Candidate Q&A: Lee Commissioner Democratic primary

There are five candidates in the Democratic primary for the Lee County Board of Commissioners. The top three candidates in the primary will move on to the general election, where they will face Republicans Samantha Martin, David Smoak and Bob Quilty for three at large seats on the board.

These questions are printed without edits and as the candidates submitted them. Early voting in the primary began on February 15 and runs through March 2. Election Day is March 5.

The Rant: Introduce yourself, including your age, length of time living in Lee County, your professional and/or elected experience, and describe your reasons for seeking a seat on the board of commissioners.

Kenneth Cole: I am Kenneth Charles Cole (65) from Lee County. I was born and raised in Lee County. My childhood was spent growing up in the Jonesboro community and in the east Sanford community. For the last 24 years, I have resided in West Sanford, and I attend Cool Springs Baptist Church.

I am a North Carolina State graduate with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering. I attended the UNC School of Government and earned a certificate in County Administration and attended the Public Executive Leadership Academy. I have stayed active throughout my career in the North Carolina City/County Managers Association and as an International City Manager Association-Credential Manager. I have served on numerous committees throughout my career, including serving on the Lee County Board of Health and Habitat for Humanity Board.

I was employed as Lee County’s Public Works Director for ten years and as the Assistant Lee County Manager for three years. I held the positions as the Town Manager for the Town of Coats in Harnett County and the Town Manager of Jamestown in Guilford County. In addition, I have ten years’ experience in the private sector as an Engineering Project Manager.

I am currently semi-retired and looking forward to devoting time to making our county even stronger and better. I have always wanted to serve as a commissioner because of my love for my county and my desire to help others. I think my work experience will allow me to make a smooth transition into this role. If elected, I will work with board members, using my past work experience to make Lee County a better place.

Bob Joyce: I’m Bob Joyce, age 72, a life-long resident of Lee County. I recently retired as Economic Development Director for Sanford, Broadway and Lee County. During my career, I worked in banking, insurance and real estate as well as local and state government. I also served as President of the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce for 8 years. This work experience, plus church and civic work, has given me a wide range of knowledge of our entire community, which will help me serve as a member of the Board of Commissioners. I seek to serve because I believe we have more work to do to make sure every family in Lee County benefits from the growth and prosperity we’ve experienced in the past 10 years.

Mark Lovick (incumbent): Mark Lovick 59 years old. Lived in Lee County all my life. At large commissioner since 2020. I have enjoyed serving Lee County Citizens for over 3 years. I feel I have made good decisions for our county. I would be honored to serve you the people for another term. I have been open and transparent. I have voted to raise pay for Law enforcement. I have voted to help our schools while lowering our tax rate, each of my 3 years.

Cameron Sharpe (incumbent): Hello, my name is Cameron Sharpe and I am 60 years old and a life long resident of Lee County. I am a thirty year retiree from the State of North Carolina working with North Carolina Probation Parole. I currently work for the City of Sanford in Planning and Development with Code Enforcement. I have served two terms as County Commissioner. I am running for re-election to keep my seat on the Board to finish up various projects that I have been a part of the last four years (The Sports Complex and the new Lee County Library), to address important local issues, and implement the effective use of resources for the betterment of Lee County. I would humbly say that my experience on the Board has great value and my hope is that the citizens of Lee County would once again trust me to do the work to make our county a better place to live, work and play.

Lloyd Smith: Hello; My name is Lloyd Smith, candidate for Lee County Commissioner at Large. As a long time resident of Lee County (72 years), born at the old Lee County Hospital on Carthage Street, I am intimately aware of the changes in our county, and how they are affecting our populace. Via my profession as an EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) employee and consultant, I have firsthand knowledge of regulatory changes affecting our area from federal and state influences and have had time to access these changes through working with regulators for compliance that has had affects at the large and small business level. As a consequence of these relationships, I now feel that with this intricate knowledge and contacts, I can, as a commissioner, guide and construct intelligent conversations on the effects on our county encompassing both rural and urban areas. In addition, I am an active member of the Lee County Environmental Affairs Board, and Lee County Agricultural Advisory Board.

The Rant: Federal COVID funds provided to the county will run out less than a year after the election. It has been the practice of the current board to use a portion of these dollars to pay for one time expenses like a full body scanner for the sheriff’s office. There remains, however, a long list of other needs that have not been funded over the last three years. How do you propose paying for these items, particularly as the infusion of federal money goes away?

