Candidate Profiles: Commissioners candidates boast variety of backgrounds, ideas

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County Commission

Advocated transparency on the county's priorities with the community.

Supported the construction of a new recreation center and sheriff's office.

- Advocated transparency on the county's priorities with the community.
- Supported the construction of a new recreation center and sheriff's office.

Public Services

Said, "Our challenge as a county is to provide quality needed services in a sustainable way using good financial planning."

- Said, "Our challenge as a county is to provide quality needed services in a sustainable way using good financial planning."

Economy

As of June 14, 2024, Harley Masters did not have a website or any information online.

Education

Opposes gun control and supports law enforcement.

- Opposes gun control and supports law enforcement.

Public Safety

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Harley Masters

Prioritizes "conservative budgeting" practices.

- Prioritizes "conservative budgeting" practices.

Advocates for policies to support local education.

- Advocates for policies to support local education.

As of August 27, 2024, Bill Hoag’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Aims to provide median-income housing options.

- Aims to provide median-income housing options.

Bill Hoag

LinkedIn

Ballot Pedia

Insurance News Net

Supports "The Mitchell Senior Center, the AMY Library system, educational programs for our children, Mitchell County Transportation, and many other great programs."

- Supports "The Mitchell Senior Center, the AMY Library system, educational programs for our children, Mitchell County Transportation, and many other great programs."

Said, "The first priority is knowing what to expect when Property Tax Re-evaluation time rolls around."

Believes investment in infrastructure, internet access, and a strong tax base is the solution to a "downward economic spiral."

- Said, "The first priority is knowing what to expect when Property Tax Re-evaluation time rolls around."
- Believes investment in infrastructure, internet access, and a strong tax base is the solution to a "downward economic spiral."

Wants to educate citizens on the importance of local funding for schools and keep schools up to the yearly cost of living.

Believes increasing access to educational training by lowering tuition costs and expanding opportunities will allow for higher level businesses to locate within the County.

- Wants to educate citizens on the importance of local funding for schools and keep schools up to the yearly cost of living.
- Believes increasing access to educational training by lowering tuition costs and expanding opportunities will allow for higher level businesses to locate within the County.

As of June 14, 2024, Dale Blevins did not have a website or any information online.

Believes strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development.

Plans to seek out grants to "revitalize sewer, gas, and water systems."

- Believes strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development.
- Plans to seek out grants to "revitalize sewer, gas, and water systems."

Dale Blevins

As of June 14, 2024, Jan Hamilton did not have a website.

Jan Hamilton

INSURANCE NEWSNET, Candidates seek to govern county

Ballotpedia, Lee Ellis (Mitchell County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2024)

As of June 14, 2024, Lee Ellis did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes county budget increases over the past 4 years saying it is not sustainable, and said he "will make every effort to at least maintain the overall budget as long as possible...Our children deserve the same opportunities we have enjoyed."

- Opposes county budget increases over the past 4 years saying it is not sustainable, and said he "will make every effort to at least maintain the overall budget as long as possible...Our children deserve the same opportunities we have enjoyed."

Supports using available resources to fund all school levels.

Believes the county education system will face worker shortages.

- Supports using available resources to fund all school levels.
- Believes the county education system will face worker shortages.

Considers drug abuse the county's top issue, saying "We have an obligation to work on drug abuse on many levels."

- Considers drug abuse the county's top issue, saying "We have an obligation to work on drug abuse on many levels."

Wants the county to employ a full-time Level Three building inspector, as he believes that will contribute to economic growth.

- Wants the county to employ a full-time Level Three building inspector, as he believes that will contribute to economic growth.

Lee Ellis

Ron McKinney campaign post from the Mitchell County Democratic Party

As of June 14, 2024, Ron McKinney did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to address issues of property taxes, government transparency, and job opportunities for young people.

- Wants to address issues of property taxes, government transparency, and job opportunities for young people.

Wants to "protect the mountain way of life..."

- Wants to "protect the mountain way of life..."

Ron McKinney

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.