Only one person running for one of three seats on the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Education showed up at the forum, sponsored by the Halifax County Democratic Women and that was incumbent Mike Williams.
(rrspin.com will be submitting questions to Roanoke Rapids Graded School District candidates)
The group also held a forum in Weldon, which democratic women President Sandra Bryant said in a statement left the town hall there filled to capacity.
Jean Reeves, moderator for the event in Roanoke Rapids, said before asking four questions, the importance of municipal elections can't be overstated. “People don't understand the seriousness of local elections. If only one (candidate) shows up, we are going to have this forum. Make sure you take time to vote and the understand the importance of local elections.”
The democratic women had a list of four questions for city council candidates.
Question 1
Terry Buffaloe, an adult education coordinator at Halifax Community College who is challenging Carol Cowen for her seat on city council, got the opportunity to answer the first question, which was discussing the top two concerns driving the decision to run.
“Economic development,” he said, and the need to address abandoned properties as well as “the plight of the downtown areas. We have to determine fair market value in a depressed economy so businesses will stay.”
Development in those areas, he said, should be unencumbered by ordinances, many of which need to be revised to encourage growth in the city.
Cowen, a retired educator, said she is concerned that while the city has money in its coffers when developing a fiscal plan there seems to be derailments when issues like storms and road repairs come up. “We have to revisit the budget.”
Ferebee, an administrator at Halifax Regional Medical Center, said one of the main issues on his agenda has been promoting individual home ownership. “On city council, the key is keeping costs down for the citizens. The government takes back our funds,” he said, explaining in this fiscal year alone $375,000 in fees and licenses were taken away by the state. “We had to reallocate those funds. The theater is foremost on our minds.”
Question 2
The second question centered on specific ideas on job and economic growth.
“We need to welcome people here,” Cowen said, and explore the opportunities for partnerships, such as working closely with the Halifax Development Commission and Halifax Horizons. “Hopefully, things will get better. We have to sell ourselves, get people to come here and offer incentives.”
Buffaloe believes entering into lease agreements with solar farms on land around the theater could help keep the venue in the city's ownership. “The theater could remain open,” he said. “We could partner with Weldon and build a water park (at the venue) to create jobs and promote tourism.”
Ferebee said the city needs to continue to work and partner with other municipalities. “It's going to take more than us by ourselves.”
Ferebee believes if the city can make the former WestPoint Stevens plant viable, “I believe that will help bring in jobs for the city.”
Question 3
The third question centered on the poverty issue in the city and how council should address the issue.
“Education is important,” Buffaloe said.
He said the three-district system in Halifax County is not working and schools in the area are at best rated C. “Learning is very important,” he said. “There is not enough brain power to sustain bringing high-paying jobs.”
Cowen admitted the question was difficult. “When I see children with no clothes and food and then I ride by the bingo (parlors) and see the lots full, I have to wonder whether the adults are making sound choices for their families. A lot of people get funds. They haven't been taught to use those funds. They have to choose between needs and wants.”
Ferebee said the answer is jobs. “I really think bringing in jobs will help poverty and help with (reducing) crime. Education to help individuals and talking to different agencies can help (reduce) poverty in the area.”
Question 4
The fourth question centered on the priority of addressing mental health issues in the community by actively acknowledging the role and training of first responders.
Working at the hospital, Ferebee said, “I know a lot of funds have been taken. There needs to be funds there. We need to have facilities to work with them. There's no where for them to go. Funds for them are no longer there.”
Cowen said mental health care has been an issue since the mental health center closed. “It's been a real problem for children and parents.”
Buffaloe said, “It's all education.”
He said dysfunctional lifestyles are passed from one generation to the next. “We have to deal with it like that.”
Roanoke Rapids Theatre
rrspin.com submitted a question to the candidates on the best way to deal with the theater issue.
“We continue to work on that issue,” Ferebee said. “We really need to continue to look at all avenues. Trying to sell is not the only avenue. We need to make it viable.”
Ferebee said the theater has done positive things. “We wouldn't have the hotel without the theater.”
Cowen said the issue remains a problem and the city continues to look for someone willing to buy it.
Buffaloe, as he contended in the economic question, said the space around the theater should be leased for solar farms, which could bring in tax revenue for the city and keep the venue in the city's control.
