Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Oct. 3, 1996, edition 1 / Page 11
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October 8, 1996 THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD VOTE ar 5 1996 & Candidate Willie Mcintosh did not respond RUBY ALEXANDER REPUBLICAN Kings Mountain JOE CABANISS REPUBLICAN Shelby L. RAY THOMAS REPUBLICAN Shelby ~ JOHN McBRAYER DEMOCRAT Shelby Page 1B JACK SPANGLER DEMOCRAT Lawndale Do you favor merger of the county’s three school systems? Why or why not? ALEXANDER - Because the three school systems are SO cooperative it would be best to leave the discussion of merger to the powers that be. CABANISS - We have three excellent school systems in Cleveland County. The citizens of each system elect a board to serve as trustees who direct the operation of the systems. The question of merger should be a joint decision of the elected offi- cials. THOMAS - At this particular time | am not in favor of merger of the three school systems in Cleveland County, especially since the Kings Mountain School system has raised SAT scores to some of the highest in the state. However, | do feel that. the state will some day mandate the merger of the three systems. McBRAYER - | think it will happen in the next few years but | would like to see a full study that it would save the county money, not an added expense. Don’t make change just for change. SPANGLER - | would not be in favor of forced merger unless it was by the state gov- ernment. Then we would have to merge. The citizens, taxpay- ers, of Cleveland County should make the decision for their chil- dren. Do you favor privatiza- tion of some services to save money? If so, which departments and why? j ALEXANDER - Privatization of janitorial services, kitchen for pro- viding food for jail and laundry for - jail has been accomplished. A study of the landfill, based on cost, has been made and it was discov- ered that it is presently operated cheaper by the county. However, some systematic approach should be made to see if money can be saved on other services. CABANISS - We have successfully privatized some county services, the food service for inmates of our jails, the cleaning service for our office buildings. These have been economical for our county. Other services being a possibility are services within our other departments. THOMAS - Yes, | think privatization of the jail sys- tems would be a great sav- ings for the county and would let the sheriff's department do a better job at protecting the citizens of Cleveland County. DSS is another place that privatization could save the county money. McBRAYER - It would have to be proven to me that it would save money before | would agree to privatize. Change is not always better. SPANGLER - I'm always in favor of saving tax dollars if it would be beneficial to the citi- zens and didn’t affect the quality of services we pay for. At this time | know of no department that privatization would benefit. This is something that would have to be evaluated after | am elected. Are county property taxes too high? Are our tax dollars being used wisely by the current administration? ALEXANDER - Of course all of us would like to pay less taxes. However, much of the county’s tax dol- lars is mandated by state and federal governments, schools, mental health and social services. Commissioners have discre- tionary spending on only 18 percent of tax dollars. taxes are always high when we pay. However, the taxes are a direct result of the county services. A great CABANISS - Property requests of our citizens for majority from tax dollars are used wisely for education, public safety and human services. THOMAS - | think the county’s tax base is about right and is in line with other counties our size in the state. Monies should be appropriated to each ceunty department to ensure that every dollar collected in taxes is being spent so that every taxpayer and business is receiving a true value for each dollar. -McBRAYER - Property taxes, | believe, are too high and could be adjusted with proper studies. | feel some adjustments should be made | by the county commissioners on spending tax dollars. SPANGLER - Taxes are always too high. | feel too much money has been spent on more than one lawsuit. Some could have been avoided, among other things. The county needs a shot in the arm in eco- nomic development. What will you do as an elected official and Jwhat is you goal for the county’s future as we approach a new century? ALEXANDER - The Economic Development Commission is tak- ing a step in a positive direction by recommending an industrial park to be established by the county. Some investors have indicated a willingness to build a spec build- ing. This will allow Cleveland County to be presented in a broader spectrum for industrial development. CABANISS - We as a county must continue our efforts to encourage eco- nomic development. We must support and assist our Economic Development Commission in order to sup- port our existing industries and recruit new industry. THOMAS - As an elected commissioner | would like to sit on the Economic Development Board to make sure the board is aggressive in seeking our new businesses to locate in Cleveland County. We must have economic development to ensure jobs and the quality of life for a better future for all citizens of our communities and county. McBRAYER - My goal would be for water and sewer systems to attract new industries to Cleveland County. Ways to accomplish this would be to advertise in major cities and other counties with the help of industrial real estate. Give equal tax packages for Cleveland County that are offered in the eastern part of the state. Companies look at tax breaks, land cost and major interstates. SPANGLER = Take an active} role in recruiting new business, small or large to all parts of the county. Work to improve serv- ices and to get new ones, so that Cleveland County could and would be able to provide and grow for generations. How do you feel about the county’s agreement with the NAACP to appoint two minority commissioners to the board? ALEXANDER - It does not seem politically