OCTOBER 15, 2009 ISSUE
Municipal Elections 2009
Blowing Rock Candidate Profiles
Eight candidates are running for three available seats on the Blowing Rock Town Council. Blowing Rock council members serve four-year terms. Blowing Rock Mayor J.B. Lawrence is running unopposed for re-election.
In the past week, candidates for Blowing Rock Town Council received a questionnaire asking them to provide their top priority for the town and their positions on the issues of preserving Blowing Rock’s character, planning and growth and parking and traffic. Their responses are included here.
To learn more about the Blowing Rock candidates, attend a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, October 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.
For Blowing Rock Town Council
Pat Fountain
REASON FOR RUNNING: “I have no alliance to any group, business or person. I will be an independent voice on the council. My decisions on council will be based on what is best for all of Blowing Rock citizens. I want all of Blowing Rock to feel they have access to their Town Council through me.”
TOP PRIORITY: Transparent government, keeping taxes low and finding a new water source for the town
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “I want Blowing Rock to stay Blowing Rock; that is why people come to our town—they like the small town atmosphere and the friendly people.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “There is a growth plan for the town, and I hope to add some new ideas and find out what the citizens of all of Blowing Rock see for the future.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “Parking should not be a huge issue for we have one parking deck already and a second one on the way. Anymore [and] we will just be a large parking lot.”
Mike Kebelbeck
sites.google.com/site/KebelbeckForTownCouncil
REASON FOR RUNNING: “We are at a critical time in our town, where planning for growth, infrastructure, traffic management, parking, the future of our arts center, possible hospital expansion and the new four lane expansion of Highway 321 Bypass bring challenges to our future.
“We need to preserve our village and manage the growth of our community. I have the experience and skills to help plan for and manage these challenges and help keep Blowing Rock beautiful and flourishing.”
TOP PRIORITY: Create a strategic master plan for Blowing Rock
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “A master plan would include protecting the character of our downtown historic area by adapting and enforcing our codes and zoning laws to ensure that we maintain our biggest asset. “We need to ensure a safe and scenic environment for our visitors and residents and our historic past.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “The master plan would also plan for and include the growth of our local community and the 321 Bypass. This will help attract visitors, businesses and residents to help keep Blowing Rock a thriving mountain resort area.
“This includes managing growth consistently with our ability to provide and/or expand our infrastructure. We have an obligation to provide adequate clean water, sewage disposal, power, well-maintained roads, parking and other services. Our growth needs to be managed within these constraints and the town budget.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “Included in a master plan would be the ongoing review and creative thinking of our community to search for the best solutions for parking and traffic management.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “What do we want the town to look like in 10 years? Twenty years? The answers don’t reside in a five-person Town Council. Getting to the right answers requires input from all interested parties through listening, gathering ideas and data and designing the best solutions and plans.
“I am a good listener, a creative problem solver, a strong long-term planner and a proven leader who needs your vote. I love our town and pledge my best efforts and thinking to do the right things for this community.”
Tommy Klutz
REASON FOR RUNNING: “I want to finish what we started in the past four years and continue to represent all the people of Blowing Rock equally.”
TOP PRIORITY: Fairness for everyone in all of the issues
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “One of my single most important goals in the past four years on the council has been preserving the character of Blowing Rock and always will be.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “My position on planning and growth is planning for controlled growth while protecting small town charm.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “My position on parking and traffic is fully utilizing every parking space available while planning for satellite parking for the future, on surface lots.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “Our infrastructure needs must be met! We have a good start in our long-range plan. We must be fair to all citizens and stay on track with our goals while bringing the past into the future.
“I invite anyone who wants to talk to me about any issues or ask me any questions to come to my shop The Restoration House in Blowing Rock anytime.”
Doug Matheson
REASON FOR RUNNING: “My reason for running for Town Council is that I want to give back to a town that has been good to me.”
