Candidates seek to govern county

As Mitchell County gears up for local primary elections, the community's focus sharpens on the candidates vying for positions on the Board of Commissioners. Early voting commenced Feb. 15 and concludes on March 2. The Mitchell News-Journal requested candidates to answer questions about their education, experience, why they are seeking election, and their priorities.

There are seven Republican candidates seeking three seats on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners: Dale Blevins, Lee Ellis, Loren Garno, Incumbent Harley Masters, Dewayne McKinney, Incumbent Brandon Dean Pittman, and Incumbent Clayton Roberts.

Each received questionnaires and were asked to respond. We did not receive a response from Dewayne McKinney and were unable to contact Loren Grano using information provided to the Board of Elections. Democrat challengers Jan Hamilton and Ron McKinney will be on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

Dale Blevins I have lived in Spruce Pine all my life.

Professional and educational background I am a retired educator and retired Director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Spruce Pine. I have a Bachelor of Arts K-6 Instruction, Master of Arts K-6 Instruction, Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) K-12 Curriculum Supervision with an Academically Intellectually Gifted Concentration.

Why are you running for a seat on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners?

I am a potential candidate because I love our community and I want to support the people of Mitchell County. This includes everyone -our children, young adults, men and women, and the senior citizen population of our county. It is my goal to support each of these age groups to the best of my ability, so that our county thrives and continues to achieve success long after myself and others are gone. Overall, my values as a potential candidate are for the people of Mitchell County. I want to listen to people because each person's problem or issue is important to them and their problem/issue should be important to the people holding the seat as well.

What would be your top two priorities as county commissioner? The first priority is knowing what to expect when Property Tax Re-evaluation time rolls around. County leaders need to keep citizens informed on updates and changes, so that they are kept up to date as this also could be a component for the Open Government System. In order to help people understand their property evaluation, leaders should consider these ideas to help ease the burden of stress many citizens have during the re-evaluation period: look at your tax rate and bill and then look at comparable homes in your neighborhood, walk through your property with the assessor to address all points affecting its assessed value, and remember, property taxes are calculated by multiplying your county's effective tax rate by the most recent assessment of your property's value. It is my goal to keep people informed, answer any questions, and even give examples to our citizens to help with property evaluations.

The second priority is educating people on how important education is to our county and how local funding goes to work in our local schools. For example, it is the State of North Carolina's responsibility to fund instructional expenses while Mitchell County Government is responsible for the cost of capital expenses-building upkeep, local paid employees (cafeteria workers, custodian staff, maintenance staff), local educational opportunities such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), iPad Incentive Programs which covers all K-12 students, and fuel costs for maintenance vehicles and for buses. It is also very important that locally funded employees are kept up to the yearly cost of living increase each year. Our school system is a very important part of our county. New families look into the school system before deciding to settle here in our county by taking tours, asking questions about curriculum, and what opportunities are there for their children.

What are the two greatest challenges facing Mitchell County and what role do you see the county playing in meeting these challenges? A strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development. Many small rural counties lack economic security, as a result of decades of damaging economic policy and industry restructuring. Traditional economic sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and resource extraction, which historically supported rural areas, have become increasingly automated or have disappeared altogether. The new economy built around innovation, ideas, technology, and financial markets has overlooked rural areas, and concentrated jobs, wealth and capital in larger cities. For many years solutions organized around deregulation, tax cuts, and facilitating capital accumulation have worn away the foundations in which our economics stand. Under-investment in infrastructure, inadequate internet access funding, and a declining tax base within our county contributes to a downward economic spiral.

As Mitchell County looks at creating a stronger infrastructure, new employment opportunities are also a challenge. Our workforce consists of highly skilled citizens, but these individuals have less access to ongoing educational training due to rising tuition costs and the availability of certain educational opportunities. As a result, our workforce lacks adaptation to the new economy that work forces require today. Securing support and direct assistance for this training should be a priority within our county that could be addressed through partnership efforts with our local community college. Securing this training promotes possibilities for higher level businesses to locate within Mitchell County, thus resulting in greater employment opportunities for our citizens.

Local governments must work together to build strong communities. In what areas can Mitchell County collaborate with the Town of Bakersville and the Town of Spruce Pine to enhance the county? I want to bring the communities of Bakersville and Spruce Pine together through programs, grants, and other partnerships. First, I will focus on supporting established programs that currently benefit both Bakersville and Spruce Pine. These programs include the Mitchell Senior Center, the AMY Library system, educational programs for our children, Mitchell County Transportation, and many other great programs. However, I will also seek to find grants that would continue to assist and support both areas. I would like to seek out grants that would help revitalize sewer, gas, and water systems throughout the county. Overall, working to foster unity between Bakersville and Spruce Pine is one of my top priorities. I will always search for opportunities that could benefit each community equally.

