North Carolina Newspapers

Holden Beach To Elect New Mayor, Full Town Board Hoklcn Beach voters will elect a new mayor and all five members of the board of commissioners next Tuesday. The vote will give the coastal town its lirst mayoral change in six years and place at least tour new faces on the town board. Gay Atkins is the only incumbent commissioner vying lor a seal on the hoard. Gloria Barrett, Judy Bryan and Kenner Amos are not seeking re-election. Other town board candidates are Gil Bass, Donald Campbell. Diane Clark. Jim Fournier, Crawford Hart. Larry McDowell. David Sandifcr, James Shalor, Sid Swarts, Larry Vogt and Roger Williams. In the mayor's race, voters will choose between Boh Buck, a former town administrator who has served the last lour years as commissioner, or Wally Ausley. a retired broadcast executive. John Tandy, who has served as mayor since 1985 and previously served from ll>7() to ll>81. decided not to run for office again. All I J candidates for mayor and town board responded to question naires from The Brunswick Beacon. WALLY Al'SLKY Wally Ausley says his biggest challenge as mayor would be to as certain and as similate the ideas, goals and needs ol the res idents through personal con tact. Ausley said one of his most important re sponsibilities as mayor would be to conduct organized, well-planned lx>ard meetings to allow maximum input by commissioners in fonninn policies. The mayoral candidate also wants to help provide an environ ment in which the town manager can work w ithout interference to ex pedite town business. A homeowner at Holden Beach since 1955 and permanent resident lor nearly two years, Ausley said he's running for mayor to "return something to the town by serving as mayor and continuing the tradition ol excellent leadership provided by our three former mayors." Ausley said his leadership experi ence. outgoing personality and good old fashioned common sense" make him the most qualified candidate for mayor. He said the last 30 years of his broadcasting career was centered in Raleigh, allowing him to make friends statewide which would help if he was called on to deal with state, county and municipal leaders. Ausley was senior vice president and director of Durham Life Broadcasting from 1974 to 1991. He is past president of North Carolina s Broadcasters, served on the N.C. State University Chancellor's Advisory Council and has been appointed by three gover nors to serve on their inauguration committee. Ausley graduated from Lafayette High School and the University of North Carolina with a degree in ra dio. television and motion pictures ROBKRTSON W. "BOB" BUCK Bob Buck says fair and effective enforcement of all town ordi nances and im provement of town services for residents and visitors are the most impor tant issues the i^wn must ad Bl'CK dress in the next two years. The candidate also said he sup ports establishment of an effective wastewater management system. Buck said improving vehicle parking, beach access and beach swimming safety to better meet the needs of tourists is another priority. The two-term commissioner said he is seeking the mayor's post to continue his association with local government, and more specifically, to assist in the government of Holden Beach. He said his "understanding of municipal government and its rela tionships with county, slate and fed Rick Edwards Super Deals on affordable wheels '83 Cadillac Cimarron 4 dr., loaded with extras. A luxury economy car. $1 ,995. '82 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe A super price for a fine car. S2.595. Affordable Cars Bus Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte 754-9909 oral governments" makes him the belter candidate lor mayor. Buck was town administrator at Holden Beach from 1?>S I to P>S7 and has held municipal manage ment positions in Brevard, Hender son and New Smyrna Beach, Ha. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering front the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. (SAY M. ATKINS Cay Atkins says environmental protection and public safety are two of the priorities the town board should address in the upcoming term. "Our island. in order to pro tect its fragile "* environment. aikins must have a continued plan of de velopment that would allow the watchful eye for pollution of its ocean, canals and waterway," she said. Ms. Atkins said the safety of peo ple on the beach and streets is an other important issue. The planned sidewalks and new water rescue program should help make the tow n safer. The candidate said she thinks the current outside light ordinance al lows for adequate security lighting, but supports monitored access to the island from midnight to 5 a.m. She also said she would support special tax districts to provide for the dredging of canals, and addi tional