CFAC Forum recording posted online; hear candidates speak
CFAC FORUM LETS PUBLIC HEAR COUNTY COMMISSION CANDIDATES — Pictured above, left to right: Alexander County Commission candidates Marty Pennell (R), Melissa Benfield (D), Ronnie Reese (R-incumbent), Larry Yoder (R), and Glenn Deal, Jr. (D) listen intently as moderator Dale Clary (not shown) reads them questions at the Citizens for the Future of Alexander County (CFAC) Candidate Forum. The event was held Thursday, October 11, 2018, at CVCC’s Alexander Center for Education.
The Citizens for the Future of Alexander County group held a County Commissioner Candidate Forum on Thursday, October 11, 2018, at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education.
All five commission candidates were present: including: Democratic candidates Melissa Benfield and Glenn Deal, Jr., and Republicans Ronnie Reese (incumbent), Marty Pennell, and Larry Yoder.
Dale Clary served as moderator, with Glenn Mays as emcee. LeighAnn Perkins and Edwin Chapman worked as timekeepers to limit candidate responses to the allotted time. All involved in bringing about the event are volunteers, Clary noted.
Timeline of recording:
Welcome by Glenn Mays (begins at 1:30)
Moderator Dale Clary introduces candidates (4:56) and each has 3 minutes to give opening remarks.
Question: (21:00) It’s been said that economic development and good public schools go together like peanut butter and jelly. What does that statement mean to you?
Question: (26:27) A Broadband Feasibility Study was conducted last year and was presented to commissioners in January of this year. As a commissioner, what would you do to speed up the process to get internet service to the far reaches of Alexander County?
Question: (31:22) A study issued in January of this year, called the NC Local School Finance Study, showed that only seven of the school districts in North Carolina were funded at a rate lower than Alexander County Schools. The study considered Alexander’s wealth in terms of the county’s ability to pay. It found that Alexander County’s ability to fund public schools ranked 76th out of 100 school districts. Will you commit to move Alexander County’s school budget into line with the county’s ability to pay? In other words, would you work to make Alexander 76th out of 100 over the next three years? Right now, we rank 93rd in the state.
Question: (37:20) For what reason or reasons would you be OK with raising taxes?
Question: (42:40) A concern has been expressed about the low pay for many of our county employees. What would you do as a commissioner, to to make our county more competitive as to employees’ salaries, for example, deputies, EMS personnel, and DSS employees?
Question: (49:50) The need for a public swimming facility has been discussed for years. What do you think about the county working with other institutions to achieve this goal?
Question: (53:48) What do you see as the key to the Alexander County Board of Commissioners and Alexander County Board of Education having a positive relationship?
Question: (58:17) It’s been discussed in the past, probably in the last ten years, the office of County Commissioner being non-partisan. Would you support that?
Question: (1:03:08) Brain drain is the term used to describe the loss of the region’s most educated and talented graduates in geographic, ecomomic, and professional environments. What actions do you suggest that Alexander County take prevent brain drain and retain top talent in our county?
Question: (1:08:30) We look at funds that are siphoned off from public schools to charter schools, vouchers, things of that nature. What is your opinion on that? Is that a healthy thing for education in North Carolina? Is that a detriment to public education?
Closing remarks (1:14:00)
