Oldmanwrite
OldManWrite
John Bauer writes from a place most authors never reach: real experience, tested judgment, and years spent navigating the systems he now brings to life on the page. His work is shaped by more than three decades in local government, where decisions carried weight, outcomes mattered, and no two days ever looked the same.
That depth carries into everything he writes. His nonfiction delivers insight with clarity, offering readers a grounded, unfiltered look into how institutions truly operate. His fiction, on the other hand, stretches that reality into bold, satirical territory, where humor, exaggeration, and imagination reveal truths that are often easier to recognize than to admit.
What makes Bauer’s voice distinct is not just what he says, but how he says it. There is no unnecessary polish, no attempt to soften the edges. Instead, there is intention, perspective, and a steady confidence that comes from having lived the material he writes about.
Across every book, one thing remains consistent: a commitment to storytelling that feels real, reads effortlessly, and stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
His best and worst days were those bay days, the ones that shaped his future.
From the moment he’d graduated high school, Peter Halstead dreamt of a life full of political grandeur and solid achievements. Mocked at every turn, he refuses to make his oldman’s mistakes, nor will he dig clams forever. A “most successful” career waits for him on the horizon. Moments in Peter’s young life soon steer him away from Clayport, his first love, and his buddies. He never returns to his halcyon bay days. A forty-year high school reunion brings him back to encounter former classmates. He wants nothing more than to showcase himself. Instead, he compares his life to theirs and discovers he may have squandered his existence. A crumpled napkin channels him toward an uncharted destination. Illogical choices cause his unconventional actions, altering his remaining days on earth. Will his future have any purpose? Will yours?
About The Author
John Bauer Author
John Bauer writes from a place most authors never reach: real experience, tested judgment, and years spent navigating the systems he now brings to life on the page. His work is shaped by more than three decades in local government, where decisions carried weight, outcomes mattered, and no two days ever looked the same.
That depth carries into everything he writes. His nonfiction delivers insight with clarity, offering readers a grounded, unfiltered look into how institutions truly operate. His fiction, on the other hand, stretches that reality into bold, satirical territory, where humor, exaggeration, and imagination reveal truths that are often easier to recognize than to admit.
What makes Bauer’s voice distinct is not just what he says, but how he says it. There is no unnecessary polish, no attempt to soften the edges. Instead, there is intention, perspective, and a steady confidence that comes from having lived the material he writes about.
Across every book, one thing remains consistent: a commitment to storytelling that feels real, reads effortlessly, and stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Resume
-John Albert Bauer
Cell: (910) 795-5273
402 Semmes Drive, Wilmington, NC 28412
E-mail: john52us@yahoo.com
Summary
More than thirty years of local government experience in the following areas:
▪ Budget Preparation and Management Strategic Planning
▪ Contracts Management Capital Improvement Programs
▪ Customer Service Community Improvements
▪ Media Relations Human Resource Development
▪ Public Speaking Project Management
Manage results in challenging communities. Objective, communicative, & a positive change agent. Fiscal conservative. It’s a privilege and honor to manage taxpayers’ moneys for the effective, efficient, & equitable delivery of services and projects.
Local Government Experience
Interim Town Administrator, Town of Weldon, NC
Town Administrator, Town of Rose Hill, NC
Town Manager, Town of Snow Hill, NC
Town Manager, Town of Chadbourn, NC
Interim City Manager, City of Southport, NC
County Manager, Pender County, NC (47,000 pop.;900 sq. miles)
County Manager, Pender County, NC
07/2025-10/2025
01/2020-11/2022
04/2019-03/2021
12/2018-06/2019
06/2017-09/2017
03/2005-12/2006
03/1993-01/1999
Under excellent circumstances, I departed Lenoir for Pender because I enjoyed managing Pender, wanted to live by the intra-coastal, and we had friends and family nearby. My contract was terminated without cause after eighteen months by a three to two vote. In FEB 2007, I started drawing fully vested retirement income from the North Carolina Local Government Retirement System (NCLGRS); however, I never retired from public service.
Duties and Responsibilities as County Manager:
Managed one of state’s fastest growing counties with a $66 million budget & 350 employees.
$ Served as Budget Officer, Clerk to the Board, Personnel Officer, Purchasing Agent, and Solid Waste Manager; served in an interim capacity as Health Director, Tax Assessor, and Finance Officer, saving county hundreds of thousands of dollars by cost avoidance.
$ Prepared annual operating and capital budgets; these achieved the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards for five years.
$ Coordinated annual strategic and budgetary planning summits with Commissioners, Department Managers, Media, and Citizens attending, enhancing transparency and trust.
$ Implemented Board-adopted policies after thorough costs vs. benefits analyses.