spraying to control mosqui toes. Ms. Atkins, a self-employed real estate broker, has been serving on the town board since 1985. She said she is seeking re-elec tion because she cares for the peo ple and environment anil would like to offer her time to maintain tiie quality of life. Ms. Atkins said her six years ex perience on the town board makes her the most qualified candidate lor the position. Since she is the only incumbent commissioner running for the town board, Ms. Atkins said she would provide continuity for a new board. GUILFORD W. BASS SR. Gil Bass, a former commissioner, lists review of the outside lighting ordinance, organization and imple mentation of a wastewater manage ment program anil continuance of the underground wiring project as lop issues at Holden Beach. Bass said the light ordinance should be written to allow home owners to protect their property without bothering other people. He said the town board also needs to deter mine how a pro posed wastewa ter management program would work, how much it would cost and how it would be fi nanced. Bass said get ting all power bass and telephone cables underground will make the beach safer and more beautiful and will increase property values. He served as town commissioner from 1987 to 1989 and prior to that hail served two years on the town planning and zoning board. Bass said he is seeking election to serve the residents and home owners of Holden Beach and to help maintain the community's traditional family values. "1 have the ability to lix>k at all sides of an issue and to listen to what the people want for Holden Beach, and then vote according to how the people feel," he said. Bass, manager of Holden Beach Fishing Pier, received a bachelor's degree from Campbell University and a master's degree in education from N.C. Slate University. He did other postgraduate work ai the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Bass has served as president of the Greater Holden Beach Mer chants Association and as a trustee at the Holden Bcach Chapel. t Y A He has also sat on the board of directors of the Holden Beach Pro |vrty Owners Association and South Brunswick Islands Chamber of Commerce. DONALI) M.CAMPIIKLI. lX>n Campbell said taking the emphasis off special interests and improving public safety are two of the most important issues commis sioners must address in the coming term. Campbell said too much empha sis has been placed on special inter ests in lieu of long-term planning that would benefit the town. "1 am for compromise with spe cial interest groups instead of penal izing the entire town to make a lew people happy," he said. The political newcomer said he thinks it is "morally wrong" for someone to rent a house to a visitor without posting warnings about the dangers of swimming in the ocean, jogging in the street and overload ing septic systems. Campbell said he is running for office because he has "a perspective of Holden Beach that would provide an unshakable and solid support for the family beach atmosphere that is so cherished by old timers and new comers alike." He said the fact that he lives and works at Holden Beach anil sees things Unit help and hurt the town makes him the most qualified candidate for town board. CAMPBKIX Campbell, parts manager at Holden Beach Marina, graduated from Sumter High School in Sumter, S.C. He previously worked 17 years as coordinator of industrial and com mercial air conditioning sales for Trane Air Conditioning in eastern South Carolina. DIANE CLARK Diane Clark says protecting the public health, safety and welfare is the most important issue facing the town board. A former deputy town clerk and interim town manager at Holden Beach, she supports implementing a wastewater management program, lighting street intersections and building sidewalks and more beach accessways. Mrs. Clark encourages island beautification to enhance aes thetic quality and property values. She said the town should investigate fi nancial means to renourish the beach and start m curbsidc recy cling. C1ARK The first-time candidate said she is running for office to serve the community, represent the people and help maintain the desired fami ly atmosphere on the island. Mrs. Clark presently works as a real estate salesperson with Holden Beach Realty.She previously worked as a supervisor with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and served two two-year terms as president of a community association in Mary land. Mrs. Clark has a high school diploma and has taken several courses and seminars in business management, health insurance and real estate. JAMES A. FOURNIER Jim Fournier thinks fiscal respon sibility, improving the town's image and enforcement of ordinances and building codes are the most impor tant issues at Holden Beach. He said taxpayers' money de serves the most dedicated stew ardship. 