Public forum allows candidates to share their platforms

Their backgrounds, demographics and ideas varied, but the 10 candidates at a public forum Tuesday night agreed on one thing: Mount Olive can’t continue to operate as it has if the town wants to grow and prosper.

The mayor and all but one candidate for the Mount Olive Board of Commissioners participated in the 6 p.m. event and shared why they should be elected Nov. 4 to govern the town. District 4 candidate Camille Loftin was absent.

About 50 people attended the two-hour event, organized by the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce and held at the American Legion Building. Wayne Alley of Dudley was emcee.

The candidates are:

Incumbent Mayor, Dr. J. Jerome Newton, unopposed

Incumbent Vicky Darden, James Carlton and Robert King, Dist. 1

Incumbent Delreese Simmons, unopposed, Dist. 2

Gena Messer-Knode and Jessica Simpson Olliver, Dist. 3

Loftin and C.J. Weaver, Dist. 4

Harlie Carmichael and Don Fairman, At Large

Three prepared questions were provided to all candidates about two weeks prior, and each had two minutes to answer. Afterward, several questions submitted by audience members were addressed.

Here’s some of what candidates said in their opening statements:

“I grew up here … and still love this place,” said Mayor Newton. “I believe that we must be transparent to citizens and with that transparency we’ll get some trust. Mount Olive is a great little town, and it’s going to be better now because we understand what we have to do.”

Carlton talked about his professional background and family, then read from a reference letter from a former manager who described him as a man with a “high moral compass” and “solid integrity.”

Darden focused on her love for the town and its people.

“First thing, we need to stay together as one,” King said. “Five commissioners got to get together and do stuff that’s got to get done.”

Simmons said having the right people in the right jobs is the most immediate issue facing Mount Olive. “I’m going to fight for this town,” he said. “We have a long way to go. We have a lot of problems ….”

Messer-Knode outlined her professional background and successful experience with grant writing. “We must vote in talent for this town. We are desperate,” she said.

Olliver stated as a veteran, small business owner and mother, she had built her life on service. “Our community deserves leadership that listens first and takes action,” she said, noting a need for responsible and balanced growth in the town.

Weaver spoke of his experience in law enforcement and as a volunteer firefighter, adding he was not born in Mount Olive, but chose to move to the town.

Carmichael said even after he moved away when he was younger “Mount Olive was always on my heart” and he’s committed to helping wherever he can.

Fairman talked about his professional background and said although he grew up in Ohio and Pennsylvania, he loved the South and eastern North Carolina. His family moved to town six years ago because his wife is from here.

After introductions, each candidate responded to the group questions. Some candidates appeared better prepared than others.

Question No. 1: What steps will you take to gain progress on the moratorium – an issue that has hindered and stopped growth in Mount Olive – and get us back on track? Specifically, what can you do to fix this problem?

Mayor Newton said the town should consider acquiring land to “to pump water onto” or increase the water flow from the Neuse or Cape Fear rivers. “The engineers didn’t do their job,” he said. “We need the right engineers.” He said he was not in favor of regionalization because the town would lose revenue and has debts to pay.

Carlton said money management calls for discipline and stated, “I plan to bring discipline.” He said with the town’s history of fund mismanagement discipline would help town leaders regain trust among constituents.

Darden said money needs to be spent for its intended purpose. “Use the grant for what you got it for,” she said. “You can’t just use it here or there like you want to.” She added that board members need to “go to where the water is and check it out” to better understand the water problems.

While King didn’t offer suggestions, he noted that transferring money between funds was problematic. He also mentioned an expensive truck the town purchased and sold the next year at a financial loss, which he called a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Simmons said, “We’ve got to put contractors, engineers, and a town manager in place. We have got to have the right people in the right places and watch contracts and costs.”

Olliver said priority should be given to identifying the root cause of the problem with the infrastructure and water capacity. “Break it down into solvable pieces,” she said, adding engineers needed accountability.

Messer-Knode said she was “sick of this topic” and expected others were too. Financial mismanagement contributed to the town’s current problem, she said, and the town needed a plan with “tangible pieces that can be attained.” Then, she said, town leaders needed to follow the plan.

“We need a report from the town,” Weaver said. “What caused (the problems)? He suggested working closely with regulators to better understand requirements.

Carmichael said, “Let’s forget about the past, we can’t do anything about that.” Then he suggested setting a target date to resolve the infrastructure problems. “We need the public to help us. What are you doing to help your town?”

Fairman’s response was that he’s a contractor and the town needs someone who can talk with its contractors and “won’t be bamboozled.” In addition, the board should create an updated plan for how the town is run and referred to recent methods of operation as “incompetence and shenanigans.”

Question No. 2: Taxes have increased, the streets are in bad shape and citizens have many unanswered questions about the state audit regarding the water department, airport and mismanaged money (that was designated to get us off the moratorium). If elected to office, what will be your priority (in addition to the No. 1 priority of getting off the moratorium) that addresses these concerns of the citizens?

Mayor Newton said his top priority would be putting together a strategic plan and then following it. The plan would include hiring qualified people, professional accountability and including citizen input. Reducing taxes and improving communications and transparency are his other priorities.

Carlton said the town budget would be his priority and noted he’s tired of the lack of management, lack of accountability and hearing “a bunch of excuses.”

Darden’s priority would be getting the board to work together “to put everything in order.”

Truthfulness with the citizens is King’s priority.

Simmons said his priority would be to have a special meeting during the new board’s first two weeks to lower taxes.

Olliver

Restoring accountability and trust in government, would be Olliver’s priority. “Mount Olive doesn’t have a resource problem,” she said. “It has an accountability problem.”

Messer-Knode said her top priority would be to get a thorough overview of the town’s operations, “who we have in place and where and who is overseeing those individuals.” The town’s funding equation would be her next priority: “We need to get a handle on money management.”

Weaver said his top priority would be to implement strong financial controls and demand accountability. “We need to make sure both employees and contractors fulfill their obligations,” he said.

Noting the moratorium had caused the town’s revenue to become “stale,” Carmichael said it should be a priority for the commissioners to find new sources of revenue, including grants. “Money is out there,” he said.

Fairman said his top priority would be fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Question No. 3: Mount Olive citizens expect elected officials to stay informed of community needs – healthcare, education, economic impact, business development, childcare, agriculture, community development, etc. One of the best ways to be aware of the community’s wants and needs is to get involved in the community, outside of your town responsibilities. How will you stay educated about the community, participate in community events and show support to your constituents?

The mayor responded that he visits schools and talks with people at recreational activities and food giveaways.

Carlton described himself as a community person, “a walker not a talker.”

Darden said she participates in several community groups and helps feed the homeless. “I am here to help, here to serve.”

King’s response centered on a personal health care experience and didn’t address community participation.

Simmons said he is out every day “riding around talking to you guys, and I’m going to keep doing it.”

Olliver said she would like to create consistent opportunities where residents can speak directly to her and develop community partnerships.

Messer-Knode said she has been and continues to be active in the community and professional organizations. She suggested tapping into resources provided by the University of Mount Olive and Wayne Community College.

Weaver said he will be approachable and will listen to what citizens have to say. He shared a conversation he had recently when a friend found out he was running for town commissioner. The person asked him why he wanted to get involved in town government with all the complications it’s currently facing. His response was, “I can’t sit here and live here and complain about it and not do something.”

Carmichael stressed that it’s important to find ways to reach younger residents of the town. To prove his point, he asked anyone in the crowd 20 or younger to raise his or her hand. Only one hand was raised in response.

Fairman said he is already involved in several organizations, including parks and recreation and the infamous Methodist church peanut-frying group, but said he would like to see the board and mayor be available on a regular basis outside of board meetings to talk with constituents.

After a short break, the candidates answered a few questions submitted by attendees.

When asked about their experience working with budgets, responses ranged from managing the family business’s budget to overseeing departmental budgets at work.

“(The town budget) is not a small budget, Simmons said. “The town needs a finance director that knows how to do the budget. A lot of things need help in this budget.”

Another question was “What will be your plan for transparency in meetings?”

Simmons said he was not in favor of the 3-minute time limit on public comments at board meetings, but Darden responded that without the time limit comments “could go on forever.” She suggested office hours for board members as an option. Mayor Newton said transparency is very important and the board could have a set time for members of the public to stop in. “You can ask questions about everything we’re doing,” he said.

The final question was whether anyone’s candidacy created a conflict of interest. The only note of a potential conflict was voiced by Weaver and pertained to an accident that involved a family member. He stated that if elected he would recuse himself from any board business that might be deemed a conflict of interest.