Randy Harrington – Town Manager of Holly Springs
How long have you lived here?
I started as the Town Manager of Holly Springs on August 27, 2018.
Previous employment highlights:
City of Charlotte Roles:
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Management & Financial Services
Budget & Evaluation Director
City of Concord:
Budget & Performance Manager
U.S. Department of Transportation:
Presidential Management Intern
Education:
Master of Public Administration – UNC Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts – Nebraska Wesleyan University
(Major: Political Science; Minors: Criminal Justice and Economics)
Family:
Kara, my wife, and I enjoy spending time with our three children:
Campbell (13), Arden (10), and Harper (6).
If you could write one law for Holly Springs, what would it be?
It would be based on “extending a helping hand.” When neighbors help and support each other we are all stronger as a community.
What restaurant has your go-to meal, and what is it?
We have many wonderful restaurants in Holly Springs. This is a tough one, but I have to admit that if I had to live off only two foods they would be tacos and chicken sandwiches.
Superstreets (The U-turn sections of Hwy 55 Bypass)— better or worse for traffic flow and why?
In the absence of building expensive interchange overpasses on the N.C. 55 Bypass, “superstreets” are the best option for moving traffic through the Holly Springs area. NC Department of Transportation studies show that superstreets do improve traffic flow, but yes, the U-turn movements can be frustrating for motorists trying to simply get across the highway.
What is your favorite thing about Holly Springs?
I frequently talk about the town having a lot of momentum. Holly Springs is a place where people want to live and start/grow their businesses. The Town’s economic base is vibrant and becoming more diverse. The downtown development projects currently underway will bring a new level of excitement, community experiences, and energy to the downtown village area. Strong healthcare options are expanding, including a new hospital. Holly Springs is currently rated as the safest community in North Carolina, and we have an amazing level of community and cultural activities. I love that we are a community with so much positive momentum!
What store or restaurant would you like to see come to
Holly Springs?
Where are the BBQ restaurants!? I’m partial to “Lexington style,”
but any good pulled pork restaurant will do!
Is growth good or bad for Holly Springs, and why?
We live in an urban county that is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. Over 60 people a day move to Wake County and many of them are proud to call Holly Springs their new home. So, in our case, growth is inevitable. The challenges of living in a community with no growth are much more severe and difficult to address than the challenges associated with communities with growth pressures. The important consideration for Holly Springs is ensuring that our growth honors and preserves the qualities and characteristics that have made Holly Springs wonderful for so many years. The Mayor and Council are working hard on this issue through creation of a new Town strategic plan, updating the Town’s land use plan, and beginning implementation of the Transportation Bond projects approved by voters in November 2018.
What’s the best thing to come to Holly Springs since you’ve lived here?
Seqirus has been a strong local business partner since 2006. The company recently announced a $140 million expansion that will create 100-150 new jobs and likely result in Seqirus’ facility in Holly Springs becoming the #1 producer of flu vaccines in the world.
Do you plan to move from Holly Springs at some point?
My family is in the process of transitioning to Holly Springs from Charlotte. We are excited to live here and hope to call Holly Springs home for a long time.