Cole: I was employed as a Town Manager in Jamestown, NC during Covid and navigating through the pandemic was very difficult. Not only were we dealing with Covid, but we were dealing with the emotional issues with staff, due to the uncertainty of Covid. There was a lot of unnecessary spending because extra funds became available. There was a lot of uncertainty dealing with this dilemma. Hopefully, these statewide issues have been addressed. At this point, I will rely on Lee County staff to recommend what is needed in the future. We will use available resources and make plans to budget them in our Capital Improvements Plan. We all, including our Health system, were definitely in a reactive mode when the pandemic started, but our health system has a better understanding of what is needed to address the newer strands of Covid. We, the Commissioners, should rely on the expertise of the staff members from our Health Department to recommend what is needed. It’s time to identify and plan on purchasing items we anticipate that are needed through the remaining Covid funds, or propose using them in the annual budget process. It is time for us to be in a proactive mode.

Joyce: It is my understanding that some current county projects using ARPA funds may come in under budget. Consequently, there may be leftover dollars that could be reallocated to “down the list” priorities. I think county staff has done a good job of recommending priorities to the Board; and the Board has done a good job of being fiscally responsible with these funds. I think it is always important to evaluate every project with measurable outcomes when setting priorities for future funding.

Lovick: As Federal COVID funds run out, it is crucial we have alternate funds to address unmet needs in Lee County. I would propose 1. Prioritize needs: Evaluate the list of unmet needs and prioritize them based on urgency and impact. 2. Grant Opportunities: Research and pursue available grants at state or federal levels. Some grants may be tailored to address unmet needs. 3. Future Financial Planning: Develop a plan that accounts for the expiration of federal funds. Expanding our tax based by attracting strong businesses will help with this.

Sharpe: First of all, we have to prioritize and evaluate the list of unmet needs of the County. It may involve reassessing spending priorities and reallocating resources from lower priority needs. We could also explore public-private partnerships with organizations that may have an interest in supporting community initiatives. Another possibility would be to research and pursue available grant opportunities at the state and federal level to secure funding for specific projects or initiatives. There very well may be grants tailored to address the needs within the County. Lastly, we are always looking to expand the tax base by attracting strong businesses. With considering all of these strategies, the County can work toward addressing the unmet needs even as federal funding diminishes.

Smith: Lee County is listed as a Tier 2 economic stressed area in the Economic Development Partnership of NC. This means that 40 counties, including Lee, qualify for financial support from the commission. I would seek to gain funds based on this categorization, as many funding requests do not reach the attention of a capital expenditure, which requires extensive paperwork for consideration. In addition, review of current needs and expenditures can be canvassed for funding necessity to seek additional help from other grants and community actions, such as relief programs offered by the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and rural transformation grants from NC Commerce.

The Rant: Democrats are currently the minority party on the Lee County Board of Commissioners. If you’re elected and Democrats remain in the minority, how will you work with the board’s Republican majority to see that your priorities are realized? If Democrats gain the board’s majority, what changes do you see to the direction of the board?

Cole: Communication helps us build relationships by allowing us to share our experiences and needs and helps us connect to others. As the position of a commissioner, I must dedicate time to the issues and not just dedicate time during commissioner meetings. I will strive to communicate with new and existing board members, because our priorities should be the public’s priorities. I will expect respect and I will give respect. If Democrats gain the majority, I don’t see any changes in the direction of the board. Without having experience as a commissioner, at this point, I don’t see any changes in direction. I am expecting to see that the past boards have adequately addressed what was needed for our county. The last thing I would want to see is anything reversed by past boards that would cost taxpayers.

Joyce: In economic development, cooperation and collaboration with people of different viewpoints was essential in bringing new projects to our community. My work in consensus building would be a strategy I would bring to the Board of Commissioners. One area of difference in priorities might be more emphasis on education – both community college and public schools.

Lovick: If elected and remaining as a minority, I would stay bipartisan on key initiatives for our county needs. It is essential to collaborate together. If Democrats gain majority of the board, I will continually vote for or against issues that better things for our citizens. No matter the board control, we must cooperate and stay civil in order to address the needs of Lee County and its residents.

Sharpe: I have always been able to work both sides of the aisle to get major initiatives approved. If I happen to be in the minority on the Board, I will continue to prioritize, collaborate and use bipartisan efforts to get key projects and initiatives passed and completed. Over the years I have been on the Board, I have kept open lines of communication and good relationships with Democrats and Republicans. Under most circumstances, I have always been able to find common ground with the other side. Finding common ground can lead to progress even if in the minority.

