Democrat County Commission Candidates
Ervin Adams
KRVIN ADAMS of Revere is an In
cumbent seeking his sixth term as a
county commissioner. He was first
elected to two two-year terms in lAl
and 1972 and won re-election to four
year terms in 1*74, 1978 and 1982. He
has served several terms as chair
man of the county commission.
A Madison County native of the
Revere community, he is a graduate
of Laurel H.S. and a retired construc
tion worker. He is married to the
former Neple Norton and they have
two daughters. Sheila Barnhill and
June Gahagan. Both daughters are
teachers employed by the Madison
Comty school system.
Why are you running for re-election
to the county commission?
ADAMS: "I'm retired and got plenty
of time to fool with it. I like to serve
all the people, not just a few."
What can Madison County do to at
tract new industry and tourism?
ADAMS: "That's a hard question.
What would help more than anything
is improving the roads from Hot Spr
ings to the state line and from Laurel
to Greene County, Tennessee. That
would open up avenues that would
really help."
What can Madison County do to make
up for cutbacks in federal assistance?
ADAMS: "In the legislature they are
talking about raising another half
cent sales tax. That's about all we can
do. I'm opposed to raising taxes.
We'll have to use the half-cent sales
tax or cut back."
Would you support a school referren
dum for new school construction?
ADAMS: "Absolutely yes. I sup
ported it the last time. But they need
to have a plan to start with. We need
classrooms at Laurel, Hot Springs
and Marshall. You have to have a
plan in anything you go at. I've talked
to the board of education about a
school bond. They say, 'It failed
before and that's the end of it.'"
What county services need to be im
proved? Are there any services that
can be reduced?
ADAMS: "Everything needs to be
improved, but how do you do it? I
think Anita Davie does a wonderful
job with less county money."
What are the major accomplishments
of your adminstration in the past four
years?
ADAMS: "First, we've developed a
transportation program, the 40-unit
housing in Mars Hill and Section 8
housing assistance program.
"We brought Kenpak into the in
dustrial park and obtained a landfill
truck and equipment at no cost.
There are the six centralized garbage
collection centers and soon there will
be a new sewer line installed from
Madison Manor. We opened two new
senior citizen sites in Spring Creek
and Upper Laurel and a new day care
center in Upper Laurel And we've
begun tax mapping for the county
We also purchased two new am
bulances for the EMS and helped
Marshall and Mars Hill secure fun
ding for water and sewer projects
We also help bring Banner House into
Hot Springs."
Virginia Anderson
VIRGINIA ANDERSON of Hot Spr
ings is an incumbent seeking her
fourth term on the board of county
commissioners. A former chairman
of the Madison County Board of Elec
tions and Board of Education
member, she was first elected to the
county commission in 1974 and has
served as commission chairman.
A Madison County native, she
operates the Alpine Court Motel and
Trail Cafe in Hot Springs. She is mar
ried to Harold Anderson and they
have two daughters, Amy Anderson
of Mars Hill and Deana Goldstein of
A?heville. '
Why are you running for re-election?
ANDERSON: "I guess the main
reason is our having so many pro
grams that are vitally important for
all our citizens, from senior citizens
to day care. Being a native, I can sit
in my living room and see the house I
was born in. Anything I can do for the
citizens of Madison County- that's
reason enough for me to seek re
election."
How can Madison County make up for
cutbacks in federal assistance?
ANDERSON: "Either we'll feel the
cutbacks or we'll have to depend on
taking up the slack with the half-cent
sales tax or raise taxes which I am
opposed to because there's no other
source of revenue for the county."
Would you support a school referen
dum for new school construction?
ANDERSON: "Yes. And I hope
everyone would. I think we have a
good school program, but you don't
make progress by standing still. We
need to grow."
What can Madison County do to at
tract new industry and tourism?
ANDERSON: "Since I'm in the
tourist business, it's of great interest
to me. I'd like to work to continue the
road building program from the Old
Mill Wheel to the state line. We've
gotten assistance from the Asheville
Area Chamber of Commerce, but we
will also have to work with our state
representatives to attract new in
dustries here."
What county services need to be im
proved?
ANDERSON: "Certainly education. I
would also like to see more trash col
lection centers and improve our am
bulance service. We now have seven
day care and senior citizen centers
and services for the handicapped, but
they should be Expanded. The new
group home that will be built in Hot
Springs will help."
What have been the major ac
complishments of your administra
tion in the past four years?
ANDERSON: "We've developed a
transportation program for the coun
ty; built 40 units of public housing in
Mars Hill and brought Kenpak into
the industrial park. We're now in the
process of repairing the courthouse.
