Greg Ford (North Carolina politician)

Greg Ford
Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners
In office
December 2, 2019 – December 7, 2020
Preceded byJessica Holmes
Succeeded byMatt Calabria
Vice Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners[1]
In office
December 2, 2019 – December 7, 2020
Preceded byJessica Holmes
Succeeded byMatt Calabria
Member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners
from the 6th district
In office
December 5, 2016 – December 7, 2020
Preceded byBetty Lou Ward
Succeeded byShinica Thomas
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
Children3
OccupationEducator, Politician
Websitegregford.com

Greg Ford is an American educator and politician. He served on the Wake County Board of Commissioners from 2016 to 2020 and was the first openly LGBTQ elected official in Wake County, North Carolina.

Career

Education

Ford worked as a teacher and principal at elementary and middle schools in the Wake County Public School System.[2]

Politics

Ford is a member of the Democratic Party and describes himself as a "progressive".[2][3] He was elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners in 2016, becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to hold elected office in Wake County.[4] He served as chair of the commission.[3] He ran for reelection in 2020 but later withdrew in order to move to California with his family.[4]

In 2019, Ford and his 8-year-old daughter were the victim of glitter bomb prank, sent anonymously to their house via the website RuinDays.com. [5] Inside the package was a note that said, "Glitter is the herpes of the craft world. Good luck getting rid of it like your bad decisions."[6] The package was sent to the district attorney's office, but no investigation was opened.[5]

Electoral history

2018
Wake County Board of Commissioners 6th district general election, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greg Ford (incumbent) 262,240 61.58%
Republican David Blackwelder 163,601 38.42%
Total votes 425,841 100%
Democratic hold
2016
Wake County Board of Commissioners 6th district general election, 2016[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Greg Ford 277,142 56.17%
Republican John Odom 216,272 43.83%
Total votes 493,414 100%
Democratic hold

Personal life

Ford's husband, Anthony Pugliese, served as chief operating officer for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and as the chair of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the chair of the Durham Chamber of Commerce. Pugliese is currently president and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors.[2] They have three children; Jonathan, Brooke, and Chloe.[2]

References

  1. ^ https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article222574110.html
  2. ^ a b c d Billman, Jeffrey C. (October 19, 2016). "Greg Ford – Wake County Board of Commissioners". Indy Week. Durham, North Carolina. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Wake commissioners chair ends re-election bid". WRAL-TV. Raleigh, North Carolina. July 10, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Anna (July 10, 2020). "Wake County commissioners chairman withdraws from 2020 election". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Hoggard, DeJuan (February 13, 2019). "Glitter bomb explodes when Wake County commissioner's 8-year-old daughter opens prank package". WTVD. Durham, North Carolina. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  6. ^ "Wake County Commissioner Gets Glitter Bomb After Decision to Sell Golf Course". WFMY-TV. Greensboro, North Carolina. February 13, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  7. ^ [1] North Carolina State Board of Elections.
  8. ^ [2] North Carolina State Board of Elections.