News

Former county planning director gets top regional planning post

Anthony Starr is shown in a Hendersonville Lightning file photo from 2012.

By Jason Toney, Published: December 12, 2014

Anthony Starr, the former Henderson County planning director and current assistant executive director of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, has been named the new executive director of the WPCOG effective Jan. 1.

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments Policy Board voted on Nov. 25 to confirm the appointment during its meeting in Newton.

“Anthony Starr has served the WPCOG well and he possesses excellent qualifications and experience that will enable him to continue the fine job that Dee Blackwell has done as executive director," Bob Smyre, mayor of Maiden and chairman of the WPCOG, said in a statement. "We are fortunate to have someone of Mr. Starr’s caliber to lead the staff and assist the 28 member governments in our region.”

Starr, a Catawba County native, brings with him 19 years of local government experience, and has directed budgeting, finance, GIS/IT, Aging Services, Small Business Administration Loans, and Section 8 Housing at the WPCOG since 2012. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Community & Regional Planning from Appalachian State University, a Master of Public Administration in Town, City & County Management from Appalachian State University, and the Municipal Administration Course at the School of Government, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

In 2006, Starr accepted a position as Planning Director for Henderson County, managing more than 30 regular and contract employees. While at Henderson County, he directed the implementation of an award-winning Land Development Code, and managed the creation of several community plans. He also managed the Apple Country Transit System and served as a liaison and facilitator for businesses accessing county services.
“The first time I talked with Anthony, I knew him as a man of faith and honesty," said George Holleman, the mayor of Taylorsville and vice chairman of the Western Piedmont COG. "That's good enough for me. I trust him and will support him.”
Starr said, “I would like to thank the Board for their confidence to manage this fantastic organization. The region continues to benefit greatly from a high level of intergovernmental cooperation and leadership from our local elected officials. I can tell you that the level of cooperation is rare. As a result, we have a very capable and strong council of governments. I also thank my predecessors, Doug Taylor and Dee Blackwell, for their outstanding leadership through the years. They’ve assembled a talented staff that provides the best local government service in the state.”
Starr began his local government career in 1995, serving in a variety of roles. His previous experience includes serving as a planner for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, developing and managing several small area plans for Catawba County, writing land use ordinances for Valdese and the Town of Catawba, serving as Planning Director for the Town of Maiden, and serving as the interim Town Manager for Catawba. In 2004, he was appointed as Town Manager for Catawba, where he managed the construction of the Town’s first park, implemented its first Capital Improvement Plan, and managed a U.S. Department of Commerce grant to construct a 1.5 mile sewer line extension which facilitated the construction of a new 100,000 square foot industrial distribution center.