TOP PRIORITY: Water and sewer
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “I strongly believe in preserving the character of Blowing Rock. The town has so many beautiful assets that we need to make sure and keep them.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “I believe in controlled growth and planning for the town as we go forward into the future.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “Hopefully the parking problem in town is being eased by the construction of two parking decks. This should also help in reducing the traffic congestion that Main Street suffers from on busy weekends.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “My name is Douglas Matheson. I'm 53 years old and married to Barbara. I have three stepchildren and seven wonderful grandchildren. I attended Blowing Rock Elementary and graduated in 1975 from Watauga High. I am past president of the Blowing Rock PTO, past president of the Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation [and have spent] 26 years with the Blowing Rock Fire Department, currently serving as chief. I work at Appalachian State University in the Mechanical Division.
“Blowing Rock has raised me to care about this town and its future. As a council member I would help and be a part of something that I care a lot about. We should be aware of our basic needs that we don't always see. Water and sewer system improvements, repairs and maintenance must continue to be a priority. We should support the water connect between Boone, Blowing Rock and ASU, as well as explore all possible improvements to our system.
“I would like to see an ambulance base in Blowing Rock. Our call volume deserves and tax base deserves progress being made on ambulance base distribution in Watauga County, including a base in Blowing Rock. The ambulance response times in the county are double what they are in Boone.”
Gary Lee Smith
REASON FOR RUNNING: “The village of Blowing Rock itself. Blowing Rock is what I had always pictured the ideal American town to be and my love, passion and deep sense of caring for this town has made me want to be one of its frontline caretakers.”
TOP PRIORITY: Communication—not only between councilpersons but also between councilpersons and the community
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER and PLANNING/GROWTH: “These two issues must be combined because without considering both, the other ultimately suffers. Our village is rich in history, incredible natural beauty, friendliness and charm. These qualities are what keeps us here and brings tourists and visitors to our town. No decision should be made in the name of ‘progress’ alone; if anything, decisions should be made which promote and enhance these qualities.
“Our village is also unique, with its full-time and seasonal residents, businesses, extended-stay vacationers and day-trip tourists, and all these groups should be considered when discussing the future of our community. The council must make its decisions based solely on what is best for the town, overall. If a decision is made only to benefit one of these groups and not the village as a whole, a little bit of the town we fell in love with dies.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “The current council has made great strides in addressing this issue with construction of the new parking decks. In my discussions with some residents, tourists and business owners, the overwhelming consensus has been they appreciate these improvements and readily accept any residual inconvenience.
“Everybody I spoke with said they would much rather walk a little farther or use secondary roads than compromise the integrity of the town. One tourist from Macon, Ga., best summed up the visitors’ feelings when he said, ‘You don’t go to Disney World expecting to be the first in line.’”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “Council members owe it to the residents and businesses to be more diligent in communicating with them. There have been too many times the phrase ‘I’m curious what the neighbors think of this proposal’ have been uttered in Town Council meetings. If an item on their agenda might have even a cursory impact on neighboring residents or businesses, council members should take it upon themselves to explore those possible effects prior to council meetings. They must always remember they are servants and voices of the entire community. However, they can’t provide a true service and true voice without first seeking out and engaging all facets of the community in dialogue.”
Jerry Starnes
REASON FOR RUNNING: “I am running to make sure that that we keep our friendly, small town atmosphere and to make sure that our grandchildren have a quaint, little Blowing Rock to enjoy.”
TOP PRIORITY: All voters’ ideas being heard and preserving Blowing Rock as a quaint little town
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “Preserving the character of Blowing Rock has been the responsibility of past Town Councils and Planning Boards, and they have done an excellent job. Currently, the Planning Board is defining a set of regulations for the ‘Town Center’ with the historic buildings on Main Street.
