Term of Service: 2015-2019

Michael Parker is serving his first term on the Town Council having been elected in November 2015.

Before being elected to the Town Council, Parker served on the Chapel Planning Commission, as well as on the boards of the Friends of the Downtown, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Arts Center in Carrboro. He also served as chair of the Transportation Advisory Board and co-chair of the Central West Steering Committee. Prior to coming to Chapel Hill he was vice chair of the United Nations International School and president of CIDNY Independent Living Services, both in New York.

Parker has spent most of his career working with and consulting to a variety of health care organizations. Early in his career his work focused on non-profit hospitals, particularly those serving disadvantaged communities, and academic medical centers. More recently, he has worked with pharmaceutical companies and smaller, entrepreneurial biotechs.

Parker received a BA in Biology from SUNY Buffalo, attended graduate school in neurobiology at UNC Chapel Hill, and received an MBA in health care administration from Baruch College, where he was awarded a Walter Heller Fellowship.

Parker lives in downtown Chapel Hill with his wife Linda Prager, a ceramic artist, jewelry maker, and singer. He has a married daughter Stephanie, who is an environmental journalist.

Membership

• Council Committee on Boards and Commissions
• Council Committee on Economic Sustainability
• Durham/Chapel Hill/Orange Work Group (alternate)
• Facilities Naming Committee
• Go Triangle
• Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board (Alternate)
• Orange Water and Sewer Authority (Interview Committee)
• Planning Commission
• Public Transit Partners
• Triangle J Council of Governments Board of Delegates
• Triangle J Council of Governments Smart Growth Committee

Duties

The primary mission of the Mayor and Council, as the governing body of the Town is to adopt and provide for the execution of ordinances, rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to protect health, life or property, or to promote the comfort, convenience, security, good order, better government, or the general welfare of the Town and its citizens.

The Mayor and eight Council Members constitute the governing body of the Town. In accordance with the Town’s Charter, the voters elect a Mayor every two years. Council Members are elected to four-year, staggered terms on an at-large basis. Town Council duties include:

• Amendment of previously adopted policies through changes in the Town Code of Ordinances and the Development Ordinance, and by revision of policies and documents.
• Appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces and committees.
• Appointment of the Town Manager and Town Attorney.
• Establishment of agreements with other governments.