Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, October 16, 2014, Page 10A
Editor’s Note: All candidates in the local elections were contacted and given the opportunity to submit material for the candidates profiles in the Post & Voice. For the purpose of this publication, local elections are considered to be the N.C. House of Representatives, county commissioners, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff, and N.C. District Court Judge for District 5. The responses of each candidate are published with a minimum of editing for style and clarity. Candidates who are not represented here chose not to respond and participate in the profile.
N.C. House of Representatives District 16
Chris Millis s/CCUPATION 0ROFESSIONAL #IVIL %NGINEER s%DUCATION #OUNTY 0UB LIC 3CHOOLS + TH 'RADES AND 'RADUATED 6ALEDICTORIAN FROM .ORTH #AROLINA 3TATE 5NIVERSITY s/FlCES (ELD 3TATE (OUSE $ISTRICT #OMMITTEE S #OMMERCE *OB $EVELOPMENT 6ICE #HAIR %NVIRONMENT 0UBLIC 5TILITIES %NERGY 2EGULATORY 2EFORM 3TATE 0ERSONNEL s2EASON FOR SEEKING OFlCE /VER THE COURSE OF TIME ) BE CAME DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT OUR STATE AND NATION WAS HEADING A DIREC TION AWAY FROM OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPLES A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE PROPER ROLE OF GOV
Steve Unger Personal information ) HOLD A "! IN POLITICAL SCI ENCE FROM +ALAMAZOO #OLLEGE AND IN MANAGEMENT FROM .AZ ARETH #OLLEGE ) AM THE ATHLET ICS SUPERVISOR AT THE 3URF #ITY 0ARKS AND 2ECREATION $EPAT MENT ) WAS FORMERLY ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT 7ILMINGTON &AMILY 9-#! AND THE FORMER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE 4OPSAIL 6OICE NEWSPAPER ) HAVE ALSO BEEN A MEDIA CONSULTANT TEACHER AND HELD OTHER SPORTS MANAGEMENT PO SITIONS ) HAVE LIVED OR WORKED
ERNMENT AND A DIRECTION THAT WOULD NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO PROSPER ) SAW A MAJORITY OF ELECTED OFlCIALS MORE CON CERNED WITH THEIR NEXT ELECTION THAN FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION !S A RESULT ) TOOK A STAND TWO YEARS AGO TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF OUR DISTRICT WITH PRINCIPLE BASED LEADER SHIP THAT WAS FOCUSED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE OF STATE GOVERNMENT THAT COULD PRO VIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSPERITY AND WOULD ACT PRU DENTLY WITH YOUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS .EARING THE END OF MY lRST TERM AS YOUR 3TATE (OUSE REPRESENTATIVE ) CAN CLAIM WITH CONFIDENCE THAT ) REMAINED TRUE TO THE VERY PRINCIPLES THAT ) COMMITTED TO YOU IN THE LAST ELECTION AND ) STAND READY TO CONTINUE TO lGHT IN 2ALEIGH ON YOUR BEHALF Three areas of concern 3INCE RETURNING FROM 2A LEIGH AFTER THE RECENT LEGISLA TIVE SESSION ) HAVE BEEN ORGA NIZING SIMPLE SMALL GATHERINGS WHERE INDIVIDUALS INVITE THEIR FAMILIES FRIENDS AND NEIGH BORS TO SIT DOWN AND CONVERSE ABOUT STATE RELATED ISSUES AND THEIR CONCERNS 7HILE LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF THE CITIZEN AT THESE GATHERINGS THE THREE ISSUES THAT HAVE
