By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — In front of arguably the biggest crowd to attend a Blowing Rock Candidates Forum in at least the last 20 years, all five candidates for elected office shared their thoughts on Oct. 9 at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium.
With local attorney Chelsea Garrett and financial advisor Billy Chick again serving as moderators, the four candidates for the two open board of commissioners seats and Charlie Sellers, running unopposed for Mayor, fielded questions ranging from paid parking, underground utilities, property taxes, town code, and more. At the outset, Chick noted that this was the 16th year that the Chamber’s “Leadership Challenge” alumni had hosted and produced a Candidates Forum.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Sellers thanked the more than 200 people in attendance for coming out, saying, “Thank you for your interest in the town. We are who we are because of you.”
Sellers listed the many accomplishments of the Town Council over the last six years, acknowledging a measure of credit to his predecessor, J.B. Lawrence, as well as the many commissioners who have served. He noted major renovations to Memorial Park, infrastructure improvements on Sunset Drive and paving of Sunset Drive, the sidewalk to Bass Lake, the ongoing upgrading of the water and sewer plants, opening the Police Department 24/7, adding additional police and EMTs (“By the request of the citizens,” Sellers said), adding a school resource officer, completing 90 percent of the paving that the citizens voted for with the 2014 Community Improvement Bonds, and the installation of automatic water meters.
The Mayor noted that the town had a 90 percent retention rate of its employees, the extension of sidewalks on Main Street, phase II of Memorial Park expansion, and replacing water and sewer lines on Main Street.
Sellers offered that looking forward, if he is re-elected, he wants a review of how tax dollars are being spend, implementing ordinances for controlled growth in the downtown sector, continued improvements of infrastructure, complete the Comprehensive Plan, secure 24/7 ambulance transport, continued improvements in Memorial Park and “… a plan for managing parking in our town.”
After Sellers’ comments, each of the candidates had opening statements.
Catherine Perry said that she likes to “oll up her sleeves” and get involved, noting her previous service as a volunteer member of the Board of Adjustments and then the Planning Board, as well as a current member of the steering committee for revising the 10-Year (Comprehensive) Plan.
“I am not aligned with any person or persons or any group. I am an independent thinker,” said Perry. “I look critically at the available facts and information in making the best decision for our town… Many say Blowing Rock is at a tipping point and it may well be, but I am qualified and I am ready to give this job over 100 percent, which it will take to manage the challenges we have and work for you, the residents.”
David Harwood said, “I am enthusiastically seeking re-election for one simple reason. This is my home. It has been my home for 24 years. We purposely chose Blowing Rock because of the excellent school system, the natural beauty of our mountains and the closeness found in this small town. It has been a wonderful place to raise our two daughters, start and run businesses, and make lifelong friends.”
Harwood said that serving on Town Council has been one of the greatest honors in his life, being able to give back to the community that has been so good to himself and his family. He shared that he has unique experience in many areas of the town besides his being the lone incumbent candidate, including his years on the Board of Adjustment and nine years, including as chairman of the Planning Board. He added that he has also served on the board of directors for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and a current member of the board of the Blowing Rock Historical Society, and a founding member of the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum.
“Suffice it to say that I know and love Blowing Rock,” said Harwood. “Blowing Rock faces many challenges, in part because of a lack of thoughtful, long-term planning. Sustainable growth, parking, and infrastructure top the list of issues… I hope you will re-elect me because I have not yet finished the job that I started. I hope you will give me that opportunity.”
In arguably the briefest opening statement of the evening, Jamie Dixey stated that she is running for Town Council because she is “… concerned about how we are prioritizing spending and making decisions that affect the quality of life of residents.”
Dixey underlined that the town character is a valuable asset and it needs to be protected.
“In order to leverage that asset,” she said, “we need to revise our building code and eliminate loopholes, and control how our town looks. I am against the (property) taxpayers paying to bury utility lines on Main Street. It benefits far too few. The town’s paid parking program needs to charge tourists to park and (property) taxpayers should have parking privileges at no charge.and there should be a range of free parking for employees.”
Hunt Broyhill brought one of the biggest laughs of the evenings when he noted that while he and his wife now live in Blowing Rock, he has been visiting Blowing Rock all of his life.
“In fact, my parents vacationed here in August of 1963 — and I showed up nine months later,” he said.
Now the CEO of the Broyhill Family Foundation, Broyhill stated that in this capacity he has dealt with all aspects of management, including strategy, budgets, finance and team-building. He reported that he has served on many local, state and national charitable boards and on several for-profit corporate boards.
“This experience has taught me the value of corporate governance, consensus building, collaboration and cooperation with peers and that these skillsets will translate nicely to town government,” he said.
Broyhill said that he is running for town council because he believes the town needs candidates with strong business backgrounds to be responsible stewards of the citizens’ tax dollars.
Broyhill questioned the growth in the town’s budget in recent years, the level of debt and the cost of debt service. He wondered aloud how much should the taxpayers be expected to pay in creases.
“I want to be your voice on town council and I would be honored to receive your vote,” he concluded.
During the formal Q&A segment prepared by the Leadership Challenge alumni, the candidates were asked about parking issues, including paid parking and new parking structures, as well as short-term rentals, downtown development and any needed changes to the Land Use Code, and the skillsets required of anyone engaged in a comprehensive review of ordinances or the Land Use Code.
A full airing of the Candidates Forum can be viewed and heard at the following Vimeo links, shared by Blowing Rock Civic Association.
PART 1: https://vimeo.com/873066611?share=copy
PART 2: https://vimeo.com/873328845?share=copy