What does the term Open Government mean to you?

Open government refers to a government that is transparent with its citizens. For instance, in an open government, the budget could be easily understood and accessible to citizens because it is a citizen's right to understand where their tax money is being used. Additionally, each agency that receives tax money would give an annual report to the citizens. Commissioners in an open government would not discuss topics with other commissioners outside meeting times. Overall, an open government holds those in government positions accountable because citizens are constantly informed and made aware of government happenings. Having an open government within our county is vital, so that our people feel as if they understand the decisions being made within our great county.

Lee Ellis I am a life-long resident of the Grassy Creek community of Mitchell County.

Professional and educational background: I was blessed to be brought into the health insurance business by my dad. I have worked with good friends, and my wife over the last 29 years to grow a business that serves the needs of people in our community and our region. Understanding how complex health insurance is, and helping business owners, families and others to make good decisions on how to insure themselves has been very rewarding. This is truly a "community service" job that I am proud to have.

I attend Mitchell County schools and Mayland Community College.

Why are you running for a seat on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners?

Many friends and local businesses encouraged me to step up to serve our county, and after many conversations and a lot of prayer, I felt led to give back. Growing up in the Minpro area, my childhood could not have been better. As I got older, local people looked after me, gave me direction, offered help, and have been there for me. Serving my community has always been important - whether in my Church or locally for several non-profits, including the Chamber and Hospice. I want to work hard for the citizens of our great County!

What would be your top two priorities as county commissioner?

The Mitchell County budget has increased significantly over the last four years, and that is not sustainable. I will make every effort to at least maintain the overall budget as long as possible if elected. Our children deserve the same opportunities we have enjoyed.

We now compete for local students prior to kindergarten, through the college level with Mayland. We have to support our education system at every level with all available resources. We are all aware of how much more everything costs. Schools are no different than any other Mitchell County funded entity, with one exception, they are teaching and taking care of our children. They have to be accountable too, but our children spend six to seven hours a day, five days a week for the better part of nine months with Teachers, Administrators, Food Prep Staff, Bus Drivers, Maintenance Staff and so on. We need the best of the best in each of these roles based on the time and influence they spend and have on our children. Some Industries in Mitchell County face worker shortages. Our Education System to become one of them.

What are the two greatest challenges facing Mitchell County and what role do you see the county playing in meeting these challenges?

Per the Economic Development Committee, there are potentially over a billion dollars in renovations, expansions and new building planned here over the next two to three years. Yet the county does not employ a full time Level Three building inspector. Currently all Level Three inspections are provided by outside contractors with their own full-time jobs. The type of growth opportunity we have in the very near future comes once in our lifetimes. If we work with our local employers in all industries to pursue the previously mentioned growth, the impact to our Tax base would be exponential for years to come.

While I don't have an answer to this issue [of drug abuse], I don't hesitate to say this is our biggest problem. Regardless of age, or anything else, drug abuse is ripping families apart, and stealing the life expectancy of its victims. Drug abuse does not discriminate. It doesn't see wealth or poverty. It can impact from any walk of life. If I have learned anything since, I filed for the election, it is we have a plethora of challenges ahead. We have an obligation to work on drug abuse on many levels.

Local governments must work together to build strong communities. In what areas can Mitchell County collaborate with the Town of Bakersville and the Town of Spruce Pine to enhance the county?

With the limited Finances available to Spruce Pine, Bakersville and Mitchell County, there may be areas where consolidating services should be studied. If applicable, this might help with associated costs like Salaries and benefits, vehicle costs, maintenance and utilities. As more services are needed, this could help all three entities as well as the service provider as well. Both Towns have great leadership as well as great people, so I am confident that both would work in partnership toward any project that makes our county better.

What does the term Open Government mean to you?

Open Government means that public officials have an obligation to discuss and decide the county's business in public view. No decisions made behind closed doors or over text. Accountability to the public means letting citizens know the process, see the information that is considered and to make decisions in public meetings. Period.

Harley Masters My husband and I live outside Bakersville on our farm with our two dogs Parker and Bailey. I was born here in 1991, but I moved to Tennessee when I was 17 and moved back to Mitchell County in 2016.