correct to appoint anyone to an elective office unless it is to fill an unexpired term. However, | do have much respect for the two placed on the board. CABANISS - The appoint- ment process used to appoint commissioners to serve beyond the election year 1996 was unfair to the voters of Cleveland County. The Limited Voting Procedure for:1998 should be repealed. THOMAS - | disagree with the appointment of the two minori- ties to the board of commission- ers. | think it is unconstitutional to appoint anyone to the board. Everyone should be elected to serve. Orientals, Spanish Americans and other minorities should also have appointments if the court order stands. McBRAYER - The two appointments of commission- ers were done by a judge in Washington, DC and some county commissioners. Right or wrong, it is now fact. The two appointed commission- ers are doing a good job. | was satisfied with this and | SPANGLER - | voted for dis- | trict representation when | was a commissioner. The NAACP feel this is the way it should have been. The citizens should vote for their representatives. off Do you support a Cleveland County Industrial Park? Why or why not? ALEXANDER - Cleveland CABANISS - Our county County needs an industrial park to compete with neighboring counties who already have such parks and are recruiting new industries. Corporations want the amenities and security afforded in an industrial park. The annual tax revenues received from new industries would benefit all of Cleveland County. should continue the efforts to establish an industrial park. We must be competitive in our methods in attracting new industry. | prefer private enterprise have an opportu- nity to develop a park. However, should this fail to occur, local government must provide. THOMAS - | have always favored/supported a business park, even before the idea made the front page of the newspaper. | would prefer for the county to pursue private financ- ing of the project a little more vigorously. | think the avenue had a chance if we had not moved so quickly. If private money is used, the park would locate wherever the investors want. If we are gong to use tax dollars to finance the park then we should locate the park in an area that benefits Cleveland County the most. McBRAYER - | would support several industrial parks if water and sewer were available if the taxpay- ers are behind this approach. It goes without saying that we need industry in Cleveland County to sup- ply jobs and tax dollars for success. SPANGLER - An industrial park could be an asset in the right location. More jobs, more tax base and a better quality of life for the citizens. What do you consider the biggest challenge facing you as commissioner? {for them shows just how impor- ALEXANDER - Economic development is the biggest chal- lenge facing Cleveland County. More than 1100 jobs have been lost in the county since 1992. This, plus the more than 6,000 who leave the county each day because of lack of suitable jobs tant is the task of a planned eco- nomic growth. CABANISS - Serving as a commissioner is very chal- lenging. Our board of com- missioners must function as a board. We must be very resourceful and responsive to our citizens. THOMAS - The greatest challenge would be to get all the new commission- ers moving in the same direction for the benefit of county government. We need to recognize and respect each others ideas. To put it in simple terms: Put some common sense back into county government. We need to listen to the people of Cleveland County. We also need to move forward with progress and enterprise for all the taxpayers of the county. We owe this to our citizens and businesses. McBRAYER -To meet the taxpayers needs and use the money wisely. Never take no for an answer until we have new industry in Cleveland County. SPANGLER - Law enforce- ment, education and jobs are our biggest challenges. A clean safe place for our citizens to enjoy the good life. If you have these things everything else falls into place. Why do you think vot- ers should vote for you for one of the three seats open on the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners? ALEXANDER -Working on county committees and Cleveland Tomorrow for the past five years, in particular, has presented a new outlook for all of Cleveland County. Our county is des- tined for growth. | would like to be an instrument to establish a planned growth pattern so that our children and grand- children will be able to continue living and working and playing in an environ- ment where the quality of living is at its best. | present myself as being qualified, willing and able to work for all of Cleveland County as a commissioner. CABANISS - My years of experi- ence as a leader in business, civic, religious and family life in Cleveland County will be of value to me as | serve as a commissioner. Having served as a commissioner previ- ously and as chairman this will allow me to use effectively this additional experience. THOMAS - | have a strong interest in Cleveland County's future and would like to give something back to the community that has been so good to me. | want to do everything | can to encourage eco- nomic development and expansion in our county. | will work with the law enforce- ment department to see they have the resources to work on crime and drugs. | will certainly work with the Board of Education to a make sure our children receive the best education possible. But most of all | will work hard at putting common sense back into county government. McBRAYER - | have a broad base in industry, management and owning my own business. | have actively worked with 911 for new road signs. | worked with the County Manager and commission- ers to obtain a federal grant for additional law enforcement inthe county which has been approved. | would work to make Cleveland County a better place to live. ‘ _- | SPANGLER - | will serve the wishes of the people and represent all. | have the experience, knowledge and time to devote to this position. pw
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Oct. 3, 1996, edition 1
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