Parks Helms is serving his eighth consecutive term on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, elected At-large. He was first elected to the County Commission in 1992, and served as chairman during five of his seven terms. Helms was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1974-1984, and was ranked one of the 10 "Most Effective House Members" by the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research for three consecutive sessions. He was chairman of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party from 1986-1987.