Eiaht Candidates
C7
Candidates for the District 3 scat
on the Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners have a wide range
of concerns they are taking before
voters.
Three Democrats and five Repu
blicans arc vying for the seat held by
Gene Pinkcrton of Long Beach, who
chose not to run for re-election.
District 3 includes the Southport
Oak Island community and north to
Bolivia.
Republican Joseph Tyler Lcnins
of Long Beach did not respond to
The Brunswick Beacon's candidate
questionnaire.
Voters who are registered as
Republican or Independent can vote
in the Republican primary. The
Democratic primary is open to regis
tered Democrats only.
The winners of the two primaries
will face each other in the
November election.
Democratic Concerns
The three Democrats include a
former county commissioner, Way
land Verecn of Yaupon Beach, who
wanLs responsible spending and
holding the line on taxes.
"Our 10-year tax revaluation is
coming up," said Verecn. "I have
served during an evaluation and be
lieve my experience could be of ser
vice to the county. I know an in
house evaluation would be less ex
pensive to the county."
Vereen says people need a voice
in new zoning laws and that the
county needs to do more to recycle
and to protect natural resources.
The 1986 revaluation wasn't fair,
said Bob Thoreen of Southport, who
also wants the work done in -house.
The retired real estate instructor
wants to reduce unemployment.
"That is ridiculous for us to ac
cept such a tragedy." said Thorscn.
"We're not doing something right.
There is an answer. We need to en
courage local business development
as a start."
Small businesses arc overbur
dened with regulations and exces
sive fees, he said.
"It is exasperating just to apply
for a permit to build a simple stor
age shed," said Thorsen. '"Hie next
round of regulations for clam and
oystermcn will probably require a
Rent- A- John and walk -in freezer on
the stern of his leaky skiff."
Mark Sharpe, a Long Beach pa
trol commander, has three goals: to
improve education, to help battle the
crime rate and to stop overspending.
llic county needs to "prepare our
schools for the 21st century by up
grading the process of learning for
our children," he said.
Residents need to work togctncr
to support local law enforcement, he
added. "As your commissioner, I
would work hard to see that your tax
dollar is spent wisely," he said, "and
not on foolish pet projects."
Republicans Battle
Bob SkvkcU, one of ihc five
Republican hopefuls, now serves on
the Brunswick County Board of
Education.
"1 want quality progress in Bruns
| CANDIDATES RUNNING .
?
Name: William
R. (Bob) Thor
sen
Age: 64 g
Address: South
port
Party: Demo
crat
Occupation:
Retired, U.S.
Air Force; re
ared N.C. Dc- thorsen
partment of Transportation, ad
ministration; retired real estate in
structor
Family: Wife Lenna A. Thorsen.
four children
Education: Bachelor's in history.
University of Colorado, 1969; cer
tified accounting and finance.
King's Business College, 1949;
training in management and ad
ministration, UNC-Wilmington,
1972; U.S. Air Force training at
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, computer science,
1956-60
Previous Experience: Squthport
alderman, 1981-89; Southport
Planning Board, 1977-80, chair
man, 1979; Downtown and Wa
terfront Revitalization Committee;
Southpon Wastewater Treatment
Plant Committee; Commissioner
on N.C. Eastern Municipal Power
Agency, 1982-89; Power Agency
Research and Development Com
mittee, chairman; Power Supply,
Rate and Negotiating Committee;
U.S. Air Force, 1950-70; real es
tate school owner/instructor 1 973
88; real estate instructor Bruns
wick Community College; Scout
master 1960-68; VFW Post com
mander, special events chairman,
N.C. Fourth of July Festival, 1971
Name: M.E. (Mark) Sharpe
Age: 33
Address: Long Beach
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Patrol commander,
Long Beach Police Department
Family: Wife Donna J. Sharpe,
two children
Education: Alexander Central
High, 1977; 2,000 hours police
training
Previous Experience: Long
Beach Parks and Rccretion Ad
visory Board, chairman; Fraternal
Order of Police Lodge 53 trustee;
Brunswick Community College
Basic Law Enforcement Training
Advisory Board
OName: Steven
H. Foster
Age: 41
Address:
Long Beach
* ? Party: Repub
lican
Occupation:
Trial court ad
ministrator,
13th Judicial
FOOTER Dlstnct
Family: Wife Robin Ann Schuster
Education: Master's in public ad
ministration, Appalachian State
University, 1976; bachelor's in po
litical science, Appalachian Stale
University, 1972; certified munici
pal administrator, UNC-Chapel Hill
Previous Experience: Executive
director Southport-Oak Island
Chamber of Commerce; Long
Beach town manager 1982-85;
Mint Hill town manager, 1974-76
Name: Way
land Vcrcen
Age: 57
Address:
Yaupon Bcach
Party: Demo
crat
Occupation:
Self-employed
merchant and
propane gas -
dealer vkreen
Family: Wife Linda Peterson Ve
reen, three children
Education: Hallsboro High
School; U.S. Navy; bachelor's
from RCA Institute: field engineer
work and government service
Previous Experience: Yaupon
Bcach town commissioner; N.C.