$ Participated in economic development through the initiation of a county-wide water system, land purchase for an industrial park, recruitment of light industry, and coordination of an Economic Development Summit.
Achievements:
➢ Created water and sewer districts, facilitated preparation, adoption, and implementation of water and wastewater master plans and successfully lobbied for grants and loans.
➢ Prepared two employees’ pay studies which recommended equitable improvements.
➢ Improved employees’ health insurance program.
➢ Initiated a stronger capital improvements program focused on long-term upgrades to county facilities, as well as initial construction of parks.
➢ Helped organize, justify, and support voter approved $56 million School Bond Referendum and the sale of $35 million School Bonds.
➢ Provided sound financial management including the preparation of Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs).
➢ Served as the first County Manager in the history of the county.
➢ Secured voter approval of $8.2 million General Obligation Bond Referendum, refunding outstanding indebtedness, thereby saving $1.5 million in cost avoidance.
➢ Inherited county nearly bankrupt and rebuilt fund balance to twenty-six percent level.
➢ Started housing rehabilitation program and a parks and recreation program.
➢ Secured voter passage/financing W/O tax increase $25 million School Bond Referendum.
➢ Reduced tax rate in a non-revaluation year.
➢ Managed debris clean-up after two federally declared hurricanes.
➢ Successfully closed landfill without any environmental penalties.
➢ Created and implemented employee merit pay and performance appraisal system.
➢ Recruited and trained employees who departed to capably serve other communities.
➢ Implemented televising Board Meetings.
➢ Implemented computerization of county government.
County Manager, Lenoir County, NC (59,000 pop.;400 sq. miles)
01/1999-03/2005
Under excellent circumstances, I departed Pender for Lenoir because it was larger, more mature, offered a higher salary, was an industrial-agricultural county with many challenges, including being home to the North Carolina Global Transpark.
Duties and Responsibilities as County Manager:
$ Managed a $66 million all funds budget and 350 employees. Served as Budget Officer, Deputy Clerk to the Board, Personnel Manager, and Purchasing Agent.
$ Prepared annual operating/ capital budgets, achieving Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards seven years.
$ Coordinated annual strategic/ budgetary planning summits with Commissioners, Department Managers, Media, and Citizens attending, enhancing transparency/ trust.
$ Selected and coached key department managers, many remain.
$ Participated in economic development through creation of water and sewer districts, the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority, recruitment of twenty-five private firms, and coordination of an economic development summits.
$ Implemented Board-adopted policies after thorough costs vs. benefits analyses, including the initiation and implementation of a professional, county-wide Emergency Services Department where costs were offset by fees.
Achievements:
Coordinated the development, adoption, and implementation of the county’s first land-use plan, subdivision, manufactured housing, and zoning ordinances.
➢ Facilitated the merger of Lenoir Mental Health with Duplin-Sampson into a regionalized agency with lower service costs.
➢ Oversaw Subtitle D Landfill Construction Project.
➢ Managed federally-declared hurricane/flood recovery program.
➢ Prepared employees pay studies; generated employee health insurance program upgrades.
Public Utilities Director, City of Wilmington, NC
Management Analyst&Development Specialist II, City of Wilmington, NC
07/1986-03/1993
09/1979-07/1986
Duties, Responsibilities, Achievements:
The City of Wilmington (100,000 pop.) promoted me twice. As a department manager, I:
➢ Managed $8 million operating budget. Responsible for water treatment/distribution and wastewater treatment collection; facilities included one 15 MGD water plant; 2 wastewater plants of 20 MGD combined capacity, 34 pump stations, and more than 250 miles of water and sewer mains. Directed 122 employees and oversaw capital improvements program. Initiated and implemented impact fees; administered $9.9 million sanitary sewer bond
rehabilitation program; secured $38 million water plant upgrade and expansion bond referendum; completed three-year rate study; used innovative methods to improve service delivery. As a staff member, I:
➢ Implemented municipal economic development program. Managed the Urban Development Action Grant Program, prepared and administered state and federal grant applications and completed various urban revitalization projects. Worked with small businesses in the city’s International Trade Development Program; initiated an incubator center for the fostering of new enterprises. Evaluated and prepared budgets for public works, parks & recreation, finance, and golf course. Prepared city’s five-year capital improvements program. In above-entry level positions, I:
➢ Completed special projects ranging from cost-benefit analyses to public-opinion surveys. Prepared city’s annual reports; conducted procedural studies; implemented MBO Program. Served as liaison on cross-functional projects. Provided management information created personnel management guide & bi-monthly newsletter for AGs.
