Hello, 

My name is Cason Gardner, and I am running for Concord City Council District 4. Known to my friends and family as "Coach" for my passion for sports, I am a Concord native and have lived in the city for most of my life. I graduated from Catawba College with honors in 2024 with a Bachelor's in Economics & Finance, with a minor in Athletic Coaching. I returned to Catawba after graduating to be an assistant coach for the Catawba College football team during the 2024 season, before beginning my career as a financial analyst at a Concord startup soon after. 

I have been very active in government at the local, state, & national levels since I was in middle school. As part of my involvement, I have organized meetings with numerous government officials, including former Concord Mayor Scott Padgett and US Congressman Richard Hudson. I have also lobbied for bills to state representatives in Raleigh, participated in mock general assemblies at the State Capitol, served for 4yrs as a member of the Cabarrus County Youth Commission through high school, campaigned for numerous candidates running for local, state, & national offices, and most recently was a National Finalist in the 2024 Future Business Leaders of America Parliamentary Procedure competition and the 2024 National Champion in the Sports Management & Marketing competition.

I am also a member of Pitts Baptist Church in Concord and participate regularly in church activities, including community outreach programs the church sponsors.

I chose to run because I saw a need in my community. The citizens of Concord deserve to know what their local government does, and I promise to be as transparent as possible. My vision for Concord is simple: keep the costs of living low, encourage community engagement, increase government accountability & fiscal responsibility, no unnecessary tax increases, and ensure that Concord remains a thriving community. 

My family has a long history of fighting for what they believed in and doing what was right for their community, dating back to the Revolutionary War. I intend to do the same. I would greatly appreciate your vote in November. Thank you for your time and support.