County commission candidates look towards county's future

COUNTY COMMISSION CANDIDATES
LOOK TOWARDS COUNTY'S FUTURE
Some candidates call for better relationship with other governmental bodies

By Jon Mayhew

LINCOLNTON -- Ask the county commission candidates what one of the most important functions of county government is and the answer may be a bit of a surprise: relationship with other governmental bodies.

Voters at the candidate's forum Tuesday night learned that there are strained relationships between sitting commissioners and the Lincoln County Board of Education and the state Department of Transportation.

Candidate Leroy Buff said that relationship between commissioners and the board of education is paramount in providing a good quality of life in Lincoln County.

"There isn't a good relationship between the schools and the commission," said Buff. "Educating our children are extremely important to the future. We need to work more closely with the school system and need to set funding priorities and work on the necessities in schools."

On the heels of Buff's comments, candidate and department of transportation engineer Gary Eudy said the bad relationship of the county commission extends to the state Department of Transportation.

Eudy called the relationship between Lincoln County leaders and the DOT "adversarial."

"Roads (aren't given because they're needed, they) are political," said Eudy. "We're not really going to get much action regarding roads. The key to new and improved roads lie with state senator Jim Forrester and state house representative Johnathan Rhyne."

Besides addressing the importance of relationships between county commissioners and other governmental bodies, candidates focused on the future of Lincoln County.

All five candidates agreed it's going to be tough economic times for Lincoln for awhile.

They also agreed there is room for opportunity.

The agreement, however, ended when it came to achieving lower taxes and an improved quality of life.

Vale resident, restauranteur and former county commissioner Carrol Mitchem said the hardest process is how to pay for all the new infrastructure, schools and quality of life in the county.

"It takes tax monies to do all of this and the process needs to be looked into," said Mitchem. "We really need the lowest possible tax to make this happen."

Candidate Buff took Mitchem's comments one step further, calling for Lincoln County government itself to "tighten its own belt."

"The vision is having a good job, safe neighborhoods and a quality education," said Buff. "We're going to have tough times ahead, however."

Candidate Gary Eudy thinks that taxpayer monies, meantime, need to be spent more effectively. Several times during the forum, Eudy referred to himself as a "conservative democrat."

"The current economic situation may hurt us in the future," cautioned Eudy. "Some difficult decisions may have to be made."

East Lincoln resident and candidate George Arena said county budgets nationwide are moving counties closer and closer to what he called "backing ourselves against the wall." And while other candidates were cautioning voters about the tougher times ahead, Arena viewed the economic challenges facing Lincoln as an opportunity.

"We have a new road in Lincoln County in Highway 16," said Arena. "We have the opportunity to build along that road as well as expanding the Lincoln County Airport. We need to do a good job about improving the quality of life in Lincoln."

A light moment during the forum came when moderator Gaye Howard asked Patton if there would ever be county-wide water and sewer service.

"The short answer is no," said Patton, adding providing such a service is impossible.

Howard's response drew some applause.

"I appreciate your honesty," she said.

Voters touted the annual candidate's forum -- sponsored by the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce's Governmental Affairs Committee -- as a huge success despite the lacking crowd.

Voter Deane Griffin of Long Shoals said the forum helped her decide who she's voting for in three weeks.

"All of the candidates for county commission did a good job," said Griffin. "I learned a lot more about the candidates."

So who's Griffin voting for in the Nov. 4 election? She's not saying.

"I know that our county is in for a tough economic time," said Griffin. "I've pretty well made up my mind who I'm going to vote for."