DISTRICT 4 COMMISSIONERS
Five Vying For Rabon's Seat
Say County Needs More Jobs
Brunswick County needs to work
harder at recruiting new industry and
jobs, say candidates for the District
4 seal on the Brunswick County
Board of Commissioners.
Three Democrats and two Repub
licans arc hoping to replace incum
bent Frankic Rabon of Town Creek,
who chose not to run for re-election.
Although C. Lcphus Pigott of
Shallotte previously dropped out of
the race, his name will still appear
on the Democratic ballot. District 4
is the largest district by area, stretch
ing from Ash to Town Creek.
Recruiting new jobs for Brans
wick County is the lop issue for
three candidates who listed educa
tion, taxes, solid waste management,
sewer and water needs and coopera
lion between paid and volunteer res
cue services as other key concerns.
"This (business) expansion should
provide jobs for our citizens and an
increased tax base for the county."
said Tom Rabon Sr.. a Winnabow
real estate broker.
He believes the board can better
address the county's problems and
provide crucial services to residents
thai need them. Commissioners
must give financial leadership to but
demand accountability from the
Board of Education, he said.
"We must, however, never lose
sight of the taxpayer," said Rabon,
"and make sure that tax money is
used in the most fair and efficient
way."
Children represent the county's
largest resource and need the best
education they can receive, said
Patricia Young, a self-employed
Winnabow businesswoman.
"Then we need to have employ
ment here in the county for them,"
she added.
Smaii businesses need tax breaks
and the. county needs to work harder
at attracting new industry, said Ms.
Young, who is also concerned about
how tax dollars are being spent ami
the accountability of county depart
ment heads.
Tom Simmons, an educator from
Boiling Spring Lakes, agrees that
commissioners need to do more to
bring in new jobs. He's concerned
about the county's solid waste man
agement program and lack of confi
dence in elected officials.
"We must develop safer, cieaner
Three Democrats Seek Register Of Deeds Post
Incumbent Register of Deeds
Robert Robinson faces two chall
engers in next Tuesday's Demo
cratic primary.
Edward F. Mintz of Bolivia and
Grace Beasley of Leland are chal
lenging Robinson for the elected
county post he lias held since 1980.
Robinson cites office improve
ments during his tenure as a reason
he should be re-elected, while his
opponents say record retrieval in the
office needs to be made simpler for
the public.
The winner of the Democratic pri
mary will face Republican Arthur
Name: Grace Beaslcy
Age: 54
Address: Lcland
Occupation: self-employed, real estate management
Family: husband Lemmuel (deceased), two children
Educntion: Penderlea High School, Preferred
PtPionncl Management, N.C. Institute of Govern
ment courscs
Previous Experience: Brunswick County Commis
sioner 1984- 1990 (former chairman), Southeastern
Mental Health Center Board, Lower Cape Fear beasley
Water and Sewer Authority Board, PTA president, church offices, public
relations and TV coordinator for United Cerebral Palsy Telethon, 1980
1983
Name: Edward F. Mintz
Age: 51
Address: Bolivia
Occupation: Car sales, Ocean City Chevrolet; for
mer teacher and former owner of Mintz Chevrolet
Family: wife Diana, two children
Education: B.A., business administration, East
Carolina University
Previous Experience: Former Bolivia town alder
man and Brunswick County Resources Development
Commission member, officer and member of various
automobile dealer associations; Bolivia Lions Club,
South Brunswick High School advisory board and
Cougar Club president
Name: Robert J. Robinson
Age: 39
Address: Supply
Occupation: Brunswick County Register of Deeds
Family: Single, two children
Education: King College, Randolph Technical Col
lege, N.C. Institute of Government courses
Previous Experience: Register of Deeds since 1980,
vice chairman of Brunswick Democratic Party in
1974, served as officer in N.C. Association of
Register of Deeds
waste management programs," said
Simmons. "We have to stop pollut
ing the air and poisoning our land."
