Six vie for four seats on Asheboro City Council

Oct. 15--Editor's Note: The Courier-Tribune's election coverage continues today with the Asheboro City Council, where four incumbents and two challengers will vie for four open seats. The newcomers are Michael K. Allen and Timothy Lee Greene. The incumbents are Clark Bell, Linda Carter, Walker Moffitt and Katie Snuggs. Bell is seeking his third four-year term on the council, Moffitt his fourth term and Carter her fifth. Snuggs was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mike Hunter after his death in April 2015.

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Name: Michael K. Allen

Age: 55.

Address: 665 Woodland Circle.

Current occupation: Driver for Staywell.

Phone, email: 336-963-2577, [email protected].

Office seeking: City Council seat.

Past offices held: None.

Civic or church activities: Substitute Sunday school teacher, Vacation Bible School worker, Upward Basketball Mission volunteer.

Education: Asheboro High School graduate, Marine Corps veteran, graduate of Spartan School of Aeronautics with A/P license.

Family: Spouse Jeanne, daughter Emily.

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Name: Clark Bell

Age: 59.

Address: 818 Worth St.

Current occupation: Lawyer.

Phone, email: 336-625-4227, [email protected].

Office seeking: Asheboro City Council.

Past offices held: Asheboro City Council (two terms).

Civic or church activities: United Way Board of Directors; Randolph County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; Councilor to N.C. State Bar for Judicial District 19-B; member, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Education: B.A. UNC-CH: J.D. N.C. Central University.

Family: Wife, Diane; daughters, Blakely and Rebekah.

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Name: Linda Hames Carter

Age: 65.

Address: 1038 Shamrock Road.

Current occupation: Retired banker; Asheboro City Council.

Phone, email: 336-629-5512, [email protected].

Office seeking: Asheboro City Council.

Past offices held: Chair of Cross Road Retirement Community; president and secretary of Hospice of Randolph; president and campaign chairperson of United Way.

Civic or church activities: Member of Cross Road Baptist Church; board member of Mision Adonai United Methodist Church; member of Shelter of Hope; Greystone Community Watch.

Education: Attended Appalachian State University; N.C. School of Banking; Randolph Community College.

Family: My husband is David Carter. We have been married for 46 years. My daughter is Amy Carter Draughn and my son-in-law is Lee Draughn of Cary, N.C., and my two beloved grandchildren are Jacob and Emma.

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Name: Timothy Lee Greene

Age: 61.

Address: 735 Sherwood Road.

Current occupation: Letter Carrier.

Phone, email: 336-324-0032, [email protected], timgreeneforcitycouncil.wordpress.com.

Office seeking: Asheboro City Council.

Past offices held: None.

Civic or church activities: Member of First Baptist Church Asheboro; active choir member and deacon; board member of Work Development RCS.

Education: 1973 graduate of Asheboro High School and 1979 graduate of University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in Biology.

Family: Married to the former Tandy Lea Hoover and we have three fur babies, Biscuit, Zoe and Miss Kitty.

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Name: Walker B. Moffitt

Age: 60.

Address: 1 Richland Place.

Current occupation: Roadway & Utility Construction.

Phone, email: 336-629-9996, [email protected].

Office seeking: Asheboro City Council.

Past offices held: Asheboro City Council.

Civic or church activities: Member, Central United Methodist Church; Senior Member, NC Zoological Park Council; Government Committee, Asheboro Randolph Chamber of Commerce; Board Member, Piedmont Triad Rural Planning Organization; Board Member, National I73 / I74 / I75 Association; Member, NC Rural Water Association.

Education: BA Economics, NC State; BA Business Management, N.C. State.

Family: Wife, Joanne Moffitt; son, Bryan Moffitt.

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Name: Katie Snuggs

Age: 81.

Address: 541 Loach St.

Current occupation: Retired after 21 years with City of Asheboro.

Phone, email: 336-629-0785.