“My position is that we cannot ‘mess up’ what our forefathers protected, and we owe future generations our diligence to retain the character of the Town Center.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “Planning for some growth is the trick. Landowners have the right to use their property, and the town has a lot of pre-existing zoning regulations. We all complain about the controls on our land use, but we want them to apply to control our neighbors. My goal is that all sides will be heard!”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “Parking and traffic are being addressed by attractive parking decks and the updating of the Highway 321Bypass. Moving forward, the town streets need reworking, and we may need to landscape the Highway 321Bypass after NCDOT completes their work. Fortunately, every improvement will be publicly debated. We have active, concerned voters who will show up at town meetings and express their opinions. Democracy is alive and well in Blowing Rock!”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “I grew up in Hickory and have been a seasonal resident in Blowing Rock for 51 years, and I have a respect for Blowing Rock and its history and want to be part of guiding its future. The only burning issues I have are that we investigate every issue and make the best decisions for Blowing Rock’s future and the people who live here.”
Jim Steele
REASON FOR RUNNING: “To continue my service to the citizens of Blowing Rock in a different capacity from the last seven years ‘for the love of Blowing Rock.’”
TOP PRIORITY: Preserve and maximize the physical assets of the village, including the Stage Company, health care facilities, cultural centers and Central Business District
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “Over the past six years, I have worked on the Planning Board to ensure the character of Blowing Rock is maintained yet grows.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “The town needs to be financially strong, so controlled growth with good planning.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “Parking will always be a problem in the Central Business District, but we have enough planned for the time being. Traffic congestion can be addressed and can be solved.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “There are other issues that are important: water and sewer programs need to implemented to ensure an excellent quality and quantity, update the Master Plan that is 10 years old and what will the new 2010 budget look like.
“Having worked with the town over the past seven years, I am prepared to serve and address these issues.”
George Sudderth
REASON FOR RUNNING: “I am a lifelong resident of Blowing Rock with over 30 years of municipal government experience. During my 30-plus years, I have worked for both Boone and Blowing Rock in law enforcement, fire and rescue and public works and retired as the Town of Boone's first public utilities director. I feel that my experience and training would benefit the citizens of Blowing Rock.”
TOP PRIORITY: Promoting a transparent governing body, holding the line on taxes and utility rates while paying down the town's debt and looking for a supplemental raw water source for current and future needs
PRESERVING BLOWING ROCK’S CHARACTER: “I believe in involving and listening to Blowing Rock's citizens and acting according to their wishes.”
PLANNING/GROWTH: “I will continue to follow current policies while exploring new strategies that will enhance Blowing Rock and provide a stable infrastructure for the future.”
PARKING/TRAFFIC: “The town has constructed one parking deck and has another under construction. Time will tell how much extra parking will be needed. Traffic flows are dictated by NCDOT's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), and my experience working with DOT allows me to understand how complicated and time consuming this process can be. I have the patience and technical knowledge to work with DOT in developing a TIP that would improve traffic conditions while maintaining the integrity and character of Blowing Rock.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: “During the 30 years I served in municipal government, the last 18 as utilities and engineering director for the Town of Boone, I created and modified an employee management program based on span of control, which is still in use today. As director, I improved the efficiency of the department through implementing system audits that showed inefficiencies and waste.
“During my directorship I acted as team leader for a $12 million waste water plant upgrade; this project succeeded in improving Boone's waste water discharge into the New River by eliminating contaminants that were previously allowed to flow into the river. This project was finished six months early and $1 million under budget and has received several awards for engineering and design and discharge contaminant elimination.
“I spent 18 years as a volunteer serving on the BRFD, five of which I served as chief. During my time as chief, I was involved in the committee that initiated the 911 emergency response system and enhanced communication abilities of the BRFD and BRPD. Following my service with the BRFD, I served five years on Boone Fire Department, which introduced me to a combination paid and volunteer staff.
“During my time serving two municipalities, I worked with many town council members and developed skills and techniques that are effective in team building, which is a critical part of the communication process necessary between staff, community and elected leaders. My skills and experience will enable me to more quickly identify and act on behalf of the citizens of Blowing Rock.”
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