my time as its elected Chair from 2020-2021, I was extremely vocal about the need for our citizens to communicate their views and
opinions to appointed and elected officials operating on behalf of the City of Greenville.

When I was elected District 5 Council member, I continued to urge, privately and publicly, our citizens to voice their views and opinions to the City on topics of their concern. On multiple occasions, I personally facilitated the arrangements for our citizens and citizen groups to come to City Hall and voice their opinions to City Council on topics of their interest. During publicly televised Council meetings, I have often provided my personal cell number to ensure citizens could contact me directly to communicate their
concerns. To my knowledge, I am the only council member to have done so repetitively.

I have and will always continue to make myself available to citizens, regardless of which district they reside. As an elected member of City Council, I represent all the citizens in Greenville as my vote can impact the citizens in each district. In this regard, I have personally addressed problems and issues not just in my district, but all other
districts as well, no matter how big or small the issue of concern. In my third term, I will continue to advocate for all citizens to share their concerns as we, as City Council members, serve at their pleasure.

Why should voters choose you for the position you're running for?

I am a lifelong resident of Greenville and Pitt County, now over 64 years. My parents also lived here their entire lives. I returned to my hometown after law school and have continuously practiced here for over 39 years. During this time, I have created and maintained personal, business, legal and political relationships with tens of thousands of people not just here in Greenville and Pitt County, but all over North Carolina, on the East Coast and beyond, including D.C. An essential and critical part of my legal practice is to recognize and identify problems, and thereafter, formulate a plan to effectively and efficiently address the problem. This skill set has been developed and fine-tuned over a long career and is an invaluable asset when solving problems that come before the City Council. I am known for being relentless when a task, problem or issue is put before me, and I bring that to the table whenever I represent the city.

My work ethic, skill set at identifying problems and crafting solutions, as well as an extensive set of relationships are key
components and fundamental to my success as an advocate for the City of Greenville. I am committed to using these tools to grow and establish my hometown, the City of Greenville, as a leader in North Carolina and a true destination city and beacon of the East. I have repeatedly stated my goal is simple….. #GrowGreenvilleGreater.

Which three things about you do you most want voters to know?

This is my hometown. I was raised here, have spent my entire legal career here, which is far from being over, will retire here, and when God calls me home, be buried here just like my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.

I was raised by parents to work hard, do your best, treat people fairly and give back to your community. Over the course of my life, I have tried to give honor to their parenting and have done exactly as they taught me. My character, reputation and career as a lawyer, and my extensive and diverse record of service to civic, community and charitable endeavors support this ethic and were present long before I became an elected City Council member.

I love Greenville with all my heart and want more than anything to grow my hometown greater and make it a desirable place in which to live, work, receive your education and healthcare, and retire. I will continue to be a relentless advocate for Greenville and its citizens.

Is there anything else about you that you wish to tell voters?

I am a husband, father to three children, and a lifelong resident of Greenville. I am a local attorney who has served Greenville for over 39 years. I have built valuable relationships with a vast number of people from all walks of life during that time. I love this city and will continue to be a relentless advocate for its citizens. It has been a great honor to represent the people of District 5. I am asking for your vote for a third term so I can continue to work for you and to Grow Greenville Greater!