Jake was born and raised on a farm in the small town of Saluda in Western North Carolina. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelors degree in Political Science and a Minor in Economics. Jake's interest in politics and public policy began during those college years as he began to witness the devastating and job killing policies of former President Barack Obama. He began to realize that conservatives could no longer sit on the bench and witness what was happening to our country. It was time to take action.
At age 22, Jake won his hotly-contested primary, and in November of the same year, he was sworn into office as one of the youngest elected officials in North Carolina history. Within a year, Jake would go on to become Chairman of that Board and would oversee a list of accomplishments including: taking the Polk County unemployment rate to the lowest it has been in recent history, a county school system that would work with the school board to become number one in the state, pay increases for County employees, the construction of a new Law Enforcement Facility, and hosting the largest sporting event in the United States which brought millions in economic impact to North Carolina- all without raising taxes. Jake sits on many local and state advisory boards such as Dept. of Transportation Advisory Board, Mental Health Regional Advisory Board, and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Board.
In addition to his role in public service, Jake works in real estate for Berkshire Hathaway in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
In his free time, Jake enjoys being with his family, his girlfriend Liz, and his dog Scout in Polk County. He is an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoys being outdoors. He is a member of Silver Creek Baptist Church in Mill Springs, North Carolina.