By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — With one term under his belt, Doug Wilson will run for a second one on the City Council with priorities that include continuing downtown revitalization, economic development, and parks and recreation improvements.

Wilson, 67, was elected to the Kannapolis City Council in 2013 and currently serves as mayor pro tem. He is general manager for Public Inc., where he has worked for more than 30 years.

He graduated from A.L. Brown High School and attended Central Piedmont Community College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

In his bid for re-election, Wilson says he will focus on the city’s efforts to revitalize downtown, expand youth sports offerings, build a community center and create parks on the east side of town.

“We have accomplished a lot, I think, in the last four years, and we’ve got a lot on the table right now,” Wilson said.

He said downtown redevelopment has to be the primary focus for all incumbents seeking re-election. Those redevelopment efforts include building a downtown demonstration project that includes apartments, retail space and possibly a hotel, attracting new businesses to the area and building a baseball stadium.

Wilson said he’s one of two council members — the other being Ryan Dayvault — who can “lay claim” to coming up with an idea to buy downtown property and redevelop it.

He stressed that a community center would not directly compete with the YMCA. However, it might offer some similar services.

“We need a community center, not just a senior center, for all people to use, and that’s something I hope we can look at,” he said. “Citizens, via their tax dollars, deserve a place they can go without paying heavy membership fees.”

Wilson’s community involvement includes serving on the Cannon YMCA’s board of managers, as president of the A.L. Brown Athletic Booster Club and director of the Kannapolis Komets women’s basketball club. He is also a member of the Kannapolis History Associates and Kannnapolis Rotary Club.

He attends Trinity United Methodist Church.

Wilson and his wife, Cathy, have two daughters, two granddaughters and a grandson.

Wilson is one of three council members whose terms expire this year. Mayor Darrell Hinnant’s term also expires. All have said they plan to run for re-election.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246