We developed a centalized system for
garbage collection and obtained land
fill equipment with funds from the
state at no cost to local taxpayers.
"Now we are helping Mars Hill and
Marshall with their water and sewer
problems and we've opened new
senior citizen meal sites in Spring
Creek and Upper Laurel. Plans are
now underway for a group home in
Hot Springs and we wre helpful in at
tracting Banner House to Hot Spr
ings."
Bobby Capps
BOBBY CAPPS of Mars llill is one
of three challengers in the
Democratic primary. Capps operates
the Capps Funeral Home in Mars Hill
and is active in youth programs
throughout the county. He is a
graduate of Knka U.S. and the Cincin
nati College of Mortuary Science. His
wife is the former l.ouedith Wiggins.
They have two sons; Todd. 13. and
Tim. 9.
Capps is a member of the Bethel
Baptist Church and the Bald Creek
Masonic l.odge No. 397 AF&AM.
Kditor's Note: Mr. Capps' answers
are taken directly from an advertise
ment which appeared in last week's
edition. Questions were submitted by
The News Kecord.
Why are you running for the county
commission?
CAPPS: "I am running for county
commissioner because I am concern
ed for Madison County and its future.
If elected, I will devote an honest and
trustworthy government to all
residents of Madison County. I am in
terested in Madison County schools,
bringing industry into our county and
making Madison an even greater
county in which to live. I will work to
keep any undesirables, such as the
nuclear waste site, out of our
county."
What can Madison County do to at
tract new industry and tourism?
CAPPS: "Attracting new industry
can be done by the following: We
need to have land prepared and ready
(or construction to start immediately
when an industry is ready to come to
Madison County. We need to consider
forming an Economic Development
Fund. We need to work closely with
the (A&heville Area} Chamber of
Commeroe. I feel that if we could
have a Madison County resident ap
pointed to the board of directors of
the Chamber of Commerce, it would
be beneficial in bringing industry and
tourism into the county.
Attracting tourism may be done by
the following: We need to work with
the Chamber of Commerce, print a
brochure of Madison County and
distribute it to chambers of com
merce and travel agencies in other
states, keep our air clean, keep our
rivers and streams clean and attrac- \
tive and keep our natural enviorn- ,
ment and scenery as beautiful as
possible."
How can Madison County make up for
cutbacks in federal assistance?
CAPPS: "Since I am not in office at
the present time, I do not know exact
ly what cutbacks have been made. I
Would take a good look at each ser
vice that Madison County has and
make every effort to make it self
supporting if possible."
Would you support a school referren
ium for new school construction?
CAPPS: "Senate Bill 431 states that
when the half-cent sales tax went into
effect in 1985, this bill was intended to
be used for public school construc
tion. Madison County was to receive
approximately $363,804 for the year
1985-86. Madison County schools
received $145,521, which is 40 percent
(of that amount.) This is the
minimum amount allowed by the
state.
I would vote to give the entire half
cent sales tax for school construction.
After this has been done and all
avenues have been taken to construct
schools and there is still a need, I
would support a referendum. I have
pledged to do everything possible for
our children. We must give our
children the best!"
What county services need to be im
proved? Are there any services which
can be reduced?
CAPPS: "I believe all services can be
improved. I don't (eel that any county
can say that all their services are ex
actly as they would desire them to be.
One of the services which I feel needs
improvements very much is our am
bulance service. I would work to
make this important service excep
tional.
"I am unable to say which, if any,
services can be reduced. I would
make my decision after giving a close
analysis of each service which could
be reduced and give my fair and
honest recommendation on each."
James Ledford
JAMKS T. I.KDKiUI) of Man llill is
an incumbent seeking his fifth term
as a county commissioner, lie was
first elected to a two-year term in
1972 and won re-election to four-year
terms in 1974. l97Hand 1982. lie is cur
rently the chairman of the commis
sion.
A native of Madison County, he is a
graduate of Mars llill II.S. and a
retired veteran of the U.S. Navy with
20 years service, lie is also chairman
of the Land of the Sky Kegional Coun
cil. Blue Kidge Mental Health Center
and Madison County Health Dept.
I.MIford is president of l^dford
Enterprises and operates three ser
vice stations in the Mars Hill area. He
is married to the former Nina
Balding and they have three
children: a daughter. Nina, and twin
sons! John and Michael.
UN
Why are you seeking re-election to
the county commission?