Social Services Commission, six
years; governor's appointee to
N.C. Marine Fisheries Com
mission; Brunswick County Com
missioner, 1978-82; Ocean View
United Methodist Church member,
33 years
Name: Wil
liam (Bill) Sisk
Age: 56
Address: Long
Beach
Party: Re
publican
Occupation:
Sergeant, Long
Bcach Police
Department
sisk Family: Wife
Shirley L. Sisk, lour children
Education: Gaslon College, po
lice science; attended Fruit kind
Baptist College
Previous Experience: line serge
ant; detective sergeant; criminal
investigator
Name: Bob Slocketl
Age: 68
Address: Yau
pon Beach
Party: Republ
ican
Occupation:
Retired re
search chemist,
Du Pont Co.
Family: Wife
Jacqueline,
four children SLOCKETT
Education: Master's, Temple
University, 1966; bachelor's, Tu
lane University, 1952
Previous Experience: Member
Brunswick County Board of Educ
ation; president Parent Teachers
Assoc., 1970; chairman, adminis
trative board (1987-90) and presi
dent ,( 1986-89) United Methodist
Men, of Ocean View United Met
hodist Church; U.S. Naval pilot,
World War II veteran
Name: Tom Yeagle
Age: 67
Address: Bo
livia
Party: Re
publican
Occupation:
Retired, U.S.
Air Force
Family: Wife
Rosa Lee Yea
gle, one child
Education: yeagle
University of Maryland, engineer
ing training; high school graduate
Previous Experience: Flight engi
neer, U.S. Air Force, 30 years;
crew management, supervisor
DISTRICT 3 COMMISSIONFRS
Outline Wide Ronne Of
wick C'ouniy," said Slockctt, "in the
areas of residential, industry, busi
ness and educational growth."
New industries can keep ton high
school graduates from leaving for
other areas of the suite or country,
he said.
Other concerns arc finding ways
to improve area waters and waste
disposal methods. His experience in
industrial environmental matters
will help "in seeking creative and ef
fective solutions to these problems,"
he said.
Commissioners need to commu
nicate and work closer with the
school hoard, said Slockctt, who has
worked on a proposed science and
math teaching center, a joint effort
of the schools and Brunswick
Community College.
"Improvement of education of our
children is critical," he said, "and
complete community involvement is
needed."
Education also concerns Steve
Foster of Long Beach, who believes
unemployment, land use planning,
solid waste disposal and recycling
arc other important issues.
"I would work in a cooperative
fashion with the school system,"
said Foster, "and in return expect a
quality education for every child in
the Brunswick County School svs
tern.
Unemployment causes the county
to spend more on social programs,
he said.
The county needs an innovative
and motivated program for econom
ic development, he said.
"When the current recession
ends," said Foster, "Brunswick
County has lo be on the leading
competitive edge lo compete for
new, clean, non-polluting indus
tries."
Land use planning prepares the
county for new roads, water system
expansions, erosion control projects
and new boating facilities while pro
tecting against radioactive waste dis
posal sites and medical waste incin
erators, he said.
Tom Ycaglc of Bolivia, a retired
U.S. Air Force engineer, said if
elected he would listen to the peo
ple, push for water expansion and
recruit industry.
"When water gets too expensive
to put in," said Ycaglc, "and peopie
turn it down because of the cost,
something is wrong. I don't think
they have a countywide water pro
gram as it exists."
Yeagle said he has watched taxes
increase but has seen no increase in
services.
"I have been covering the meet
ings for the past 10 years." he said
"I don't approve of all the things
they do."
There is something wrong when a
private, for-profit firm can work
cheaper than county employees, he
said, in reference to a county trash
disposal contract.
If elected. Bill Sisk of Long
Beach said he would work to recruit
new industry, use conservative
spending methods and try to make
the future brighter for youths.