Office seeking: Asheboro City Council.

Past offices held: Asheboro City Council (two years).

Civic or church activities: Vice president for East Side Homes board of directors; active member of Asheboro Redevelopment Commission; current member Habitat for Humanity board of directors; volunteer members of Christian Companions for Randolph County; past Worthy Matron of Unity 522-A in Eastern Star; volunteer registrar for voters in general election; past United Way Loan Executive for City of Asheboro; cooked 20 years for celebration breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; served 20 years for Randolph County's Guardian ad Litem program; received N.C. State Volunteer of the Year award in 2002; recipient of the Kate Hammer Award in 2000; received the Martin Auman Award from Best Friends program; member Wesley Chapel AME Zion Church in Asheboro; past president Church Women United in Randolph.

Education: Graduate of Central High School; attended N.C. A&T for two years.

Family: Biological son, David Snuggs; foster sons, Billy Snuggs, Donald Keith Snuggs and David Lee Snuggs; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

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Why do you want to be a member of the Asheboro City Council? What combination of knowledge, experience and personality makes you one of the top three individuals running to represent residents for the next four years?

Allen: I want to be an active part of the progress of Asheboro. I believe we are moving forward and I would like to be a part of that. As I start out in the political arena I am coming into this with zero political experience. I don't see this as a negative thing because everyone who has chosen to run for office has started out at the same point. I feel that the working knowledge comes with researching issues and speaking with the citizens. I served with the Marine Corps and worked in the aviation field for many years. In both cases I worked with fellow team members to accomplish the mission. I feel that my personality would be an asset to the city council. I am not the type to agree with the statement, "Well we have always done it that way, why change now?" That's not what I believe in. You must always be looking for opportunities to help grow the city.

Bell: During my previous terms on council I have gained valuable insight into the budget process, the zoning processes; and most importantly the value of the leadership roles council members provide to the citizens.

I feel my prior experience on council and my education in the law suit me well to continue my service. While I have a law degree and license to practice law my focus in my practice has always been to represent individuals who are frequently less fortunate than most. I am a people person who is as comfortable in a corporate office speaking with executives as well as speaking to the homeless at the shelter which is a valuable asset in addressing a variety of issues and perspectives in the business of council.

Carter: I was born in Asheboro and have seen many changes over my lifetime. I have served on the city council for four terms. During this time I have learned and continue to learn about all phases of local government as well as state government. There are always new regulations and new projects of which none of them are the same and it is what keeps this position so interesting. I have also served on the Redevelopment Commission for about 20 years in which we have brought different projects to the council for approval. It is a great feeling of accomplishment to see projects completed and know it will bring jobs or add to the quality of life for the Asheboro residents. We have obtained grant monies for projects in the city such as East Side Redevelopment Project along with the Peachtree Street area. We have obtained grant monies for low to moderate income homeowners that needed repairs for their home meeting certain criteria. The Bicentennial Park, Farmers Market as well as the revitalization of the downtown area has been a great opportunity to work with the private citizens, businesses and government entities. Most importantly we have continued to work hard on bringing in new industries and businesses to Asheboro along with the county and state. It is very important to be able to work together to bring these projects to Asheboro.

Greene: I want to be a member of the City Council for several reasons. One, the Scripture says "to whom much is given much is required." I am fortunate to have completed college and have a great job that I love with the United States Postal Service. I believe that letter carriers are the eyes, heart, and soul of the community. I believe that my years of service with the Post Office have given me the experience to give back to the community. Through my work as a letter carrier I hold one elected position and one appointed position. The elected position is that of a delegate to the North Carolina State AFLCIO. This allows me to lobby the North Carolina Legislature for all working men and women across the state. I am part of a group that speaks up for wages, workers compensation benefits, and unemployment benefits. I am the appointed Letter Carrier Congressional Liaison for the Second District. In this position I have lobbied for our Sixth District. By being appointed as a LCCL I am allowed to lobby in other districts as directed by our State Association of Letter Carriers. As for knowledge and experience, I have worked for the United States Post Office for 39 years. In that time I have received training in areas from worker's compensation, employee health benefits, and grievance arbitration. During this time I have negotiated local agreements and have been involved with the EEOC. Currently I serve as the president of our Local Letter Carrier Association. This position requires me to work with many personalities on the management and employee sides. I serve as a mediator to help the workforce run smoothly.