If Democrats gain the majority on the Board, there would be some directional shifts. On a Democrat led Board, I can see the focus being on what affects those in Lee County on a daily basis. The Board would not concentrate on national issues that we as a local Board can do nothing about. I could see a Democrat led majority focus more on educational issues. It is my thought that a Democrat led Board would be much more teacher friendly. I still see a Democrat led Board continuing to focus on economic development, supporting law enforcement and supporting mental health initiatives. Regardless of the Board’s make up, I think it is very important to prioritize cooperation and civility so that this Board can effectively assess the needs of Lee County and its residents.

Smith: Reaching out to a political peer is a process governed by controlling rhetoric and finding common ground on which to build relationships for similar goals. I feel, as a candidate, that this is a strong suit that I can employ to bridge that gap, and gain results for both parties. If Democrats serve as the majority after this election, my direction would be for more attention given to urban encroachment to natural habitats (farmland, ecologically rich areas) for the control and prevention of pollution from all areas (soil, air, water, noise). It should never be lost in the conversation of development that one cannot make more water, soil or air – these are not expendable natural resources.

The Rant: Whether you’re an incumbent seeking re-election or a new candidate seeking election for the first time, describe one issue you’d like to bring up that you feel the board hasn’t adequately addressed in the past three years.

Cole: It would be an honor to serve with our existing, or new board members. If elected, I will support and communicate with all board members, regardless of party affiliation. I expect that our current county staff has well versed our current commissioners on the issues at hand. Having never served as a county commissioner, it’s hard to address what has not been adequately addressed. I will do my best to listen to our citizens and target issues that they feel have not been properly addressed. I have a passion for issues relating to youth, families, senior citizens, homeless, and mental health. I will depend on our management staff to bring forward the issues that need addressing. I am fully confident that our county staff has the expertise.

Joyce: Aside from education, one area that I believe should be at the forefront is planning for future growth. Preserving green space, protecting our agricultural lands and planning for increases in traffic should all be part of the overall quality of life discussion.

Lovick: If elected I feel our growth needs to be addressed. Strategies and consideration to manage our growth need addressing. We have always been a rural county, and need to keep our farmers and environment in mind.

Sharpe: The current Board has addressed the issue of mental health and we have taken steps to improve in this area. Mental health is an area that needs increased attention and resources related to treatment. With the opioid settlement money the County received, we should advocate for improved access to mental health services, counseling, therapy, intervention and referrals to in-patient facilities. We can also work toward strengthening partnerships with healthcare providers and mental health organizations to ensure a comprehensive approach to mental health care. Addressing the unmet needs related to mental health service, we can work toward creating a healthier and more supportive environment for all residents of Lee County.

Smith: Preservation of farmlands and natural areas in Lee County must be on every person’s agenda for future generations to follow. Rural farms are currently in danger of disappearing at an alarming rate, and it would be my goal to present options from “selling the family farm” to entertaining more constructive ways that remove financial burden from the owner and establish permanent green areas to aid in the reduction of greenhouse gasses.

The Rant: Several large capital projects that have been in the works for years are now under way and nearing completion. What large capital projects do you think the county will need to contend with next? Do you see any conflicts that might arise in determining which are most important?

Cole: As we build new buildings, the old structures would normally be left vacant for disposal. The county does an excellent job in utilizing these older buildings for other purposes. The General Services Department does an excellent job of maintaining our facilities. To continue this building reuse process, we need to look at increasing the building maintenance funding.

The large capital projects underway today was in the planning stages when I served as the county’s General Services Director over 20 years ago. I am proud to be working again for Lee County, employed part-time, assisting in the construction of capital projects with the Department of Development Services. The projects under construction today will benefit our county for years to come. Capital projects are introduced yearly through our Capital Improvements Program (CIP) as part of the budget process. Our facilities are evaluated yearly and are either recommended for expansion or replacement.

I think our county will be faced with, of course, the construction of new schools but we also have to contend with the construction of a new courthouse and jail. Our current jail has reached its inmate capacity and is antiquated and plagued with numerous maintenance issues. The county’s Capital Improvements Program is very detailed with a project ranking system, which helps reduce conflicts.

Conflicts could arise because we may not agree with spending funds on projects what some may think has little value to the taxpayers. If elected as your commissioner, I will keep spending minimal and do my best to not put a burden on our taxpayers.

Joyce: I’m not sure I see conflicts ahead in the debate of the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), but certainly a lot of serious discussion in setting priorities. With the Athletic Park, Moore Center and Library projects underway with funding identified, the ambitious 5-year CIP (22 projects and $364 million in requests) will need very careful scrutiny, especially the larger school construction projects. It’s not possible to fund all these projects (either by pay-as-you-go or by borrowing) when they are requested, but we should set priorities by considering how each one will ultimately impact the well-being of our county residents.