Issues Sisk said he would focus
on include land use regulation, im
proved education, countywide recy
cling, public acccss for boater;, no
higher taxes, fire and rescue service
and law enforcement.
The Long Beach police sergeant
believes tax dollars arc spent unnec
essarily. He is concerned about the
"future growth of the county and the
future of our youth." The county
needs to create recreation and pro
vide employment for young people,
he said.
Who's Qualified?
Sisk says he is seeking the scat to
provide "representation for the peo
ple of Brunswick County." He says
his concern for the future of the
county makes him qualified.
Ycaglc said he wants to take
county government "back to serving
the people of Brunswick County.
With some help, this can be accom
plished."
Foster said his experience in lo
cal government infrastructure plan
ning and business makes him quali
fied to run.
"I know how difficult it is to suc
cessfully operate a business," he
said. "My parents chosc to retire
here in 1980, and I personally know
many retirees from all parts of
Vote Senator
$ SOLES
Concerns Before Vofs
Brunswick County and arc sensitive
to their concerns."
Slockctt said an ability to exploit
his nxnp.rip.nre in industrial, cdnca
tional and community matters
makes him most qualified.
"Rut first, I will listen," Slockctt
said. "That is my mission."
Sharpc said he has spent his ca
reer working for the citizens of his
community, "and I feel that it is time
that the hard-working people hail a
voice in local government."
Many people asked Vercen to
run he said "If elected. ! \vi!! serve
to the best of my ability," he added
Thorsen said he is retired and has
the time and talent to get the job
done.
"I am experienced in doing the re
search, developing the plans and
coming prepared to do the public's
business," he said.
County Polls Open Early
Polls open Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 am. in 22 county precincts for vot
ing in local, state and national primaries.
The polling places are as follows:
Precinct Polling Place
Shinglctrec Calabash VFD
Grisscttown Sea Trails Building
Ash Waccamaw Comm. Bldg.
UnwilnnH Y4\rrtl<"* W tnr? P
* "
Longwood Koiand Gore Store
Frying Pan N.C.N.G. Armory, Shallottc
Shalloue Shallottc VFD
Secession 1 Lock wood Folly Comm. Bldg.
Secevssion 2 Bellamy's Net Shop
Supply Supply VFD
Mosquito Sunset Harbor VFD
Bolivia Bolivia Town Hall
Boiling Spring Lakes BSL Rescue Squad Bldg.
Oak Island 1 Caswell Beach Town Hall
Oak Island 2 Long Beach
Southport 1 Jaycee Bldg.
Southport 2 ....American Legion Bldg.
Town Creek Town Creek Park
Bclville DOT Maintenance Bldg.
Woodburn Navassa Town Hall
Lcland Lcland Comm. Bldg.
Hood Creek Hood Creek Comm. Bldg.
FOR COUNTY
COMMISSIONER
(919)278-5762
As a retired Research Chemist and Chemical
Plant Technical Director, I will seek Creative and Effective answers to all
county problems - but. first. I 'will I isten - That is my Mission. "
BOB
SLOCKETT
fcLECT
Tom Simmons
Brunswick County
Commissioner
?LEADERSHIP FOR TODAY
?VISION FOR TOMORROW
IV? THf HH ^SvMCK EfACON
m
WILLIAM "BILL" SISK
District 3 County Commissioner
Republican
A man who will listen to the people with representation for all.
?Age: 55
?Married 39 years
?4 children, 3 grandchildren
?Served U.S. Air Force (Honorable Discharge)
?Education: 2 years community college (Gaston Cty.)
1 year Fruitland Baptist College (Hendersonville)
?Police officer for 31 years. Presently Sergeant Line Supervisor, Long
Beach Police Department
?Owner of Oak Island Bait and Tackle Shop and commercial fishing boat
charter service.
?Western Union agent -Shriner *Mason -Elk
Concerned About... Support For...
The future of our youth Education-money is not the answer to the problem I
Unemployment in our county Our Sheriff's Department-to fight crime and drugs
Unnecessary SDendina of our tax dollars
j i \j I
Against: Higher taxes For: Bringing in new industry for jobs for our people S
Issues We Must Face: Land Use Regulations, Education, Waste Disposal, Recycling
County-Wide, Public Access to the Water, Boat Docks, No Tax Increase, Fire & Rescue, Law
Enforcement, Reduce Crimes, Decrease Number of People on Welfare, Provide Jobs
Commitment to the people of Brunswick County. Vote and support me.
*