Moffitt: I truly have a passion for serving my hometown of Asheboro. I am committed to working diligently to grow and improve Asheboro through strategic economic development and quality of life enhancing projects. With my 12 years on Council, 20 years of planning and zoning and 35 years of public utilities and roadway experience I bring a unique understanding of issues that face the City Council. I represent Asheboro on a regional, state and national level. I enjoy an active role in Community Development through the Neighborhood Community Watch Program, which allows me listen to our citizens on a regular basis.

Snuggs: I was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Michael Hunter on council. I've learned that though all citizens are promised equal representation, it is not always available. I live on the Eastside, have worked for the city in the public works department, and have served on various boards and committees. It is my desire to continue to serve my hometown and to ensure that every single citizen has a voice at City Hall.

Candidates often list jobs among their top priorities. What can city council members do to drive economic development, and how would you grade the council's efforts on this front? Do you think the city should stay the course, or do you have other/additional ideas to try?

Allen: As citizens of Asheboro we are always talking with family members, friends, and co workers about the type of businesses that we want in our city. Nothing is keeping citizens from contacting their council members and informing them about their desires. I believe that the council is working with those who are working to draw businesses to our city. I would give them a B grade because there is always room for improvement and the council should keep striving to work hard and not rest on past accomplishments. I would also say stay the course but also entertain the ideas that are brought before the council by our fellow citizens. Attracting businesses to our city takes time. It is not an overnight process and we do not always understand the complex workings of accomplishing that goal. If elected I would like to bring the ideas of the citizens and some of my own to the table.

Bell: Economic development is generally and best served by the private sector. However I think council can provide a regulatory environment conducive to new business and to expand existing concerns here in Asheboro. We have valuable partners in the Randolph County EDC and Heart of NC Tourism Bureau to highlight the benefits of locating here. We also can invest time, energy and finances in making the quality of life here attractive to businesses and families seeking to relocate. The value of public/private partnerships cannot be underestimated. Recent accomplishments include infrastructure improvements to alleviate traffic flow to the bypass for PEMMCO and adjacent undeveloped industrial properties; the coordination of MAS Acme for significant manufacturing investment as well as Fibertex. I think council has been very proactive in those developments. I don't think we are through and with hard work can attract more business and industry here.

Carter: The City Council members need to continue working very closely with Randolph Economic Development, The Heart of the Carolina's tourism and the Chamber. I believe the council does a very good job working with these agencies as well as our county commissions and our state elected official in looking, finding and bringing the right new businesses to Asheboro. Randolph Community College works very diligent with government entities as well as the new or prospective businesses that come to Asheboro for proper training of potential employees. With economic changes and new industries coming to Asheboro, they are bringing in other industries that supply the big industries. We look forward to helping each and everyone of these opportunities. Once the mega site toward Liberty starts building, this will also bring along other industries as well looking to supply the mega site. Once the 73/74 interstate is completed all the way through, that will continue to bring businesses/industries to Asheboro. The staff of the city do an excellent job in working with these new industries. Recently one of our newest industries told they had another option but they chose Asheboro due to how well they were treated by the city in working on getting their business set up here. We need to continue to seek more diversification in business industries and restaurants as well as shopping.

Greene: The council members need to keep their eyes and ears open for any company (with creditable intentions) that is looking to relocate. Fibertex, the company from Denmark, is one of the newest hallmarks that have been accomplished by the Asheboro City Council, the County Commissioners, the Randolph EDC, and the Office of the Secretary of Commerce of NC. Who knows, with the right approach maybe Amazon would locate a distribution center at the Mega Site. Imagine the significance of this partnership? For the acquisition of a new company as Fibertex, I would give the Council an A plus. However in attracting new restaurants with a brand name the council seems to be lacking and I would give them a C plus. I do think they need to stay the course by pursuing companies through the partnership with the EDC, County Commissioners, and the Secretary of Commerce Office. We have to ask ourselves do we continue the small town atmosphere or do we progress to more dynamic change. Just like a church, if there is not growth it will die, so we must innovate and grow. There are other hotels coming to Asheboro and an Agricultural Civic Center. That will mean additional jobs, an influx of people who might consider settling in Asheboro or starting a business. Another area in which I am involved is Work Force Development which is funded by State and Federal funds. WIOA Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, a regional partnership which includes Randolph, Moore, Montgomery, Alamance and Orange counties. Fibertex is just one of the companies that will have significant use of the persons that go through the program for advanced manufacturing and Randolph Community College is on the cutting edge of this program. In the city of Asheboro, I believe we need look at the tax revenues to make sure we are getting the best use of our dollars. City water continues to be one of the best in the state, however we need to keep a watchful eye for there was a report to EWG's National Tap Water Database that bears reading. It gives a list of water contaminants if the report is accurate. To find this information go to ewg.org and simply supply a zip code.

Moffitt: As a Council we have two primary responsibilities that are inseparable in driving economic development. First, we must continue to be prepared, ready, willing and able to accommodate the needs of an interested industry through available site selection, utilities, transportation access and engineering services. Asheboro is well prepared in these areas and has some great success stories, especially recently, such as Technimark, MAS Acme USA, and Fibertex. However, our inventory of available sites and buildings is now low. At this time, we have a tremendous opportunity to increase our industrial recruitment as the economy grows by capitalizing on our tremendous water and sewer capacities and shepherding the development of new industrial and business sites. Second, we have to provide the quality of life features expected by those considering locating and investing in Asheboro. These features include recreation, arts, health care, shopping and senior activities. We have done well in these areas with projects such as Sunset Theatre, Summer Concert Series, a new Senior Adult Center and the growth of Randolph Health. We must proceed with our Soccer Complex, the refurbishing of the recently donated McCrary Recreation Facility, sidewalk improvements and additional green spaces to enhance our opportunities.

Snuggs: We are partners with the EDC (Economic Development Corp.) in expansion and recruitment of jobs to enhance our economy. Our mayor and city manager regularly meet with prospects. We participate in performance-based, after-the-fact incentives. Lately, we have some big announcements that indicate a level of success. The city has a seat on the EDC board and works closely with the county commissioners on projects in the city of Asheboro. We also work closely with both public school systems on work skills needed.

Name two things you think the city council should focus on (or continue to focus on): 1) A top-burner issue apart from the economy; and 2) a smaller, less-pressing matter that is near and dear to you. What should the city do (or continue to do) in each case? And why?

Allen: I feel that one of the top issues for our city is the flow of drug traffic in and through Asheboro and the related gang activity. The council should continue working with law enforcement to eliminate this flow of drugs and gangs that are working to establish a foothold in our city. The council should support law enforcement with the necessary tools to effectively accomplish their mission to serve and protect the citizens of Asheboro. All citizens need to be willing to assist law enforcement as additional eyes and ears in their neighborhoods.

On a lesser issue, I would like to see residents be held accountable for their property. By doing this, it will only help to make our neighborhoods look better. Sometimes it is hard to tell if some residents are having a continuous yard sale or if the resident has turned the lawn into a parking lot or car sales lot. We have outstanding code enforcement officers who do a great job. They have procedures and timetables that they must follow when addressing a request. The only problem is they cannot address an issue unless the citizens of Asheboro call and inform them of the possible code violations.