I.EDFOKD: "After returning from
the Navy in 1964, 1 opened a business
in Madison County. My business was
successful through the support of the
people. I was approached by in
terested Democratic officials to File
for the county commission. I ac
cepted with the understanding that I
would work for all the people, with no
strings attached. I won the election.
"Madison County has made pro
gress in industry, education and ser
vices to the people. We've opened day
care centers and services for the
elderly, made many road im
provements with the support of the
board of education, Social Services
board arid all the community develop
ment clubs, state and regional and
federal officials
"I feel like I have the experience
and confidence of the people to con
tinue to make progress in all levels"
What can Madison County do to make
up for cutbacks in federal assistance?
I.EDFORD: "The Madison County
budget has grown from $1.5 million to
$7.2 million since I have been in of
fice. We receive about $1.9 million
from Madison County taxes. In order
to make up for federal cuts, there is
only three ways to cut the budget. We
can cut personnel, raise taxes or com
pletely eliminate programs.
"I believe in evaluating all pro
grams and the county commission
then makes the decision on the proper
action to take. As long as I am on the
board, I will vote for the choice I
think is best for all the people, but I
assure you that the budget will be
balanced without raising taxes to a
rate where people can't pay it. I am a
taxpayer and work for the people.
"Madison County is in good, sound
financial condition. We can absorb
some of the cuts."
\
What can Madison County do to at
tract new industry and tourism?
I.EDFOKD: "Law enforcement,
education, roads, schools and en
viornment atract industry. All the in
dustry now located in Madison Coun
ty have come to Madison County in
the last 16 years. We have increased
our tax base to over $200 million by
bringing in new industry and housing.
Madison County belongs to the
Asheville Area Chamber of Com
merce. We have unpaid concerned
citizens working as volunteers to at
tract new industry to the county.
"We are working closely with the
N.C. Department of Commerce. We
have developed the industrial park
and new industry has located there.
We now have water and sewer on the
site.
"We need more clean industry. By
working with all the people, we will
get new industry. We have a good
lobor force, good schools and other
services. That attracts industry ."
Would you support a school referen
dum for new school construction?
LEDFOKD: "As you know, the
school board has to initiate a bond by
requesting one from the county com
missioners. The last time they called
for a bond referendum, the county
commission approved and actively
supported the school bond which
could have raised $2.5 million at five
percent interest at a 40 year payback.
The taxpayers of Madison County
voted against the bond.
"If the board of education requests
another bond referendum, I will sup
port it."
What county services need to be Im
proved?
LEDFOKD: "The Madison County
commissioners are striving to im
prove all county services. We need
improvement in our ambulance ser
vice, transportation and recreational
facilities."
What are the major accomplishments
of your adminstration in the past four
years?
LEDFORD: "Madison County has at
tracted two new industries in the past
four years. We've improved the am
bulance service and purchased the
old French Broad ELectric building
for the Dept. of Social Services.
"We've also approved two new fire
districts, purchased two river sites
for recreation, improved all county
services and opened new senior
citizen and day care centers in Upper
Laurel and Spring Creek.
"We constructed new housing in
Mars Hill and built a new elementary
school in Marshall. We helped both
the Greater Ivy and Upper Laurel
Community Development Clubs
develop new recreatkm fields and
reroofed both the old Ebb's Chapel
and Beech Glen school buildings ."
'
Reese Steen
v * < ; > ...
DR. REESE A. 8TEEN of Mare Hill
It a challenger la the Democratic
race far the three eonnty commission
seats. He practises dentistry la Mare
Hill. A graduate of the University of
NtMh Carolina and the UNCMmoI of
DentMr> 8tc-a is a former preaident
of the Mars Hill PTA and chaired the
Mare HIH Planning and Zoning Board
helor* resign in* la March.
H* and hla wife. Lynn, are
sate'trsr-r r
Inatin. t. McKenxie. 8. and Tlracy, 10
Why are you running for the county
commission?
STEEN: "My decision to run for the
county commission stems from a ge
nuine interest in making county
government more sensitive to the
needs of all the people Having lived
on both ends of the county, I want to
help unite everyone work
aU those in between
What can Madison County do to at
tract new Industry aad tourism?
STEEN: "We have depended on the
state and the Aahevtlle Chamber of
necessary to meet, entertain and
allow off our county and its people to
industrial proapects."
hlrl fh ^
to provide our children wim an educa
t ion equal to any other school system
in the state of North Carolina "
What can Madiaon County do to make
up for cutbacks in federal assistance?
us stretch our tax. dollar.
Volunteertsm and wise spending can
save us from higher taxes."
What county services need to I
proved? Are there say services which
caa he reduced?
Vv
STEEN "I sir going to try to