At its July meeting, the Real Estate Commission elected James Polk of Charlotte to be its Chairman and Raymond Bass, Jr. of Fayetteville to be Vice-Chairman for 1994-1995. James K. Polk is owner and CEO of a consulting firm in Charlotte. From 1987-1993, Mr. Polk was employed with the state as the Governor's Special Assistant for Minority Affairs.

He attended Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte and Temple University in Philadelphia. Mr. Polk has served on the Board of Trustees at Central Piedmont Community College and is now on the Board of Visitors at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Mr. Polk is a former chairman of the N.C. Capitol Building Authority and former member of the Advisory Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and United Way of both Mecklenburg County and North Carolina.

A current member of the Foundation for the Carolinas, Mr. Polk is a board member of the Association for the Quality of Life in America and the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development.

The recipient of many civic and trade awards, Mr. Polk was named "Minority Advocate of the Year" by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Governor Martin appointed Mr. Polk to the Commission in 1992. A public member, he is serving a three-year term which will expire July 31, 1995

.New Commission Vice-Chairman Raymond A. "Buddy" Bass, Jr. is a native of Halifax. He is a graduate of East Carolina University in Greenville where he played football. He served in the U.S. Military during the Korean War.

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Mr. Bass entered the real estate business in 1965. A broker, he is part-owner and president of DickensBass Realty & Construction Company, Inc., in Fayetteville and is president of Bass Construction Company of Fayetteville, Inc.

Mr. Bass has served on numerous committees in the Fayetteville Association of REALTORS®, having been an active REALTORS® there for almost 30 years. He is also a member of both the North Carolina and National Association of REALTORS®.

In addition to membership in the Homebuilders Association at the local, state and national levels, Mr. Bass is a member of both the Carolina and Cape Fear Aero Clubs as well as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Mr. Bass and his wife Joan have three children - Greg, Lisa, and Susan.

Mr. Bass was appointed to the Commission by Governor Hunt in 1993. His three-year term will expire July 31, 1996.