Richard J. White III serves as the Mebane City Manager and brings more than 33 years of public sector experience in municipal government and education. Appointed unanimously by the Mebane City Council in January 2025, he has earned a reputation in North Carolina and Georgia for collaborative leadership, strategic planning, organizational innovation, and community engagement.
Prior to joining Mebane, White served as Salisbury Deputy City Manager, Carrboro Town Manager, Asheville Assistant City Manager, Elon Town Manager, Assistant Manager for the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, Assistant to the Carrboro Town Manager, and early in his career held professional positions with the City of Charlotte, Asheville City Schools, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Throughout his career, White has led initiatives in economic development, capital planning, emergency management, organizational improvement, and community development. Some notable accomplishments include leading Elon's transition to a fully municipal fire department and improving the town’s ISO rating, helping to secure North Carolina Main Street designation, and overseeing downtown revitalization efforts; advancing the Carrboro 203 Project (The Drakeford Library Complex); supporting Asheville's COVID-19 response, major capital projects, and equity and inclusion program; managing significant federal recovery funding; and establishing the Metro School.
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, White graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar and North Carolina Fellow and earned a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University as a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fellow.
White is an ICMA Credentialed Manager and a member of the International City/County Management Association and the North Carolina City and County Management Association. He has served on numerous boards including the United Way of Alamance County, the former United Way of Orange County, and the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board, appointed by former Governor Roy Cooper.
Known for his servant leadership philosophy, White is committed to organizational excellence and building strong partnerships among elected officials, residents, businesses, and community organizations while delivering high-quality municipal services and fostering vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities.