Rex Alan Stainback is seeking reelection to retain his District 1 seat on the Roanoke Rapids City Council. He is being challenged by newcomers Robert “Robbie” Clements and Jacob Dean.

The following is some personal information and responses to candidate questions:

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Occupation

School Resource Officer – Roanoke Rapids High School

Education

Graduate of Roanoke Rapids High School, 1974.  

Police Management School, Wilson Community College, 1999.

Personal information (Family, church, or civic organizations) 

I have been married to my wife Terri for 40 years. We are the parents of two beautiful daughters and grandparents to two boys, aged 5 and 8 that proudly attend Roanoke Rapids Public Schools.  I am an active member of the Roanoke Rapids High School Alumni Association and a member of the Roanoke Rapids High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

Why have you decided to run, or if you are an incumbent why are you seeking re-election?   

I am seeking to retain my seat on the city council because serving on this board is an important role in local government.  

My decision to run was made with careful thought and consideration. 

My lifetime of service to this community puts me in a position to better understand the problems and needs of Roanoke Rapids.  

My only agenda is to make a positive impact for all the citizens and employees of the city of Roanoke Rapids.

What makes you qualified to run? 

My many years of public service to the citizens of Roanoke Rapids puts me in a unique position to see firsthand the areas of concern that require the most work.  

I’m a believer in fixing problems with urgency and not kicking the can down the road.  

I have the institutional knowledge, integrity, and resolve to help move Roanoke Rapids forward.

What do you hope to accomplish or as an incumbent what have you accomplished and what do you hope to accomplish if re-elected?

The three main issues we are currently facing are the theater debt, quality of life concerns, and the expansion and development of the entertainment district.  

The city has faced as many as 18 vacancies during the past year in our public safety departments.  

These vacancies directly affect the quality of life in Roanoke Rapids.  

Several other departments have also had retention problems that need to be addressed.  

I will lobby the council to address these urgent needs and find a solution to rectify this.  

The expansion and development of the entertainment district is also at the top of my list.  

This has the potential to create a great number of jobs and revenue for Roanoke Rapids and surrounding areas.  

We must work with all interested parties to see this project succeed.

With the theater now sold, there still remains a debt on the venue. How does the city address that remaining debt? Would you be willing to attempt a debt-forgiveness plan, seek legislative assistance or continue to pay as is currently the case? Please elaborate. 

The question of how to address the remaining debt is quite simple.  

The city should and will continue payments on the note as required.  

Seeking legislative assistance has and will continue to be a possible course of action.  

We have had productive meetings with our note holder Bank of America in the past and we plan to reach out to them again.  

That conversation will hopefully occur soon.  All options are always on the table.

Are you in favor of a casino being located in the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District? Why or why not and please elaborate. 

The city council recently unanimously approved a resolution to support the growth and expansion of the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District.  

This district is a shovel-ready development with all the infrastructure in place.  

The current land use allows for hotels, water parks, restaurants, casinos, and other similar attractions.  

This undertaking has huge potential for jobs and revenue for Roanoke Rapids and surrounding areas.

What is your opinion on the Halifax County Commissioners rejecting and then coming to a deadlock on the city’s resolution favoring the casino? 

While I know that the Halifax County Commissioners are outstanding people that care deeply about the people of this county, I am disappointed that the resolution did not pass.  

I understand that this was a difficult decision for some, and I respect them for voting their conscience.

Would you be in favor of a property tax or a sales tax increase to help support salaries of all employees in order to make pay more competitive? Why or why not and please elaborate. 

A sales tax increase would certainly be a fair and just way to fund this idea.  

We have tried to make this happen in the past but did not get the support from the state legislature.  

Although we do not have revenue projections for next year’s budget and have not had a property tax increase in 13 years, a property tax increase would be highly unlikely for next year's budget.

What does the city need to do to attract industry? 

We should continue to fund our Main Street program which facilitates downtown revitalization, small business development, and the rehabilitation of historic properties.  

We must continue working with Halifax Horizons and the Halifax County Economic Development Commission and state officials.

How do you envision the future of the Premier Boulevard extension and what, if any, promise does it hold for the city? 

The opening of Premier Boulevard Extension could not have happened at a better time.  

With the expansion of the Carolina Crossroads Entertainment District, the new extension will provide much needed retail space for new markets.  

The extension has already relieved traffic congestion on the US-158 side.  

I see this as a win for all.