1'hc last increase in water rates shouldn't have been needed, he said. Fournier says ^ "the past few jM|p years have been damaging to our KotRN1KR reputation as a responsible munici pality" and more deliberation is needed by the town board. I He said the town should not al low cigliilvdrooin houses when landowners only have four-bedroom septic Utnk [vrmits. R>urnicr said he is running lor office "to l ull ill my obligation to my adopted home town. to do my share to improve the quality ol life of Holdcn Bench residents." He said he has "no axe to grind, no ties to any special interest group and a desire to protect the overall environment of my last home." Founder has served as vice chair man of the Holdcn Beach Planning and Zoning Board, vice president of the Holdcn Beach Pro|x*rty Owners Association and co-chairman of the Heritage Harbor Property Owners Association. He has worked as director of pro duction services with Martin Mar ietta Corp., president of Ingram Ag gregates, general manager of Caro lina Sunrock and owner of Snclling Personnel. Founder attended Louis hurg College and East Carolina Un iversity. LARKY MCDOWKLL Larry McDowell said continuing the underground wiring project, dredging the canals and building a walkway and bike trail are the most important issues the town board should address in the next two years. McDowell is a teacher at West Brunswick High School and Brunswick Community College. He has a certi I icate in vocational cdu cation and graduated from Newport News Shipyard Apprentice School. McDowell said his II years teaching experience and ability to work with people make him the most qualified candidate. "I feel like I could help die peo ple on the beach to make it a better place to live," he said. "We need a lew things done, and I feel that I can represent the people very well " Sll) SWA HIS Sid S warts says control of density and fair enforcement of ordinances and codes arc two of the most im portant issues facing die town board. The candidate also said the board needs to focus on long-range im provements and problems. "Plans should be developed and followed. Issues do not need to be repeated year after year and never solved." Swarts said density needs to be managed because it creates prob lems with trail ic. parking, storm wa ter runolf, solid waste and wastewa ter disposal. He also said the town manager should be responsible for enforcing all regulations. "Any ordinance which is not in the best interest of die majority ol residents or which cannot be enforced should Ik changed." Swarts said he is running for commissioner "to ensure that Holdcn Beach develops in an orga nized manner and that desirable liv ing conditions are maintained and provided for all residents." He served six years on the plan ning and zoning f board, one year on the board of ? -w? ^ adjustment and ' \ * J\ J was appointed earlier this year to monitor the establishment of a wastewater management program. Swarts. a re \ SWARTS tired Army officer, received a bach elor of science degree from the University of Maryland and a mas ter's degree in business admin istration from Syracuse University. During his 27 years in die Army, Swarts was a company commander, division finance officer and comptroller. He also established and was first president of the Wilmington Swim League. DAVID K.SANDIKKR David Sandifer said waste man agement, public safety and fiscal re sponsibility are the three most im portant issues the town board needs to address over the next two years. Sandifer said the town's one-di mensional approach to sewage man agement is "irresponsible" ami alternatives must be considered. The candidate also saul the lown board has a responsibility to provide a si?lc environment, but has been re acting rather than planning. "Many of our lull-timc residents are retirees who have sivcial needs with regard to salety. he said. Sand iter said the town budget reads more like a "wish list" than a "needs list" and the frills should be cut out. "Raising tax es and water bills in addition to imposing an occupancy tax SANimKR should result m a tremendous amount of entitle ments lor our residents, but it doesn't." he said. A real estate broker anil owner ol Holden Beach Properties, Sandifer said he is a realist who lakes a "common sense approach" to solv ing problems and uses lairness as a guideline. "I have lived and worked in Hol den Beach for eight years and I love my town," he said. "Whether as a citizen or as a commissioner. 