“For a community to reach its greatest potential, it must have five core elements that citizens should expect and demand from their elected leaders. Each of these elements should be the focus of every elected official from local government all the way to the federal government.”
Schools & Education
A vibrant and engaged school system that achieves positive results to further educate our community is the foundation of each person being able to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
Community Health
Citizens must have access to quality health care from its hospital system to its all of its physical and mental health providers. Medical personnel should also be able to work in a safe environment
Connectivity
Our Citizens must be able to communicate with the world around us with ease & efficiency. This means not only roads, air, and rail, but in this digital age, access to broadband and fiber optic services is a necessity.
Public Safety
Each citizen has the right to feel safe in their home and their community. I am a proud supporter of our Law Enforcement and First Responder communities. We cannot achieve greatness with lawlessness.
Quality of Life
Part of being a community is sharing in events, festivals and other community gatherings to experience this wonderful place we have chosen to call home. I have supported projects that enforce these qualities, such as parks, the baseball stadium and a new performing arts center,
Jimmy Keefe was elected to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as a District 2 representative in 2008 and 2012, and was re-elected in 2016 for a four-year term. His current term expires in 2020. He served as chairman of the Board of Commissioners in 2013, after serving one term as vice chairman in 2012. Mr. Keefe was also elected to two terms on the Fayetteville City Council from 2001-2005.
Mr. Keefe was appointed to serve on the N. C. Community Corrections Advisory Board representing urban county commissioners. While on the Cape Fear Valley Hospital System Board of Trustees, he was appointed to the Finance Committee, Bladen Hospital Board of Managers, Audit Committee, Board Quality and Patient Safety Committee, Planning Committee, and Ethics and Compliance Committee.
Mr. Keefe is a current or former Board of Commissioner liaison to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, BRAC Regional Task Force, Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fort Bragg Regional Alliance, Mayors’ Coalition, Joint Transit Study Committee, Cumberland Community Action Program, Public Works Commission, Southeastern Economic Development Commission, Greater Fayetteville Futures II, Cumberland County Veterans Council, Civic Center Commission, Fire Chiefs’ Association, Local Emergency Planning Commission, the Arts Council and also liaison to the military. He has served as the Chairman of the Cumberland County Facilities and Policy committee, has served on the Finance committee and the Fayetteville-Cumberland Liaison Committee.
Commissioner Keefe served as the Fire Commissioner in Cumberland County from 2016 to 2019 and was involved in many public safety improvements. As fire commissioner, he led the effort to ensure certifications and contracts with the county volunteer fire departments which had not been updated in over 30 years. Mr. Keefe led the team that purchased the new building that will house a state-of-the-art 911 center and Emergency Operations Center that will open in Spring 2022. In partnership with FTCC, Cumberland County will jointly fund a premier Fire & Rescue Training Center that will teach firefighters and emergency personnel from all over Eastern North Carolina. This facility is scheduled to open in early spring, 2022.
Born and raised in Cumberland County, Mr. Keefe is a graduate of Pine Forest High School and a 1983 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. After college, he joined the United States Army and achieved the rank of captain.
Since 1987, Commissioner Keefe has managed his business, The Trophy House, which was started by his father, Lt. Col. (Ret) John V. Keefe in 1969. In 2007, the business acquired Clark Sporting Goods, a company that served the Fayetteville and Cumberland County area since 1938. Since returning to Fayetteville after his military service, Keefe has been involved with many business, civic and government organizations at the city, county and state level.
Mr. Keefe is married to the former Melanie Solomon. They have three children, Kaitlin, married to SFC George Pillsbury, Emily and Jonathan of the home. He is also the proud grandfather of Charleston Rae.