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, Little Rock, ARK
Management Analyst,National Association Attorneys General, Raleigh,NC
09/1977-09/1979
08/1976-09/1977
International Development Experience
Team Leader/Senior Governance Advisor, US Department of State
Governance Advisor, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC)
07/2009-05/2013
05/2008-06/2009
➢ For Zharay District Stabilization Team (DST) (85,000 pop.), Kandahar Province, AFG, synched DOS, USAID, USDA tasks with military operations on a daily basis, managed linguists, working knowledge all programs. Mentored officials on improving local governmental operations, services, processes, programs at village & district levels. Attended more than 20 shuras, conducted more than 100 key leader engagements; prepared more than 200 daily SITREPs, prepared political and tribal mapping, weekly reports, special reports as requested by DOS. Made oral and power point presentations at
BUBs and special request. Worked for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) SubDistrict 9 (200,000 pop.). Kandahar City, AFG (3 mos.)
➢ For PRT Khanaqin District (200,000 pop.), Diyala Province, Iraq. PRT: Sharqat, Baygi, Tikrit Districts (100,000 pop.), Salah ad Din Province, Iraq. Mentored council members, mayors, and others of 8 sub-districts in order to build local governance capacities; taught best public administrative practices including team-building, multi-voting, planning, competitive bidding, small business loans, grants, and training. Distributed humanitarian aid.
➢ For ePRT-3: Haditha District, (90,000 pop.), Anbar Province, Iraq. Conducted daily missions outside the wire, engaging local officials in order to improve their governance capabilities. Developed and managed more than 20 small capital projects in order to strengthen Iraqi local governance. Conducted key leader engagements and wrote daily reports.
Private Sector Experience
John Bauer, Sole Proprietor, Interim Town, City, County Manager
Financial Advisor, Wachovia Securities, Jacksonville, NC
Sales Representative, United American Insurance, Myrtle Beach, SC
07/2013-present
06/2007-04/2008
02/2007-04/2008
Duties, Responsibilities, Achievements:
➢ Series 7 and 66 licensed; developed portfolios, worked on retirement plans; sought fee business clients
➢ Sold cost effective health insurance policies door-to-door and by phone.
Instructor/Consulting Experience
Contracted Instructor, Civilian-Military Training, H4 Enterprises-Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
Contracted Instructor, Management Subjects, Elevate, USA
Subject Matter Expert, Role Player, Oak Grove Technologies, Raleigh, NC
Public Finance & Budgeting Instructor, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Certified Quality Improvement Instructor, Team Leader, Facilitator, Team Member
11/2016-2017
06/2015-08/2015
07/08/2014
2001
1998
Education
Masters in Public Administration, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Government, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IND
Graduate, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Institute
Graduate, Project Management for Development & Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Courses, International Institute for Local Development, Wash., DC
3.8/4.0 GPA
3.2/4.0 GPA
1998
09/14
Other
NATO: Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Service, Afghanistan
US Department of State (DOS): Expeditionary Service Award, Kandahar, AFG
US DOS: Expeditionary Service Award, Anbar, Salah ad Din, & Diyala, Iraq
US Army: Distinguished Civilian Service Award
US Department of State: Superior Honor Award
COAs:USMC:3-4, 3-7, & 2-1: US Army:2-16 IN,2-27 IN,4-1IN, 4-9 CAV
Former Secret Clearance Fluent in English and Span
2011-2013
2011-2013
2008-2011
2011
2011
2008-2011
2008-2013
ALSO BY JOHN BAUER
A HEART ON THE RIVER, a novel (2020/2025)
ALL THE BAY’S CLAMS AND ALL THE BAY’S MEN, a novel (2020/2025)
PARODY, a novel (2026)
SHORT STORIES
A SON’S LOVE, ESCAPE YOUR WORLD ANTHOLOGY, Scribes Valley, (2015)
THE GRAY TREE, Contributing author; Initial story written by the author, Donald Kemp (2017)
THE SALIGA, Another Realm, the Magazine of Speculative Fiction, (August 2016)
THEY DROVE ON STREETS PAVED WITH KINDNESS, WILDSOUND NOVEL WRITING FESTIVAL, first three pages, (July 23, 2017).
WALLY’S STORY, RED GOLD: THE STRINGYBARK MALICIOUS MYSTERIES ANTHOLOGY (2018)
ESSAY
TROPICAL STORM STALIN HEADS TOWARDS COAST, STONE CANOE LITERARY JOURNAL, Issue No.9, (2015).
CREATIVE NON-FICTION
DRESS FOR SUCCESS (NOT BARBECUE) appearing in anthology-101 LESSONS in LEADING with LAUGHTER, Jim Dunn, PHD, DHA, FACHE, 1ST PLACE SELECTION (2024)
TRANSPARENT POPPIES, 3RD PLACE, HISTORICAL FICTION, ANNUAL SHORT STORY CONTEST, SOMETHING OR OTHER PUBLISHING, LLC (2024)
boats, knots, other things, AuthorHouse Publishing, (2007)
Winner Certificate
