Among Billie Redmond's community service activities in recent years has been acting as co-chairwoman of the Citizens' Facilities Advisory Committee, a group appointed by Wake County commissioners to help the school system spend bond money in a cost-efficient way.
In 2007, Redmond's participation came under scrutiny after it became public that her company, Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties, was poised to benefit financially from an $8.7 million school land deal in Apex.
Commissioners killed the deal after learning a development group paid $3.25 million for the property 10 months earlier.
They later changed the county's policy to require an appraisal before approving any real estate purchase for the school system.
TradeMark was one of three local real-estate firms hired to help the school system search for land to accommodate the massive building program backed by the $970 million in bonds approved by voters. The firms were paid a commission for each deal by the school system.
Before accepting a position on the advisory committee, Redmond informed then-Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley and then-Wake County school board Chairwoman Patti Head of her firm's involvement in the site selection process.
They determined it wasn't a conflict of interest.
"We were not concerned about the appearance of conflict as much as whether there was a legal issue," Gurley said at the time. "We wanted people engaged in the business of building schools."
Redmond said she's proud of the way she handled the episode. "It was a great process and it was the right process," she said.
If elected Raleigh's mayor, Redmond said she would follow the city's conflict of interest and disclosure process, including disclosing any personal relationships she may have with anyone with business before the City Council.
"It won't make any difference what industry happens to be standing in front of the conference table," she said.
