Dr. Richard Miller went from a being low-key member of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to the most high profile during the December meeting.

He unanimously won the title of chairman and immediately went to work.

Miller, 64, made it clear he’s ready to move on with plans to build the central office in downtown Salisbury, pointing out too much time has spent debating the whereabouts of the building, which takes focus away from what he considers the real work of the school board — educating children.

He made a strong case for constructing on South Main Street, winning the support of four other board members in a 5-2 vote to continue with the project.

Miller also called a meeting with the stakeholders of the proposed building, including the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and Salisbury City Council, in hopes of propelling the project forward.

The city, which is donating the land and parking, supports the project, but will Miller be able to win over the county board, which includes a majority of members who oppose it?

— Sarah Campbell

If you won the lottery? Pay all my bills, increase college funds for my three grandsons, endow the Robert Steele Scholarship at North Rowan High School, fund other community building projects

Favorite TV show? “The Big Bang Theory”

Who should play you in a movie? Matt Damon

Your last meal? Fish and cornbread

Who will you watch in 2013? All those unsung volunteers who give thousands of hours to the schools, Rowan Helping Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, civic groups, churches and more, without whom much of what makes our community great would not be possible.

Congress, to see if they can figure out that doing what is right for the country is not grounded in the extreme differences of either opinion, but in the common ground which will work for the common good

Your biggest challenge in 2013? Providing appropriate leadership to the Board of Education to maintain focus on the what is good for the students, educators and the community

Your biggest hope in 2013? That we as a local community and nation will realize and embrace the value of tolerance and acceptance of diverse opinions and ideas as essential to the survival of our way of life in the USA

Reaction to making the list? Amazed and honored to be part of this special group of local leaders