Patrick Baker:
CLASS OF 1985
Havelock High SchoolClass of 1985
Havelock, NC
Wake Forest University - LawClass of 1993
Winston salem, NC
Wake Forest UniversityClass of 1989
Winston salem, NC
Patrick's Story
Life
Where do I begin! Life after Havelock High School has gone a little something like this. Russ Adams (our class valedictorian) and I left Havelock for Wake Forest University in the summer of 85. We both left with our B.A degrees in 1989. I actually finished a semester early but with no particularly interesting job opportunities, I took a year and a half off to bartend and work as a runner in a law firm before heading to Wake Forest Law School in the summer of 1990. Upon receiving my degree in 1993, I landed a job with a small law firm in Durham, NC and have lived here ever since. Rae Ann O'Neill and I dated continuously from our senior year in Havelock on and eventually tied the knot in November of 1994. While with the lawfirm, I did a little bit of everything including represent professional athletes in basketball overseas. Ultimately, feeling that my career was stalling, I left the firm to work with the Durham City Attorney's office in the summer of 1997. During my time with the City Attorney's office, I repr...Expand for more
esented the City government in courtroom matters and provided advice and counsel to the City Administration. I had the opportunity to become a key behind the scenes player in the development of City policy and procedures and ordinances. In 1998, Rae Ann and I were blessed with a son (Griffin Michael) and in 2000, a daughter (Chloe Elizabeth). Things were moving along quietly until the City Council asked the then City Manager to step down in July of 2004. The Council ultimately chose me to step in as the Interim City Manager in August of last year. After a nationwide search process, the Council appointed me as the permanent City Manager in January of 2005. Needless to say, life as a public figure has not been the same since. In essence, I am the CEO of a Durham City Government with a workforce of over 2200 employees, an operating budget of just under 300 million dollars and a diverse city population of just over 215,000 people. Life is hectic but very good nonetheless. I love my job, my city and most of all my family!
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