Bell: Separate from the economy I think council should continue the regular investment into necessary capital projects. Most citizens do not understand the extensive amount of capital it takes to operate our water plane and our wastewater facilities. I certainly did not before my time on council. We just expect to turn on our tap and have quality water and flush our toilets and have our waste go away and our garbage picked up. These services are important to us as citizens and we expect them, however, the equipment necessary to perform these functions at the level we expect is expensive and requires regular attention. I think we as a council have done a good job at managing these investments with regular investments in these expenditures and the regular purchase of necessary equipment for our Police Department and Fire Department to hopefully avoid a catastrophic sticker shock with deferred maintenance. Eventually, I would like to see adjustments to our pay for our police officers, firefighters and other first responders, in particular.

A less pressing matter but important to me is investment in recreational facilities for sports, such as soccer and baseball as well as the development of a walking trail area with a combined dog park or "bark park." I think these would serve our community well and contribute to the quality of life for our citizens.

Carter: The council continues to focus on the economy and jobs as a #1 priority. The next priority for me is focusing on the drugs and opioids problem that we have in Asheboro. In a recent meeting with the county in facilitating bringing many agencies together, it was discussed how big this problem was increasing here and throughout the state. Many new ideas were discussed during that meeting. We have to continue to collaborate with all of these entities to help reduce this problem. These meetings are ongoing.

We need to continue working with providing a good quality of life for our residents and our visitors. As our tourism dollars and visitors continue to increase it is the prime opportunity to show what Asheboro has to offer. It is important to finish working with the YMCA to provide the soccer fields that Asheboro so desperately needs for our younger residents. Also complete the gym project of the Acme McCrary gym for our residents.

I would like to thank everyone for allowing me to serve you and Asheboro and I am asking for your vote for me in this upcoming election in November.

Greene: I think the city should focus additionally on infrastructure. Our city streets need repair. The city council is currently looking at these issues, but the work needs to be done. As the mayor has stated, it may take a bond referendum to help pay for the repair of our city streets. Walking trails and bike lanes and a dog park are other issues the city needs to explore. I believe that recently Mayor Smith stated "Asheboro will have a dog park." A smaller issue may be to try to preserve more historical buildings. Near and dear to my heart is the tethering of animals. The city needs to continue to be vigilant to this issue. As a Letter Carrier, I am aware when a dog is tied for long periods of time they become aggressive and if that animal gets loose then any citizen or mail carrier is in danger. Another issue with tethering I came across was a new family in Asheboro tied their terrier to a line; it got loose and made it to the 220-Bypass. It was hit by a car, damaging its ability to move. I put the animal in my car and drove to the clinic in Greensboro to save the dog. I called him Rascal, not know his name. I held his head in one hand so he could breathe; after arriving, he expired. Please don't tether.

Moffitt: Our Council will be greatly served to enhance our efforts on the relationship of Health and Recreation. The two go hand in hand and span all ages. From the development of youth-related activities such as the Soccer Complex to the many activities offered by our Senior Adults Association. Successful enduring cities feature items such as walking areas through greenways, improved sidewalk access, dog parks, bike paths and exercise facilities. Asheboro has many of these health and recreation additions on the horizon at this time. We owe it to ourselves as a City to budget and develop these high quality of life necessities as soon as practically possible. Our citizens and businesses will reap the benefits for generations.

Of personal interest to me is the creation of attractive and readily visible entrances to Asheboro on our major corridors, I73/74 and US64. Travelers need to be "greeted" by robust and vibrant areas announcing their arrival to a very special place and be well aware we are the "Home of the World's Largest Zoo." We have a truly "only place on earth" asset that needs to be announced and showcased to all who come through or to visit. Now is the time.

Snuggs: 1) Drug addiction; 2) child neglect; 3) Boys and Girls Club; and 4) community safety. The list is longer. Just a few items that need to be addressed. The wheels of government move slowly, but I would like to see some of these items addressed.

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