Personal and Professional
His detailed biography appears as a Microsoft Word attachment at the end of these questions.
1. Why are you running?
I am running for re-election as a county commissioner because there are many exciting things happening in Halifax County that I have helped start and want to see to fruition. For example: Klausner 2 project near Enfield, the Geenex Solar Farm project at the old airport site, together almost 400 new jobs, a real economic boost to the economy and some other serious economic development discussions that are going on right now. I really think we have a golden opportunity to improve public education in Halifax County for the first time ever. I think I can contribute to that effort and help unite our county in a way that will improve the quality of life for us all. I believe my experience, background and the great relationships that I have developed over the years all over the county and beyond put me in a unique position to be able help move our county forward. I am willing to offer my time and energy to help. I hope that the progressive thinking voters of our county will seize this opportunity to secure the future of our great county and vote to re-elect James H. Pierce.
2. Are you for or against merger? (also answers question #3 and #5)
I am for improving public education in all of Halifax County. I believe the only way we can afford to do that is by funding one consolidated school administrative unit. A consolidated school system would leave school governance and educational decision making up to the school board and the superintendent and leave the funding decisions to the County Commissioners. The Board of Education and the Superintendent should determine when, where and if a school should be built, while the County Commissioners should figure how to pay for it. It has been documented that there are millions of education dollars that could be saved right here in Halifax County by merging the schools over the next few years. This money could go toward education not duplication. There are only 7,900 students in the three public school systems in Halifax County. Three administrative units for that few school students is ridiculous. Show me a business person in the Roanoke Valley who runs his/her business in that manner and I will show you a business that’s doomed for failure. Let’s wake up Halifax County and get out of the 1950’s. Our boys and girls should be afforded fair and equal education opportunities no matter where they attend public school in this county. For the record, I believe in community schools and keeping property taxes low. I do not believe in forced bussing of students to some far away school way across the county. A school consolidation plan can be developed to achieve all of these, community schools, no forced bussing and maintains a reasonable property tax rate. If open minded, creative thinking people would just sit down and talk to one another. Improved education would make huge strides forward economically and many other ways for Halifax County. Better educating our children would lower the crime rate and gang activity. Better educated citizens would require fewer jail cells. Halifax County would be more attractive to new business and industry with a better educated workforce (manufacturing and high tech jobs would be more available). Many other advantages are consistent with a better educated society. On the other hand our county will continue to lose population and good paying jobs if we don’t get public education fixed for the whole county. I am very anxious to engage in the merger conversation. One advantage to school consolidation that the opponents have not mentioned at all is that RRGSD residents would automatically get a $0.21 per $100 valuation property tax decrease (a $252 tax savings on a $100,000 house and a $20,000 car). The Weldon City Schools District resident would get a $0.17 per $100 property tax reductions (a $204 tax savings on a $100,000 house and a $20,000 car). There is a lot of half truth and misinformation being put out there but people should hear the whole truth and be aware of all sides of the issues.
6. Do you feel there are any alternatives to merger that could be explored?
Of course there are always other options and alternatives. There are a number of recommendations that were identified in the Evergreen Report (on county website). These were things that could help save some dollars if implemented that would make the systems more efficient. But I know of no alternative that would address the unfair, unequal funding situation that exists in the way we fund the multiple school districts we have here in Halifax County. I am, and I believe that the Board of Commissioners would be open for any suggestions. The only way I see to address the funding inequality that exists is to merge our systems into one. This should be done and I would recommend that it be done in an incremental way over a few years. The incremental steps would be spelled out in a very detailed agreed upon “consolidation plan”.
7. Which report do you feel is more valid, The UNC Center for Civil Rights Study or the Evergreen Report? Please explain why.
I believe both reports are valid. Anybody who has read these reports realizes they are as different as apples and oranges. So I don’t believe that one can say that one report is more or less valid than the other. The UNC report is looking at the three systems from a historical and civil rights perspective and the Evergreen Report was commissioned by the commissioners to examine ways to improve education in the county overall and provide recommendations on how to make improvements. Both documents are very valuable documents to have at our (the public’s) disposal for historical and statistical information. They both should be utilized for the purpose for which they were developed.
8. The County’s fund balance has dipped dangerously low. Please explain how you think this happened. Please explain what needs to be done to get back up to acceptable levels.
A few reasons why the county’s fund balance is significantly lower than it was a few years ago: 1) the greatest recession since the great depression hit the world as well as Halifax County, along with record high unemployment, federal and state revenue cutbacks, less local sales tax, no economic growth, you name it. Halifax County took a big hit just like just like the rest of the world. 2) The Commissioners (and I fully supported) made a conscience decision to spend down our then robust fund balance, to address some big ticket county needs and make some important economic development investments rather than impose a tax increase on county taxpayers at a time of recession when they could least afford it. 3) The formula by which Local Government Commission calculates fund balance also changed that alone cut our fund balance by about 11 percentage points.. In order to get fund balance back to a more comfortable level, a number of things need to happen. 1) Commissioners must continue to be good stewards of tax dollars. 2) Some of our economic development investments must, and they will soon begin to pay off. 3) The overall economy must improve and it has begun to do so. 4) Continue to look for ways to cut cost of county services and lastly if all else fails a modest property tax increase.
9. Some governments enact small tax increases each year to keep up with the cost of doing business. Would you be in favor of this? Why or why not?
I am very sensitive about tax increases. I believe first and foremost that government monies should be spent just as if they were our own money. Having said that, from time to time there comes a time when inflation and other cost of operating government dictate the need for more revenues. To address such needs as these I would favor small incremental tax increases as opposed to a big drastic increase.
10. Discuss any other issues you feel are important for the betterment of Halifax County and what you could do to improve them.
A diverse group of organizations and individuals across the county are in the process of developing a countywide comprehensive recreation plan. This plan will provide a long range recreation blueprint for the county for years to come. This comprehensive plan will also be vital in helping us get need funding going forward to help provide recreation facilities in underserved areas in our county for youth and adults alike. Once this plan is done I would like to immediately start implementation as quickly as funding can be found. This will not only provide wholesome activities for our youth in the more rural areas but improve the juvenile crime rate and the overall health of the community long term.
