ISSUES
I am running for a position on the Town of Beaufort Board of Commissioners to give back to a community that my wife and I both love and selected to be our home. I believe my educational background and professional experience in both the public and private sectors, provide me with the needed qualifications to represent the residents of Beaufort in a leadership role on the Board of Commissioners.
SMART GROWTH
Beaufort is a vibrant and growing community that has been recognized nationally. The natural beauty of Beaufort and its surrounding areas, along with the restaurants, shopping, arts, history, music, festivals, lodging, access to Rachel Carson Reserve, Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout and beyond, are well known and will require smart decisions by town leaders regarding the developing needs created by growth. Smart growth is that which is compatible with the identity of Beaufort and ensures the protection of our natural resources which are critical to the future of our town. An understanding of local, state, and federal government programs and resources that can assist the town in making the best decisions going forward regarding infrastructure needs in our community is a vital part of smart growth which I can bring to the Board of Commissions. My experience in the private sector provides me with a direct understanding of the critical benefit of the business community to the life of our town which requires consideration in making decisions supporting the future of Beaufort.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Expenditure of public funds carries with it the duty to conservatively manage those funds and ensure the money is appropriately directed to needed town operations, infrastructure, programs, and reserves. A capital improvement plan must be adopted by the town of Beaufort to guide investments in public facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. Every effort to supplement the town budget through grants and appropriations should be sought for the critical needs of our town.
TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT
Members of governing bodies should strive to make the best decisions possible in the best interest of the community which are consistent with and representative of the will of the electorate citizens. In seeking to represent Beaufort on the Board of Commissioners, I will actively listen to residents, businesses, and special interest groups during the campaign on their thoughts and recommendations regarding the operations of Beaufort. If elected, I will continue to reach out and listen to the needs or concerns expressed by members of our community relating to local government operations. Government works for its citizens and whether the service is being provided by an elected official, town employee or contractor, vigilance and commitment to our citizens is expected from all who serve in the public sector.
BEAUFORT DOCKS SHOULD STAY IN THE HANDS OF BEAUFORT
It has been my privilege to be a part of a highly productive, fully engaged, and well-educated committee which has reviewed countless documents in order to make recommendations regarding the future of one of our town’s largest assets, the Beaufort Town Docks. The direction the town is currently taking recognizes the value and interrelationship of the docks to Beaufort’s identity and economic future. As a public asset, the docks should always remain in the guiding hands of Beaufort and its citizens, while utilizing the private sector to provide operations consistent with the best interest of Beaufort.
