It wasn’t so much an interest in politics as it was a desire to be “community-oriented” that first inspired Gene Schulze of Apex to seek a seat on the Town Council.

“I pride myself in being able to walk in the other person’s shoes,” said Schulze, 45, a native of Wappinger Falls, N.Y. “... I might not come to a different decision on a particular issue, but I think I owe it to the other point-of-view to consider it.”

“I have principles, but I want to represent Apex as a whole to the best of my ability,” Schulze added.

A married father of three daughters, Schulze is counting on voters to re-elect him on Nov. 3.

Schulze said he is seeking a third term on the Apex council “to continue a trend Apex has in making the town a great place to live, a great place to work and a great place to raise a family.

“I love the town, and I want to see it flourish,” Schulze said.

He hopes to accomplish that in part by keeping Apex’s property tax rate low, its quality of life high and its business sector thriving.

“When we first moved here in 1992,” Schulze said, “the population was about 5,000. Now it’s about 35,000. And we have a lot more businesses, a lot more places to shop.

“ ... The council has done a good job over the years of developing our unified development ordinance to make sure that as additional growth occurs, we’re able to manage it in such a way that it occurs in a positive fashion,” he added.

Perhaps Schulze’s biggest test of resolve — and that of his council colleagues — will be found in the way he and others approach the proposed Veridia project.

The 1,000-acre “sustainable development” could transform the intersection of U.S. 1 at Lufkin Road over the next 15 years.

“This development would require changes to the way Apex does business,” Schulze said.

The project could change the town’s planning guidelines, a possibility Schulze isn’t taking lightly. “I would definitely want to make sure that any changes would benefit the town as a whole and not just aid this project,” he said.