RISEN TO THE TOP HAVE BEEN A HEALTHY ECONOMY THE BURDEN OF UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGAL IM MIGRATION AND INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING !S INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE DISTRICT STRIVE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMI LIES GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES AT THE STATE LEVEL CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR GREATER PROSPERITY *UST A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO OUR STATE HAD A TAX BURDEN UPON ITS CITIZENS THAT WAS RANKED AS THE TH WORST IN THE ENTIRE .ATION ,AST YEAR ) FOUGHT ALONGSIDE OTHER LIKE MINDED MEMBERS OF THE 'ENERAL !SSEMBLY TO BRING TO REALITY A FULL mEDGED REFORM OF OUR STATE TAX CODE $UE TO THE REFORM OF OUR TAX CODE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN ALL SPECTRUMS OF OUR STATE ECONOMY NOW HAVE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP MORE OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY !S A RESULT GREATER PROSPERITY IS IN THE FUTURE AS .ORTH #AROLINA HAS GONE FROM ONE OF THE VERY WORST TAX BURDENS TO THE BEST IN THE SOUTHEAST AND ONE OF THE BEST IN THE #OUNTRY 9OUR STATE WAS ABLE TO LOWER THE TAX BURDEN UNIFORMLY UPON ALL TAXPAYERS IN PART BY REMOVING THE LOOPHOLES AND SUBSIDIES BUILT INTO THE OLD TAX CODE TO
BENElT SPECIAL INTEREST AND A FAVORED FEW 4HERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ATTEMPTS FOR SPECIAL INTEREST TO WORK ITS WAY BACK INTO YOUR TAX CODE TO BENElT A SELECT FEW AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL OTHERS )T IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE PRESERVE THE POSITIVE REFORMS TO OUR TAX CODE IN FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS )F ELECTED TO SERVE AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ) WILL CONTINUE TO DEFEND AGAINST YOUR STATE TAKING MONEY FROM YOU FOR THE ROLE OF GOVERN MENT AND THEN HANDING YOUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS OUT TO PRIVATE INTEREST !LLOWING YOU TO DECIDE HOW TO SPEND YOUR OWN MONEY LEADS TO GREATER OUTCOMES FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE 5NDOCUMENTED ILLEGAL IM MIGRATION MAY BE OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS BUT IT BEARS A MAJOR NET COST ON BOTH OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS )N FACT THE MOST RECENT STUDY PERFORMED DOCUMENTING THE NET COST TO THE STATE TAXPAYER IL LUSTRATES THAT THE COST PER YEAR IS MORE THAN BILLION WITH NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THIS COST BEING CONSUMED DIRECTLY IN + 0UBLIC %DUCATION &!)2 -ARCH .OTE THAT THIS COST IS NEARLY PERCENT OF THE
OVERALL STATE BUDGET AND DOES NOT INCLUDE INCREASES TO THE INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS -ANY INDIVIDUALS WANT TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR 3TATE RELIES HEAVILY ON AGRICULTURE BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT MORE THAN PERCENT OF THE JOBS THAT UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TAKE IN OUR STATE ARE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF THE REALM OF AGRICULTURE AND WITHIN OTHER SECTORS OF OUR STATE ECONOMY 7HILE THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO BORDER PROTECTION SECURITY AND PRO VIDING A LEGAL WORKFORCE TO OUR NATION S ECONOMY LIES WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT OUR STATE POLICIES WILL EITHER ENCOURAGE OR DISCOURAGE UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CALL .ORTH #AROLINA HOME !S A POLICY OUR STATE CUR RENTLY CONSIDERS -ATRICULA #ONSULAR CARDS AS VALID IDEN TIlCATION 4HE STATUTE AUTHOR ITY TO ACCEPT THESE CARDS CAN PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR UNDOCU MENTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO MORE EASILY SET UP RESIDENCE HERE THAN IN OTHER STATES THAT DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS FORM OF IDENTIFICATION )N ADDITION OUR STATE HAS RECENTLY GUTTED ITS % 6ERIFY LAW IN A MANNER
THAT CRIPPLES ITS POTENTIAL EF FECTIVENESS !S A RESULT OUR STATE LEADERS NEED TO RIGHT THESE WRONGS AND PROPERLY REPRESENT THE CITIZEN /NE OF THE LARGER UNNECES SARY COST OF LIVING INCREASES BORE BY THE CITIZENS OF OUR DISTRICT IS THE INCREASING COST OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE )NSTEAD OF AN INSURANCE STRUC TURE THAT IS BASED ON REQUIRING A PREMIUM BASED ON ACTUAL RISK FOR COVERAGE .ORTH #ARO LINA S HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS BASED ON PURE POLITICS !CTUAL HISTORICAL CLAIM DATA SHOWS THAT 0ENDER AND /NSLOW #OUNTY HOMEOWNERS ARE PAYING INCREASED INSUR ANCE PREMIUMS THAN ACTUAL CLAIMS WEST OF OUR STATE S COASTAL COUNTIES 4HIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT OUR STATE IN SURANCE STRUCTURE IS BASED ON COMPUTER MODELS RATHER THAN TRUE CLAIM HISTORY )T IS EGRE GIOUS THAT HOMES MILES AND MILES OUT OF HARM S WAY ARE SUBSIDIZING THE LOWER INSUR ANCE RATES FOR OTHERS ACROSS OUR STATE ) HAVE SUPPORTED THIS LEG ISLATIVE CHANGE IN THE PAST SESSION AND STAND READY TO MOUNT ANOTHER lGHT FOR FAIR NESS !MONG THESE MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE AND MANY OTHERS ) HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT
IN 0ENDER #OUNTY SINCE ) HAVE NEVER HELD OFlCE RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR THE 0ENDER "OARD OF #OMMISSIONERS IN $EMOCRATIC PRIMARY SERVED ON THE (AMPSTEAD #HAMBER BOARD (AMPSTEAD ,IONS -AN OF THE 9EAR STARTED THE 3URF #ITY 9OUTH BASKET BALL LEAGUE AND OTHER SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR 3URF #ITY 0ARKS AND 2ECREATION ) HAVE BEEN A SOCCER REFEREE AND INSTRUCTOR YOGA AND SPINNING INSTRUC TOR ) AM RUNNING FOR .# (OUSE $ISTRICT TO PRESENT A CLEAR ALTERNATIVE TO THE HARMFUL AND REGRESSIVE POLICIES BEING PROMOTED BY THE .ORTH #AROLI NA 'ENERAL !SSEMBLY AND MY OPPONENT 7HEN NO ONE ELSE lLED ) STEPPED FORWARD TO PRO VIDE A REAL CHOICE ESPECIALLY SINCE #HRIS -ILLIS HAD NO GENERAL ELECTION OPPONENT TWO YEARS AGO ) AM PROUD OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ON KEY ISSUES BUT ) AM LEARNING MORE EVERY DAY BY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE AND WILL MAKE THIS POSITION MY FULL TIME PRIORITY WHEN ELECTED
Three areas of concern 4HE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE DEALING WITH THE 2EPUB LICAN MAJORITY IN THE . # (OUSE OF 2EPRESENTATIVES AS A MEMBER OF THE MINOR ITY PARTY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE CUTS TO EDUCATION RE ESTABLISH ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES ATTRACTING NEW JOBS TO OUR AREA AND SAVING THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE )T WILL BE ALL ABOUT lNDING ALLIES FOR MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE 7E NEED TO MAKE EDUCA TIONAL