Several candidates say they plan
to hold the line on taxes and county
spending if elected. Jo Ann Bellamy
Simmons, a businesswoman who
lives in Ash, said she'd devote time
to solid waste management and wa
ter expansion.
She would "work to get water to
those that are in need at the least
possible cost" and also "look for
grants that might be available" to
help keep those costs down.
"1 want to be sure we are going in
a direction that will not buidcn the
people," said Ms. Simmons.
Water expansion is the top con
cern for Gene Sellers, a licensed
building contractor from Supply. He
believes the county should start a
sewer system and work in full coop
eration with volunteer rescue work
ers. As a volunteer, he has helped
the county implement its 911 pro
gram.
Rabon said his experience in busi
ness and goverment as a retired
postal worker qualifies him to repre
sent District 4.
"I believe Brunswick County sils
at a crossroads," said Rabon. "We
can either go forward or backward. I
believe that 1 have the vision to
move this county forward by provid
ing economic opportunity for all of
its citizens."
Having owned and operated a
business since 1976, Ms. Young
said she knows what it means to
govern spending. Her goal is to
"represent the people of Brunswick
County, since I am one of them."
Ms. Simmons said she will use
political knowledge she gained from
her grandfather, Raymond Bellamy,
"who told me to always care about
ilic people," she said, "i want any
decision I make to be influenced by
the people."
A life-long resident. Sellers said
he wants better county government.
"1 have worked throughout the
county and 1 enjoy working with
people," he added.
Simmons, an assistant elementary
school principal, said he believes he
has the leadership skills needed to
"find solutions for today's problems
and the visionary thinking necessary
foi planning for the future."
Knox of Bolivia in the November
general election.
All three Democratic candidates
responded to a Beacon questionn
aire, with their answers included be
low.
Grace Beasley
The former county commissioner
said she's running for office becausc
she has a combination of experience
in government operation and bud
geting and an appreciation of the
level of service required by the pub
lic.
"1 can provide both fiscal and op
erational leadership for the officc,"
Ms. Beasley said.
Making record retrieval as simple
as possible for the public is among
the top issues she said the register of
deeds must address in the upcoming
term. Other priorities should include
relating office operations to assist
the county's Geographic Informa
tion System (G.I.S.) mapping de
partment and becoming active in the
register of deeds office operations.
Ms. Beasley said she has the
"most relevant combination of gov
ernment service and private business
experience" which is needed to op
erate the office efficiently and in a
manner that is responsive to the pub
lic.
ltd ward F. Mintz
Mintz says balancing the budget
by ensuring that revenues exceed
expenses is one of the most impor
tant issues the register of deeds must
address in the coming term.
The candidate also said he would
strive for a more user-friendly com
puter system to make information
more accessible to the average per
son.
"1 would be in strong support of
any cost effective changes which
would help eliminate waste," said
Mintz.
The former Bolivia alderman said
he's running for register of deeds
bccause he wants to "serve the peo
ple of Brunswick County in a more
efficient, professional and sound fis
cal manner."
Mintz, who received a business
administration degree from East
Carolina University, owned Mintz
Chevrolet in Bolivia from 1969 to
1990.
"My background in business with
experience in financial management,
budgetary and overall fiscal respon
sibility will equal more competence
in the office of register of deeds," he
said.
? ?wvvi ? ? nut/ iii,n/>i
Robinson, who was first elected
in 1980 and rc-clccicd in 1984 and
1988, says he is running again so he
can continue to improve the county
officc.
"Our innovations and achieve
ments in records management are
now setting new standards for regis
ter of deeds offices across the stale,"
Robinson said. "We have and want
to continue to make this officc a
success."
He lists records management as
the top issue the register of deeds
must address during the next four
years.
"Because the environment in
which the register of deeds functions
is so dynamic, it is vital that he re
main current in the field to ensure
that new developments in records
and information management may
be appropriately applied," he said.
