VIDEO: County commission candidates forum

Full video transcripts from the April 22 forum held at Mac Gray Auditorium.

• Republican candidate questions
  
  
  
  • How do we pay for the infrastructure that growth will demand?
  
  
  • Would you support impact fees and/or real estate transfer fees to lessen the tax burden as it pertains to infrastructure and construction of new schools?
  
  
  • Do you support the continued effort to raise local teacher supplements to attract and retain highly qualified staff? If so, how do you propose we fund it?
  
  
  • What role do you think we play in the Charlotte region? What will you do to see that our role in the region is maintained or enhanced?
  
  
  • How will you help Mitchell Community College meet the needs of a growing population?
  
  
  • How do you propose we keep Statesville’s youth?
  
  
  
  

• Democratic candidate questions
  
  
  
  • Is growth typically a good thing? Explain - how do we pay for the infrastructure that growth will demand?
  
  
  • How should commissioners pay for the necessary jail and courthouse expansion? Would you support a property tax increase to pay for these projects?
  
  
  • Iredell-Statesville’s per pupil spending is below the state average. To provide our students the quality of education and 21st century skills needed to keep Iredell competitive, the amount will have to increase. What new initiatives do you propose?
  
  
  • A tough, unpopular issue comes to your desk. You know it is unpopular but it really is the best thing for the community. Are you elected to represent the people and their views or are you elected so that the people trust you to make the right call for their best interests?
  
  
  • Should commissioners have called for a voter referendum instead of issuing the latest round of COPs for school construction and landfill expansion? Why?
  
  
  • How would you keep informed about the needs and concerns of constituents?
  
  
  • Proponents of a north Iredell park have not been able to raise enough money to develop a park on county-owned land. Should taxpayers fund the ballfields, walking trails, picnic shelters and facilities necessary to open this park?
  
  
  • Iredell commissioners rolled the property tax rate back 2 cents to $0.445 (per $100 valuation) last spring. Given the significant increase in property values, was that sufficient? If you advocate a larger rate cut, what services would be reduced?
  
  
  • Would you support light rail into Iredell County?
  
  
  
  

• Republican candidate bios and opening statements
  
  
  
  • Godfrey Williams
  
  
  • Ken Robertson
  
  
  • Brad Howard
  
  
  • Gene Houpe
  
  
  • Scott Keadle
  
  
  
  


• Democratic candidate bios and opening statements
  
  
  
  • Chuck Gallyon
  
  
  • Eugene Shuffler
  
  
  • Mark Vanek
  
  
  • Fred Coggins
  
  
  • Barbara Orr (Orr was not available for the forums)
  
  
  
  

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