Lovick: No response.

Sharpe: The county may have to consider infrastructure development to address the growth in the county. We may have to consider looking at our public facilities such as schools and government buildings. In the area of economic development, the county will certainly aim to support projects that attract new businesses and create new job opportunities. The county needs to do all of these things while considering environmental initiatives to protect the county.

Conflicts in determining project priorities can arise due to varying perspectives on the county’s needs, available resources and the communities priorities. It is important for the Board of Commissioners to actively engage with stakeholders, conduct assessments and consider the long-term impacts of each projects. By adopting a transparent decision making process, we can best serve the overall interests of the county and its residents.

Smith: It is clear that Lee County has decided to grow by providing goods and services similar to those offered in larger NC cities to attract business activity in the area, and to have people choose the area to live, raise families, and contribute to economic growth. As a result of this, I feel better city planning for traffic flow will inevitably be needed in future to ensure movement about the city and county does not become an everyday challenge for motorists. Subsequently, a strong candidate for commissioner must seek additional highway funds to prevent such urban congestion to complement new venues in the area. Additionally, careful thought of where and when to expand this infrastructure must be thoroughly evaluated to reduce congestion, select serviceable and durable road surfaces, and ensure upkeep for appearances and purpose. Improved roads also benefit emergency services, such as medical, fire, and law enforcement services to better respond to increased requests for these public services.

The Rant: The Board of Commissioners cut the county property tax rate significantly at the end of the last fiscal year, but revaluation caused the gross amounts paid by most, if not all taxpayers to increase significantly. Do you feel like this is a permanent situation taxpayers will need to become accustomed to, or do you feel like it’s possible to cut the tax rate further to create a situation that’s closer to “revenue neutral?”

Cole: I have had considerable experience in the budget process after serving as a town manager for two towns and as a department head for Lee County. The process has remained the same for years, tax rates change, and revaluations will continue. The taxpayers should know the process and understand that it’s not a permanent situation and we could get back to revenue neutral.

When I started my career with Lee County, the budgets were very lean, and times were hard. Our financial position has improved over previous years, partly due to the work of the county staff and the prior Board of Commissioners. We are fortunate that the Board of Commissioners were able to reduce the tax rate at the end of the last fiscal year. If not, the increase for the taxpayers could have been substantially more. Future tax rate reductions are dependent on the budgets submitted yearly by county departments, our school system and other agencies funded by the county and forecasting the next fiscal year’s revenues.

If elected as your commissioner, I can’t promise tax reductions, but I will promise to look for innovative ways to keep our tax rate as low as possible.

Joyce: I think it is possible to cut the tax rate further. Continued commercial and industrial growth is necessary to get that rate down some more, so we’ve got to carefully plan for that continued growth. Balancing the cost of services for new growth with the increased revenue from that growth is important.

Lovick: No response.

Sharpe: This situation is not uncommon. This often occurs when property values rise, leading to higher tax assessments even if the tax rate itself has been reduced. Since I was elected in 2016, we have lowered the property tax rate from 78.5 to 65 cents per $100 of valuation. The property tax rate has been lowered four different times.

Revenue neutral depends on various factors, including the county’s budgetary needs, economic conditions and community priorities. It is very important for the Board of Commissioners to consider budgetary needs, community impact, long term financial planning, transparency and communication. It is also very important for the Board of Commissioners to engage with the public to make well-informed decisions that align with long-term interests of the county and its residents.

Smith:  Tax evaluation and burden should be reduced as much as possible to ensure persons are not overlayed with property taxes that are difficult to manage. I consider large business entities should be taxed accordingly to reduce the tax burden on average households to create a revenue neutral situation for Lee County residents on an annual basis. It should be known that additional taxes for these corporations, although not applied in the first operating window of a company, will increase just as their profits from manufacturing grow. In this way, increasing property taxes for these companies contributes more than just jobs for the area. This should be a permanent focus of the Lee County Board as they assess constructive ways to assist with tax allocations.

The Rant: Many candidates have talked about “smart growth” as we’ve continued to see expansion of housing, commercial business and the Sanford city limits. The county’s role in growth, however, has been limited in recent years due to the fact that the city wields far more control over the annexation process. How will you ensure the county has a strong position when it comes to further growth?

Cole: We all have noticed the new growth in Sanford, especially in single family homes. Often municipalities will want to increase their tax base by annexation. A major issue is it puts a strain on our infrastructure. I am concerned about the strain that will be placed on our schools and transportation system. As your commissioner, I will be working alongside my fellow board members to communicate our concerns with city officials.

There was a time when annexation was somewhat controlled by the county, due to the construction of the county’s water system. We effectively worked with city officials on an agreement that satisfied their annexation concerns, so I would expect the same from the City of Sanford. We should be working together to move our county forward.

Joyce: I think it is possible to cut the tax rate further. Continued commercial and industrial growth is necessary to get that rate down some more, so we’ve got to carefully plan for that continued growth. Balancing the cost of services for new growth with the increased revenue from that growth is important.

Lovick: No response.

Sharpe: Smart growth looks different from place to place. It is an overall approach to development that encourages a mix of building types and uses. There are several factors to smart growth. Some are mixed land uses, creating a range of housing opportunities, making development decisions fair and cost effective and encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions. Smart growth is about helping every city and county become more economically prosperous, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable place to live and helping everyone flourish.

To ensure the county has a strong position where it comes to further growth, the county needs to consider investing in land conservancy programs where the county incentivizes land owners to keep their land agricultural and free from development. With landowners participating in programs such as this, it would ensure the land stays agricultural and safe from further development.

Smith: Smart growth should be defined as a way to integrate expansion in a way that incorporates landowner rights as well as economic. evaluations. Many landowners in Lee County feel they have no voice in what the cIty dictates in the way of urban encroachment. It should be the intent of every commissioner to ensure landowners are not forced to give up land for urban development without other avenues to use their land for its otherwise intended purpose. “Smart Growth” is not to be considered without input from those persons who have traditionally owned property and may want to pass it along to their forbears. As a result, the Lee County Joint Environmental Affairs Board, as well as the Lee County Agricultural Advisory Board, to which I am an active member in both, is a way to lobby both politically and socially to educate our area in the value of personal property, and a way to preserve it for the future

The Rant: The Board of Education is expected to begin discussions soon on new schools to accommodate expected growth. What is the best way to effectively plan, from the perspective of a commissioner, for such a large expenditure?

Cole: I am pro education, but before any future schools are constructed, I would expect the priority to be paying our teachers fairly. I have seen and heard of too many teachers working way beyond regular school hours to get their teaching job completed and spending their own money for school supplies.

Without teachers, there is no reason to construct new schools.

The best plan for school construction is for the Board of Education to involve the Board of Commissioners from the very beginning of all discussions. We know that new schools will be needed at some point due to the current and future growth. As with all agencies requesting funding from the Board of Commissioners, including the Board of Education, must understand the ramifications of requesting large expenditures.

In the budget process, there are wants and needs. I will accept the “must have.” I will not be in favor of putting a burden on the taxpayers.

Joyce: Conversation, collaboration, cooperation. We’ve had great success for the past ten years in economic development because we worked together – both local government and private business – in determining where and how we want to grow. To continue that success, and at the same time preserve some green space and maintain our quality of life, we need to work together (County, City, Broadway and private business) on planning and zoning policies, road infrastructure priorities, new school building locations and major subdivisions.

We do a good job of that collaboration at the staff level with our Technical Review Committee process, but we need to do a better job at the elected level with County and City leaders.

Lovick: No response.

Sharpe: The Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education must plan together on such a large project as building a new school. The Board of Education must justify the need for a new school. It is the county’s job to figure out how to pay for it. It is imperative for the county to  continue to pay down debt to get in a good position to be able to borrow the money for when the time comes to build a new school. Obviously, the more debt that is paid down, the more room we have to take on new debt for a school. Building a new school is years in the making. The Board of Education presents the need to the Board of Commissioners, there is land acquisition involved, the Board of Commissioners have to figure out how to pay for it and even then it could be a year or two before construction is complete. This is not a small, easy or quick process and it takes collaboration and planning from the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education to get something like this done.

Smith: I do feel that Lee County has kept pace with school growth as needs to generate improvements have grown. This is reflected in all grade levels, even up to our local college that for years has aligned itself with local needs for further educational opportunities. If we start with infrastructure already in place, a bond referendum, private donations, or available educational grants should supplement city/county funds to improve existing facilities without resorting to new structures. Lee County is listed as a Tier 2 economically depressed area, so funds would be available to support educational growth needs. Resources for schools should also include monies not only for infrastructure, but also school programs, health needs, opportunities for affected youth, and all necessary functions to retain teacher intellectual property by shoring up a deficit in salaries and retention.