Professional and educational background: I started working when I was 16 years old waiting tables at JJ's Seafood. I learned customer service was important, a lesson I've never forgotten. It's part of all aspects of my life. I've owned a small business since 2018, a successful cafe in Bakersville, and I've served on a variety of boards locally, regionally, and on a state level, representing and serving all of Mitchell County. Recently I was one of 24 elected officials across the state of North Carolina selected for the 2024 Advanced Leadership Corp program at the UNC School of Government. I graduated in early February.

I attended Cocke County High and graduate with an associates degree in aviation; graduate of UNC School of Government leadership programs.

Why are you running for a seat on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners?

When I was sworn into office as a commissioner in 2020, we compiled a list of goals, short and long term. Among them was a new recreation center for everyone, young and old, a new sheriff's office, and better county representation on local, regional and state boards. We've worked diligently towards those goals, accomplishing most of them in the past three years. I am running for re-election to continue working towards the long term betterment of Mitchell County. I want to take on our next big project, preserving Bowman, transforming it into a facility that benefits all our citizens.

What would be your top two priorities as county commissioner?

My first priority as a county commissioner will be to continue engaging all our communities, listening to them about their needs, including those of our county departments who serve the public daily. Second, I will make sure we have county policies that follow both the spirit and letter of the law, providing transparency to allow citizen oversight. Citizens have a right to know how county government works for them.

What are the two greatest challenges facing Mitchell County and what role do you see the county playing in meeting these challenges?

The greatest challenge facing Mitchell County is financial sustainability, long term and short term. Short term financial decisions have long lasting impacts on the county budget. More often than not these impacts are not clear to citizens until a few years down the road. State or federal law requires counties to provide a range of services to all their citizens. Mandated services include those provided by our register of deeds, election administration, fire protection, emergency services like law enforcement and emergency medical services, fair and equitable building code enforcement, public school funding, tax assessments, courts, public health and many more. Our challenge as a county is to provide quality needed services in a sustainable way using good financial planning.

Local governments must work together to build strong communities. In what areas can Mitchell County collaborate with the Town of Bakersville and the Town of Spruce Pine to enhance the county?

Communication is key. The best thing I have found to be effective in working together with the county and the municipalities is having an open dialog. But that conversation has to go beyond municipalities into the further out communities like Buladean, Tipton Hill, Glen Ayre, Little Switzerland, and outside the city limits of Spruce Pine. Establishing those relationships and making sure other elected officials, citizens, and organizations feel comfortable enough to bring ideas, problems, and accomplishments to me and all our commissioners to discuss is the essence of effective collaboration.

What does the term Open Government mean to you? No response

Brandon Pittman I live in the Bakersville community. I have lived in Mitchell County for 20 years.

Professional and educational background: I taught in Mitchell County Schools for the past 16 years. I have an NC independent auto dealer license and have sold cars since 2017. I earned a Bachelor's degree at the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2007. Currently I am a student at McDowell Tech where I am pursuing a degree in accounting and am in the process of finishing my first year.

Why are you running for a seat on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners?

I am currently running for reelection for my second term. I was initially inspired to run for the BOC back in 2020 because the county had recently assumed the role as the DSS board. As a young married father I personally witnessed my wife and her colleagues work tirelessly for years. My wife worked hard for our local families and children as a CPS worker. She advocated hard for folks to get fair treatment from the system and would go the extra mile to help them get the resources they needed to be successful. I saw the toll and strain that the tough work caused her but also saw the impact of that work in the classroom. Understanding the meaning behind good social work, coupled with my experience in the classroom witnessing the results of that work left me feeling that I could bring a valuable and unique perspective to serve on the DSS Board. I have been honored to serve as the chairman of the DSS board for the past 2 years. I am proud of the small role I have played in supporting the work that takes place there every day. We have a lot of great projects currently happening in the county. It is exciting to be a part of these projects, but my role on the DSS board was my true push in running for reelection.

What would be your top two priorities as county commissioner?

While we are blessed with a lot of great changes and additions taking place in the county, we do have some challenges that we must face if we are to continue to move in the right direction. While our mountain land and rivers are beautiful they also create some challenges that are unique to our community. One of the things that I learned while serving as a commissioner was the strain that our topography created when looking for suitable places to develop. We really struggled on several projects to find suitable building sites due to the fact that the majority of our flat land is in flood plains or wetlands, or was in elevation that required exorbitant site development costs. Further limiting our options was the need to have critical infrastructure in place, particularly sewer and water. In addition to maintaining our current projects I believe we must lay the groundwork for future growth and competition by investing in our critical infrastructure. With the availability of water management and wastewater grants I believe a small matching investment on our part would lay the groundwork for bright Mitchell County future opportunities. While admittedly sewer and water is not an exciting flashy project, having that infrastructure in place could reap so many rewards for future generations. I am not an advocate for large growth by no means. I enjoy our small town community and have no desire to change our pace of life. However small sustained growth is vital, and making the mistake of ignoring infrastructure needs could be detrimental to our community. Everything from addressing the housing shortages. attracting manufacturing, to simply maintain the status quo could be impacted by having water and sewer in place.

