Running for: county commission
Hometown: Mooresville
Occupation: Dentist
Education: U.S. Air Force Academy/West Virginia University undergraduate; West Virginia University Dental School
What are the biggest issues facing your constituency?
To put things in their proper perspective, the biggest issues facing people in Iredell County are personal issues; such as the health of their family, their job security, and their children’s or grandchildren’s grades at school. Way down the priority list is the county government, and the biggest issues facing county government now are the rapid influx of new people into the area and the nationwide slowdown in the economy. Our county has been growing at about 3%, compounded annually, and is predicted to continue at this rate for the foreseeable future. This rapid growth rate has resulted in demands for infrastructure that have not been met in a timely fashion, resulting in traffic and school crowding, among other less obvious things. The rapid growth also threatens our economic status if we cannot insure that the people who move here have the same rugged individualism and sense of personal responsibility that residents of Iredell have historically shown.
Of those issues, which do you feel is the most important?
The nationwide slowdown in the economy is the biggest threat to Iredell County citizens at the moment, but the rapid growth in the county is the issue that the County Commission can have the most positive effect upon.
What, if any, prior experience do you have that will help you if elected?
I had many jobs growing up and working through college and dental school, mowing lawns, cooking in a restaurant, selling hardware, and many others. In my former home of Salisbury, I have been a dentist and a small-business owner and operator for eighteen years. During that time, I served as a member of the county health board, and in leadership roles on many charitable and civic committees. Politically, I was GOP vice-chairman and finance chairman, and in 1998 I was nominated as the GOP candidate for U.S. Congress in North Carolina’s 12th District, which included Iredell County and four others. I feel that my diverse background will give me a well-rounded base of experience when making decisions should I be elected.
What is one particular thing you think the current board is doing right?
Iredell County is inhabited by hard-working, independent-thinking, moral and responsible people who take care of themselves and appreciate a limited government. The current county government is generally reflective of the citizens it represents. They should be commended for a low tax rate and a conservative approach to the size and scope of government.
What is one particular thing you think the current board is doing wrong?
I believe that we can try harder to control spending, and this will become necessary if the slow economy continues to depress county tax revenues.
What specifically would you do if elected in response to the county’s growth?
I will make certain that we use the available demographic forecasting tools to plan ahead, and respond to long-term problems with long-term solutions, which are more economical than short-term solutions.
I will get on the phone with the politicians in Washington and Raleigh that have let the traffic situation get completely out of control in the south end of the county. I will let them know exactly what our problems are, and keep the communication going until we get a solution.
I will make sure that our county government does everything possible to discourage the high-density residential growth that has resulted in high taxes in many other counties. I will make sure that our county does everything possible to discourage illegal aliens from coming to Iredell county and overcrowding our schools, roads, health departments, and welfare offices.
I will support the sheriff’s office when they send the message that criminals would be better off living somewhere else.
Lastly, and most importantly, I will understand that your tax dollars are YOUR MONEY, the Iredell government is YOUR GOVERNMENT, and it is YOUR LIFE, not some politician’s.
Posted on 02/11/08 at 07:55 AM
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