FUNDING A PRIORITY PROVIDE ACROSS THE BOARD IN CREMENTS TO TEACHERS NOT JUST NEW ONES RESTORE TEACHER AS SISTANTS AND RECONSIDER SCRAP PING CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET NATIONAL STANDARDS STATE LOTTERY PROCEEDS MUST BE USED FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION NOT DIVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUND OR OTHER USAGES %DUCATION FUNDING SHORT FALLS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED A POTENTIAL BUDGET SHORTFALL THAT APPROACHED MILLION BECAUSE OF UNWISE TAX CUTS
2ALEIGH BALANCED THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF EDUCATION -EDICAID AND OTHER SOCIAL PROGRAMS -Y OPPONENT ALSO VOTED TO RAPIDLY EXPAND PRI VATELY RUN CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT PUBLICLY FUNDER VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALL WHICH DIVERT FUNDING FROM OUR REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ) AM ENDORSED BY THE .ORTH #AROLINA !SSOCIATION OF %DU CATORS IN MY ELECTION BID 7E NEED TO CONVINCE THE 2EPUB LICANS TO RE PRIORITIZE EDUCA TION )N 0ENDER #OUNTY WE NEED TO PASS THE SCHOOL BOND ISSUE THIS FALL -Y OPPONENT INTRODUCED LEGISLATION IN TO END THE CURRENT FILM INCENTIVE PRO GRAM n WHICH IS NOW SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER NOT BEING RENEWED BY THE 'ENERAL !SSEMBLY #HRIS -ILLIS ALSO SPECIlCALLY VOTED NOT TO EXTEND THE CURRENT IN CENTIVES THIS PAST *ULY 4HIS IS COSTING THE #APE &EAR AREA MORE THAN J O B S I N CL U D I N G M A NY I N 0ENDER #OUNTY 4HIS IS INEX CUSABLE )F SOMETHING ISN T
BROKE n DON T lX IT 4HE lLM INCENTIVES MUST BE RESTORED 4HIS IS A BI PARTISAN ISSUE WITH SUPPORT FROM BOTH MAJOR PARTIES THE '/0 CONTROLLED 0ENDER "OARD OF #OMMISSION ERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION THIS FALL TO PROMOTE BUSINESS INCENTIVES INCLUDING THOSE FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY ALTHOUGH HE DIDN T ) FAVOR CONTINUING RECRUITMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY THROUGH A PUBLICLY RUN STATE OFlCE AS .ORTH #AROLINA HAS DONE BEFORE 7HEN IT COMES TO THE ENVI RONMENT THE OTHER SIDE LIKES TO SAY THEY HAVE MADE THE STATE MORE hBUSINESS FRIENDLYv BUT THAT IS CODE FOR HARDLY NOT CARING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ALL &ROM TRYING TO CUT DEALS WITH $UKE 0OWER AFTER THE COAL ASH SPILL FAST TRACKING HARMFUL FRACKING AND ENCOURAGING OIL PLATFORMS OFF OUR COAST THE '/0 LEADER SHIP DOESN T GET IT !ND NEITHER DOES MY OPPONENT 7E NEED TO RESTORE RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ESPE
CIALLY IN CRITICAL COASTAL HABI TATS ) AM ENDORSED BY THE .# 3IERRA #LUB -Y OPPONENT HAS A h v RATING ON A SCALE FROM THREE MAJOR ENVIRON MENTAL ORGANIZATIONS )N THE PAST MANY 2EPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 7E NEED TO URGE THEM TO RETURN TO THAT TRADITION ) LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH COUNTY AND MU NICIPAL LEADERS TO HELP MEET 0ENDER AND /NSLOW #OUNTY NEEDS AT THE STATE LEVEL AND HELP PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE AND PLANNING FOR THE GROWTH THAT IS DOING NOTHING BUT AC CELERATING 7E MUST BUILD NEW SCHOOLS ESTABLISH NEW PARKS AND PRESERVE OPEN SPACES ACCELERATE THE (IGHWAY "YPASS REVIVE THE (IGHWAY "YPASS AND RESTORE THE RAIL LINK IN 7ESTERN 0ENDER #OUNTY 4HE GOAL OF ANY LEGISLATOR SHOULD BE TO DO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS BOTH NOW AND IN FUTURE GENERATIONS !ND THAT IS WHAT ) AIM TO DO ) WILL WORK FOR YOU