Robinson, who is certified by the
N.C. Association of Registers of
Deeds and the N.C. Institute of
Government as a register of deeds,
lists credibility as another important
issue.
"The office is a place of knowl
edge (records), it's not a place for
trial and error," he said. "As register
of deeds you have only one chance
to record and it must be right or re
main wrong forever."
? ? ' ? P'; r : " . I
"Senator Soles is a real person, not one of the
smooth, fast talking politicians... 24 years of
service isn't something to toss away."
Check The Record It Speaks For Itself
MAKE A COMMITTMENT TO A BETTER NORTH CAROLINA
VOTE SENATOR R.C. SOLES
Paid for by the Committee to re-elect Sen R.C Soles Jr
Vote Senator
tiC SOLES
? One of the top 7 most effective senators, according to
independent polls
? Served 24 years on the Senate Agricultural Committee
i
? Working to bring more better paying job*; to our citizens
? Committed to excellence in education for all our children
"A Powerful Voice
For The People Of
North Carolina."
CANDIDATES RUNNING.
Name: Tom B. Rabon Sr.
Age: 62
Address: Winnabow
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Real estate broker,
retired posunasici
Kducation: High school, business school
Family: Wife Lois K. Rabon,
three children
d Sr? Previous Experience: Former member
ABON wjclc Qounty Social Services Board,
County Board of Elections, Dosher Hospital Board of Trustees
of Bruns
Brunswick
Name: Tom Simmons
Age: 49
Address: Boiling Spring Lakes
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Assistant principal. Union Primary
Education: Master's in education. University of
South Carolina, 1987; bachelor's in physical educa
tion, UNC-Wilmington, 1971
Family: Wife Janis Simmons, two sons
Previous Experience: Boiling Spring Lakes town
commissioner, mayor pro- tern; state board of direc
tors for N.C. Association of Educators; Democratic
nominee for county commissioner, 1988; appointed
to governor's task force on school improvement, "North Carolina 2000'
Name: Jo Ann Bellamy Simmons
Age: 55
Address: Ash
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Self-employed businesswoman
Kducation: Shallotte High School Graduate.
Family: Five children
Previous Experience: None
SIMMONS
Name: Patricia (Patty) Young
Age: 44
Address: Winnabow
Party: Republican
Occupation: Self-employed businesswoman
Education: T.C. Roberson High School, Skyland,
1966
Family: Husband David Young, four children
Previous Experience: Member, board of trustees.
The Brunswick Hospital
y YOUNG
Name: W. Gene Sellers
Age: 63
Address: Supply
Party: Republican
Occupation: Licensed building contractor
Education: Shallotte High School, 1957
Family: Wife Emily Kirby Sellers; son. Wall, 13
Previous Experience: Past president Brunswick Fire
and Rescue Association; past president Supply Vol
unteer Fire Department; assistant scoutmaster Boy
Scout Troop 287; past president Supply-Shallotte
skllkrs Dixie Youth; R.A. counselor and past R.A. director
Brunswick Baptist Assoc.
BELLAMY SIMMONS
COMMISSIONER
Building A Better Brunswick County
SECURITIES AMERICA, INC.
1 8 Resort Plaza
Shallotte
Member NASD/SIPC
Richard C. Glenn
PO Box 2865
Shallotte, NC 28459
(919)754-6771
" Striving for
an open ,
accountable
government
for the
citizens of
Brunswick
County
?COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS:
Review county's strengths nnd weaknesses and to take
appropriate actions.
?HEALTH: Health insurance, septic tanks, county
water system, county wide sewer system.
?CRIME: How to control it, improvement in law
enforcement.
?COUNTYWIDE LIBRARY - WASTE DISPOSAL
?ENVIRONMENT -FIRE DEPARTMENTS:
Volunteer vs. County System, safety inspections
?ADVISORY BOARDS: Review & terminate
unneeded boards.
ill
BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Rt. 1 Box 209, Bolivia, N.C. 28422
(919)842-9545
Paid for by iho candidate