Kathy Behringer
Title: Council Member
Municipality: Town of Garner
Position Interested In: At-Large - Elected Official
Tell us why you would like to serve in a leadership position at the League. In particular, specify goals you would like to accomplish as an officer or board member and indicate how, if attained, they will help to achieve Vision 2030 – the League’s future vision of how cities and towns will operate in 2030.
I contracted Polio in 1952 at the age of 3, before there was a vaccine for Polio. Along with living through that epidemic and its ongoing consequences, having successfully raised a large family (6 children), having been a successful business owner and having supported by husband in his business, and having many years of community service experience both before and after I was elected to the Garner Town Council, I bring many years of working collaboratively with others to solve problems/challenges, casting visions and identifying strengths and weaknesses while striving to move our community forward. I believe my skills and years of experience will contribute positively to Vision 2030.
Tell us about your experience as a municipal official. You may want to include information on your service on the municipal governing body, other related boards and special areas of interest.
Prior to being elected to the Garner Town Council, I served for 6 years on the Planning Commission. During my 16 years on the council I have served 3 terms as Mayor Pro Tem. I also serve as council liaison to the Garner Fire Department, the Garner Educational Foundation, am on the Finance Committee and am a current member of the board of directors for the Downtown Garner Association. In addition, I served 5 years on the board of directors for Passage Home, a non-profit in southeast Raleigh whose mission is to bring homeless people off the street and help them become self-sufficient. I also recently completed 4 years of service on the board of the Capital Church in Garner.
Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities.
I earned a BA in Psychology from UNCG in 1971 and subsequently worked at the Wake County Sheltered Workshop, which would later be renamed the Raleigh Vocational Center, for 3 years. I withdrew from the work force for 7 years to start a family and gave birth to 4 children. I returned to the work force in 1981 to become a manager with Tupperware Corporation, a position I still hold today.
I became involved in community service/civic activities in the late 1980's when the City of Raleigh built Walnut Creek Amphitheatre immediately adjacent to my house. I became involved in Community Watch and later the Planning Commission after my family and I moved away from Walnut Creek and into Garner. A few years later I became involved in revitalizing Downtown Garner and in the North Carolina Main St. program, at one time being the President of the Friends of Historic Garner, which is now the Downtown Garner Association.
I have also been a member of the Garner Woman's Club for 22 years and am ithe incoming President.
Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees?
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CityVision Annual Conference
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Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days
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Affiliate Organization: NC Women in Municipal Government - I was a member of the Women in Municipal Government for many years and was the secretary of that affiliate for 8 years, from 2013-2021.
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Local Elected Leaders Academy in 2014
Please provide any other information you would like the Nominations Committee to consider.
In addition to having raised 6 children who are all successful in their chosen fields and having been self-employed (both my husband and myself) for 40+ years, I believe I possess problem solving and organizational skills that can be of benefit in furthering the achievement of Vision 2030.