What are the two greatest challenges facing Mitchell County and what role do you see the county playing in meeting these challenges?

A strong infrastructure is necessary for rural development. Many small rural counties lack economic security, as a result of decades of damaging economic policy and industry restructuring. Traditional economic sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and resource extraction, which historically supported rural areas, have become increasingly automated or have disappeared altogether. The new economy built around innovation, ideas, technology, and financial markets has overlooked rural areas, and concentrated jobs, wealth and capital in larger cities. For many years solutions organized around deregulation, tax cuts, and facilitating capital accumulation have worn away the foundations in which our economics stand. Underinvestment in infrastructure, inadequate internet access funding, and a declining tax base within our county contributes to a downward economic spiral.

As Mitchell County looks at creating a stronger infrastructure, new employment opportunities are also a challenge. Our workforce consists of highly skilled citizens, but these individuals have less access to ongoing educational training due to rising tuition costs and the availability of certain educational opportunities. As a result, our workforce lacks adaptation to the new economy that work forces require today. Securing support and direct assistance for this training should be a priority within our county that could be addressed through partnership efforts with our local community college. Securing this training promotes possibilities for higher level businesses to locate within Mitchell County, thus resulting in greater employment opportunities for our citizens.

Local governments must work together to build strong communities. In what areas can Mitchell County collaborate with the Town of Bakersville and the Town of Spruce Pine to enhance the county?

I value our partners in the municipalities of Spruce Pine and Bakersville, and I believe that together we can accomplish a lot of good things for Mitchell County. Many of them I know personally and I support the work they are doing in the towns. When our interests are in alignment it is great to be on the same page with our municipalities. If my goal of expanding infrastructure is to ever come to fruition it would require working in unison with our municipal partners. In closing, we have a lot of great things taking place. Projects are moving and getting done efficiently. We simply cannot afford a learning curve. With the number of projects we have, experience is crucial.

What does the term Open Government mean to you? No response.

Clayton Roberts I am a lifelong citizen of Mitchell County and I am proud to raise my family here.

Professional and educational background: Upon graduating from Mars Hill I was hired at Bowman Middle School and have spent the last 18 years there. It has been a privilege to coach and teach in our county.

I attended Mitchell County Schools, and spent two years at Mayland, with a BA from Mars Hill College in middle grades education with concentrations in mathematics, history and science.

Why are you running for a seat on the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners?

Last election my goal was to continue with the positive progress that has been made in our county. There are a lot of great things going on in our county and we need to continue making progress. It has been my goal to be an ear for each stakeholder, taking time to listen to concerns and scrutinizing each decision with the best interest of everyone. As commissioner we need to be involved with a personal investment in the progress of our county. Mitchell County is not just a place that I live, it is my home. In order to better understand the needs of our county we need to be involved. My experiences and involvements with the community, work together to continue making positive progress for our county.

What would be your top two priorities as county commissioner?

Our county is one of the greatest places I have ever been, as any place we face our own challenges and situations. With inflation at an all time high and jobs that are struggling to keep up with the cost of living, we have to do the best we can by working together to face those challenges. Housing continues to be a concern in our county, without housing it is hard for our citizens to live and work in our county. Working together collaborating our ideas is the best answer for each of these situations. Laying the groundwork for future projects and further advancements in our county is crucial, we have to be sure we are all working together having unified goals.

Running for commissioner is not a task to be taken lightly. I take pride in being part of the many different aspects of Mitchell County. Mitchell County isn't just where I'm from, it's who I am. Being a commissioner has given me the opportunity to work for the betterment of our county as a whole and I would like to continue. When given the opportunity I will continue to proudly serve the people of Mitchell County.

Local governments must work together to build strong communities. In what areas can Mitchell County collaborate with the Town of Bakersville and the Town of Spruce Pine to enhance the county?

In meeting the needs of our county, we have to work together collaboratively with both the Town of Spruce Pine and the Town of Bakersville, without a good working relationship then our goal of making progress and moving forward has no destination. It is important to be transparent with all who have an interest, we all should be focused on one end goal, to help our county move forward being the best it can be. I would like the opportunity to continue working toward the betterment of our county. Working together as an entire county is our best resource. What does the term Open Government mean to you? No response.