1 will work hard to see that growth is re sponsible, our environment is pro tected and our citizens arc sale and secure." Sandifer said he is seeking elec tion because he thinks the town leaders arc failing to guide Holden Beach into the 1990s. "Personalities rather than leader ship have been the standard," he said. "Our lown board needs to lead with a sense of duty anil responsi bility at this critical period in our lives as a town." Sandifer graduated from McLcn aghan High School in Florence, S.C., in 1961. He has previously worked as manager at the Aiken Coca-Cola Plant in Aiken, S.C. CRAWFORD HART JR. Crawford Hart says keeping Hol den Beach a family beach and es tablishing long-term plans and goals for the community are among the most important issues lacing the town board. To establish those goals. Hart said all current ordinances need to be reviewed, and the ones that are kept must lie cnlorccd. "For as long as I can remember 1 have griped about how the New England coastal beaches and towns were overdeveloped," he said. I would be a hypocrite for not trying to stop that same thing from hap pening to Holden Beach." Hart said he has attended most town meetings and some of the planning and zoning and board of adjust ment meetings since moving to Holden Beach in 19S9. The candi date presently serves on the board of adjustment and was ap pointed to oversee the town's recy cling program last November. A retired manufacturers represen tative and owner of H&H Associates, Hart graduated from Greenwich High School and re ceived degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Hartlord. Conn. He has served as a management /corporate officer and a trustee with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Hart was awarded the Scouter's Key in 1960 for work with the Boy Scouts. LARRY VOGT Larry Vogt said street lighting, re cycling and bcaulification arc among the most important issues the town board will face in the coming term. Vogt thinks street intersec ? lions along vix;T Ocean Boule vard should be lighted and the town '90 PLYMOUTH LASER RS AT. PS. PB, Tilt, Cruise Cassette $10,466 JONES FORD, l -800-832-5328 ? 754-4341 Hwy 1 7 N , Shallotte ? M-F 8-7, Sat 9-4 VOTE Larry McDowell For Holden Beach Town Commission i Paid for by the committee to elect Larry McDowell ^ SHAFOK should skirt a curbsiile recycling program. The (Hiliiical newcomer also says the board should work on beautih cation at public beach accesses build sidewalks and li*>k at ways ol renourishing the Ivach. Vogt said he is running lor town commissioner "to keep I loldcn Beach as a family beach and serve my community and its residents. He is president anil owner ol Carolina Steel Shelving Co. Vogt managed a multi-million dollar in dustrial distribution operation cov ering four state and involving 20 employees Iroin 1965 to I974>. JAMI S J. SHAFOR J ini Shaft* says dealing with wastewater management and im proving the town's communication with homeowners are the most im portant issues lacing the hoard ol commissioners. Shafor said the town needs to do its own in-depth study ol wastewa ter treatment and disposal us ing information gathered in two previous studies and other re ports to deter mine what is best for Holden Beach. With regard to communica tion, Shalor said the town "must provide complete explanations of all major issues, so the homeowners can make decisions based on knowledge and not on emotions." Shafor was appointed to the Hol den Beach Planning and Zoning Board as an alternate in 1990 and was named a regular member in July. "1 have a sincere interest in the growth as well as the preservation of Holden Beach," he said. 1 also feel that the time is right for some new and fresh ideas to help Holden Beach grow in the 1990s." Shafor is a retired teacher from Middletown, Ohio. He graduated from Hamilton High School anil the University of Dayton in Ohio and received his teaching certification from Miami University ol Ohio. He coached high school spv. for 25 years, served as assistant ath letic director and was manager ol student affairs in a large high school. KOCKK L. WILLIAMS Roger Williams said building a partnership, based on trust, between the town board and residents is the f| most important item commis sioners must ad dress in the next two years. He said the board Should w.i.uamn "make intelligent decisions in a timely manner always keeping an open line of communication be tween residents and the town com mission." Williams, who serves as chair man of the town's planning and zoning board, is running for ollice because he thinks he can "effective ly communicate the wishes of the residents of Holden Beach to the town commission." "I feel very strongly about the need for effective leadership on the Holden Beach Town Commission," he said. "I feel that, in conjunction with other members of town gov ernment, 1 can oiler this leader ship." Williams attended the University of South Carolina and works as re gional director of sales with Leatcx Chemical Co. AT SHALLOTTE POINT BRING HOME THEfiBEACON On Sale At VILLAGE MART VOTE WALLY AUSLEY YOUR MAYOR HOLDEN BEACH