Pender County Board of Commissioners District 1
James David Williams Jr. s%DUCATION 4OPSAIL (IGH 'RADUATE !SSOCIATE !P PLIED 3CIENCE h!VIATION -AN AGEMENT h,ENOIR #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE s/CCUPATION !CCOUNT -AN AGER #AROTEK )NC s#OMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 0ENDER #OUNTY #OMMISSION ER 9EARS 0ENDER -EMO RIAL (OSPITAL .EW 2EGIONAL -EDICAL #ENTER 0ENDER %-3 0ENDER &IRE #OMMISSION 4OPSAIL )SLAND 3HORELINE 0ROTECTION 0ENDER 4OURISM $EVELOPMENT 0ARTNERSHIP &OR #HILDREN 0RIORITY /NE 3CHOOLS 7ALLACE !IRPORT !UTHORITY 7ILMINGTON -0/
4RANSPOR TATION !DVISORY #OMMITTEE 7ILMINGTON "USI NESS $EVELOPMENT +IWANIS 0ARK 7ORK &IRST 0LANNING FOOTBALL BASKETBALL BASEBALL COACH 6ARIOUS (AMPSTEAD 5NITED -ETHODIST #HURCH COMMITTEES s7HY AM ) RUNNING FOR #OUNTY #OMMISSIONER ) LOVE 0ENDER #OUNTY ) GREW UP HERE -Y WIFE AND ) ARE RAISING A FAMILY HERE AND HOPE THAT IF THEY SO DESIRE OUR CHILDREN CAN DO THE SAME ,EADERSHIP CANNOT LET THEIR PERSONAL BUSINESSES INmUENCE COUNTY DECISIONS ) REPRESENT ALL OF 0ENDER #OUNTY Three areas of concern ) SEE ISSUES 0ENDER #OUNTY FACES AS CHALLENGES OR OPPOR TUNITIES RATHER THAN hPROB LEMSv WHICH ) BELIEVE LEADS TO MORE EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL SOLUTIONS AND OUTCOMES )N MY OPINION AN OVERREACHING AM BITION FACING 0ENDER #OUNTY IS MAINTAINING THE HIGH QUAL ITY OF LIFE THAT WE EXPERIENCE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY 4HREE CRITICAL CHALLENGES THE COUNTY FACES IN MAINTAINING AND EN HANCING THAT QUALITY OF LIFE INCLUDE FACILITATING GROWTH MANAGEMENT GROWING THE TAX BASE AND CREATING JOBS AND
ASSURING lNANCIAL VIABILITY IN PROVIDING COUNTY SERVICES &IRST MANAGING GROWTH PROPERLY THROUGHOUT A COUNTY IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE FACING ANY COUNTY INCLUDING 0ENDER )N SERVING AS A #OUNTY #OMMISSIONER FOR THE PAST TWELVE YEARS ) VE BEEN A LEADER IN ASSURING THE COUNTY MAINTAINS A FOCUS ON PRIORITIES THAT LEAD TO QUALITY GROWTH AND PROMOTE SUSTAIN ABLE DEVELOPMENT 4HREE OF MY PRIORITIES HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCLUDE A A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM B COMMUNITY PLANNING AND C THE EXPANSION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY 4HE UPCOMING MILLION SCHOOL BOND IN .OVEMBER IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING THE HIGH LEVEL OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE 0ENDER #OUNTY 3CHOOLS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR 7E VE ALWAYS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO ASSURE OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES ARE SUCH THAT THEY PROMOTE LEARNING TO THE FULL EST 7E SIMPLY NEED TO CON TINUE TO INVEST IN OUR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO ASSURE CONTINUED GROWTH )N ADDI TION DURING MY TIME ON THE BOARD THE #OMMISSIONERS
