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Running for: County Commissioner
Hometown: Statesville
Occupation: Business Owner/Manager
Education: Mitchell College, Catawba Valley Technical College
What are the biggest issues facing your constituency?
The principal issue facing Iredell County will continue to be school funding. Because of the unabated residential growth all over the county, especially in the south, our schools are growing at unprecedented rates. Annually almost half of the county’s budget is spent on funding school construction and school current expense. Our county has approved almost $250 million in school construction funds over the past 10 years. There is still much more that will be required. Iredell County is a leader in region in its quality of education. Our schools are a driving force in bringing increased economic development to Iredell County. This kind of development brings jobs, an increased tax base, and an improved quality of life.
We must make strong push for job growth and economic development in Iredell County. Economic development and job creation is one of my highest priorities. County Commissioners who work cooperatively to team our municipalities with interested businesses create a win-win situation for business growth and job growth. I believe that good jobs that pay well are critical to maintaining strong, stable families in Iredell County. We need to promote business expansion and we need to attract new business to our county.
Of those issues, which is the most important?
We must continue to develop a balance between residential, business and commercial growth. We must remember that Iredell County relies heavily on its agriculture base as its number one industry, and do everything possible to protect our farms for future generations. Iredell County does not need to become another Mecklenburg. Iredell should be proud of it rich history and strive to accomplish its future with common sense values.
What, if any, prior experience do you have that will help you if you’re elected?
I was first appointed to the Iredell County Recreation Advisory Board by the Iredell County Commissioners in 1981. During the next 12 years I served on that board continuously, as well as an appointment on the Jail Population Task Force.
In 1992, I was elected to the Iredell Statesville Board of Education and was once again elected in1994. In 1998, I was appointed to the Mitchell Community College Board of Trusties. Since then I have been appointed to that position for two additional terms.
I was elected to my first term on the Iredell County Board of Commissioners in 2000. I was elected again in 2004 and then again in 2006. All together I have served the people of Iredell County for over 25 years in one capacity or another. During that time I have had the privilege of helping solve some of the most pressing issues ever faced by the citizens of Iredell County.
What is one thing you think the current board is doing right?
We continue to address the needs of the county, including its schools, while maintaining a relativity low tax rate as compared to our neighboring counties.
What is one thing you think the current board is doing wrong?
We must do more to find ways to work with the developers on the issue of unabated residential growth that continues to cause hardships in many areas for Iredell County and to all the taxpayers that are required to provide the necessary services.
What specifically would you do if elected in response to the county’s growth?
Communities with high growth rates can be particularly overwhelmed by demands for new services and infrastructure. But even in more stable communities with modest rates of growth, residential properties rarely pay their own way. Instead, localities rely on businesses and on farms, forests, and open space to provide tax revenues in excess of what they require in services.
I will continue to study each application for release of ETJ, and will continue to oppose any high density zoning request that in my opinion, will cause a hardship on the citizens of Iredell County.
Posted on 02/11/08 at 12:47 PM
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