Jurisdiction: Hendersonville
University: Wake Forest University
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
A native of Charlotte, NC, Drew Finley currently serves as the Lead for North Carolina Fellow for the City of Hendersonville in the Water & Sewer Department. Drew brings a range of experience to this position, as his past work includes serving as an Organizing Intern with the nonprofit Democracy North Carolina, a Clerk for a boutique law firm focused on helping those in Winston-Salem and the Triad, and a volunteer in both Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Drew attended Wake Forest University where he graduated magna cum laude, Honors in Political Science with degrees in Politics & International Affairs and Spanish and a Concentration in Psychology. He is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha (The National Political Science Honor Society) and Sigma Delta Pi (The National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society). During his undergraduate years, Drew was involved with numerous campus organizations and initiatives such as the Program for Leadership & Character. He was President of the Euzelian Literary Society and served for three years as a Student Representative on the College Curriculum Review Committee. As an Undergraduate Research Fellow, Drew conducted research on disparate impact doctrine under the Fair Housing Act as well as the historical and contemporary manifestations of housing segregation and housing discrimination in Winston-Salem. Drew is a proud Eagle Scout and an avid Carolina Panthers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons fan. #WaketheNation
On what he’s proud of: I recognize the importance of pushing yourself and diving into challenging situations, as I feel these experiences are what allow us to grow as people. As a result of taking on a new and scary task, I became more active in my community and more vocal about the values that I hold closest: quality, respect and understanding of how the past continually shapes the present, and the importance of empathy when working to solve the biggest challenges that we face in our communities.
Recent Work Accomplishments:
Drew is conducting a comprehensive survey of the 20 largest municipalities in North Carolina and their corresponding special assessment policies/procedures. This data will be used to inform the City of Hendersonville's special assessment policies for both water and sewer service. The City is currently in the process of seeking approval from the LGC for a revenue bond issuance which this research will be applied directly to a multi-million dollar project that will provide much-needed improvements to the water system. He is also working on creating the Water & Sewer Department's Strategic Plan.
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