HAVE MADE COMMUNITY PLAN NING A TOP PRIORITY 0LANNING PROJECTS WE VE UNDERTAKEN INCLUDE THOSE THAT ADDRESS LAND USE AND COM PREHENSIVE GROWTH POLICIES PARKS AND RECREATION PLANS NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS FOR THE -APLE (ILL AND #URRIE COM MUNITIES ALONG WITH MANY MORE 7E HAVE TO KEEP PLAN NING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE ECONOMIC AND QUALITY GROWTH ,ASTLY PUBLIC WATER AND WASTEWATER AVAILABILITY WITHIN A COUNTY IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR GROWTH MANAGEMENT 7E VE DEVOTED CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES IN THE PAST DECADE TO BUILDING A COUNTY WIDE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM AND OF COURSE THIS IS THE KEY TO SUPPORTING ECONOM IC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH )NVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION GOOD PLANNING AND EXPANSION OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE ARE THREE PRIORITIES ) WILL CONTIN UE TO ADVOCATE FOR AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO FACILITATE GROWTH MANAGEMENT 4HE SECOND MAJOR CHAL LENGE FACING THE #OUNTY IS GROWING THE ECONOMY TAX BASE AND CREATING JOBS (IS TORICALLY 0ENDER #OUNTY HAS
BEEN DEPENDENT UPON BUSI NESS AND INDUSTRY IN .EW (ANOVER AND OTHER COUNTIES FOR JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS 4HAT DEPENDENCE HAS LED TO A MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL TAX BASE WHICH SIMPLY DOESN T PROVIDE THE lNANCIAL RESOURCES TO SUP PORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES WE DESERVE AND DESIRE 7E HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT ALONG THE 53 CORRIDOR AS WELL AS IN THE "URGAW AREA 0ENDER #OMMERCE 0ARK ALONE CAN ACCOMMODATE AS MANY AS OR MORE NEW IN DUSTRIES OVER TIME POTENTIALLY PRODUCING OVER JOBS AND OVER BILLION IN INVESTMENT 4HE SHELL INDUSTRIAL BUILDING IN "URGAW IS GENERATING CLI ENT INTEREST IN NOT ONLY THE "URGAW AREA BUT COUNTY WIDE AND THE NEW WASTEWATER LINE ALONG THE 5 3 CORRIDOR FROM "URGAW TO 7ALLACE WILL OPEN UP NORTHER N 0ENDER #OUNTY TO INDUSTRIAL DEVEL OPMENT OPPORTUNITIES !ND CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH OUT BEACH COMMUNITIES TO FUND BEACH NOURISHMENT AND INLET DREDGING WILL ASSURE TOURISM REMAINS A VITAL PART OF OUR ECONOMY
7HILE MUCH HAS BEEN DONE WE NEED TO ASSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE AND FOCUS RESOURCES ON STRENGTH ENING THE COUNTY S ECONOMY THROUGH INCREASING THE TAX BASE AND CREATING QUALITY JOBS AND ) LL CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THAT 4HE THIRD MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE COUNTY IS TO ASSURE l NANCIAL VIABILITY AS INCREASED DEMANDS ARE PLACED ON THE COUNTY FOR A VARIETY OF SER VICES AND NEEDS (ISTORICALLY 0ENDER #OUNTY HAS MAIN TAINED AN EXCELLENT lNANCIAL CONDITION AND HAS RECEIVED HIGH MARKS FROM BOND RAT ING AGENCIES AND OTHERS FOR ITS EFFORTS 4HE COUNTY HAS DONE WELL IN PROVIDING QUAL ITY SERVICES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING A LOW TAX BURDEN ON ITS CITIZENS 4HE SERVICE DEMANDS AND NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS CONTINUE AND WE MUST BE lNANCIALLY PRUDENT IN HOW WE MANAGE AND ADDRESS THEM /NE EXAMPLE IS THE UPCOMING MILLION SCHOOL BOND 4HE COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE TO EX PLORE OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR HOW BEST TO ADDRESS THE PROJECTS WHILE KEEPING THE TAX
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