Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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Three seats are currently open for November’s election. Filing for commissioner seats began Feb. 11 and will extend to Feb. 29.
Only three Republican candidates have registered at the Davidson County Board of Elections, including Incumbent Fred McClure, former Commissioner Kenny Moore and newcomer Cathy Dunn. Incumbents Larry Allen and Larry Potts, who are Republicans, said Monday afternoon they plan to file today. Other candidates are also expected to file.
Allen, 47, was sworn in as commissioner on July 31, 2006 filling the vacant seat of Fred Sink, who was found guilty of a felony in 2005 on charges of having a toilet at his home repaired by a county employee on county time.
After being appointed by the Republican Party, Allen secured his commission seat five months later by defeating Democrat Loretta Martin in the general election.
With his experience on the board, Allen wants to continue what he and his fellow commissioners have started.
“I feel like we have had some very tough issues to deal with,” he said. “I’m real proud of what we have accomplished. I have decided to run because there are a lot of things I want to see completed for the future of this county.”
The Akron, Ohio native said he wants to continue several school and sewer projects. He said the most important issue is economic development and bringing jobs to the county.
An owner of an insurance company, McClure, 66, is seeking his fourth commissioner term. Just like Allen, he wants to continue the school projects. Due to the loss of jobs in years past, McClure is very concerned about economic development in Davidson County.
“We have gained as many as jobs lost but a lot of folks are under employed,” he said. “They left $16 an hour jobs for $12 an hour jobs. We have had a very aggressive economic development program since I have been commissioner. We want to try to continue that until we fully recover [from job losses].”
Potts, currently the commissioner chair, said in a press release he has decided to file for re-election to continue the works and projects underway in the areas of continued school construction, economic development and providing strong law enforcement to create a better environment for families to work, live and play.
Among other issues concerning Potts is Davidson County’s growth.
“We must continue to plan for the growth due to the expectations of our citizens for quality law enforcement, ambulance services, youth activities and quality schools,” Potts said. “We can sit back, not plan and deal with the results and wonder what happened, or we can plan and make things happen. Either way, they are going to happen. I prefer to make things happen.”
Potts, 59, believes citizens should vote for him because of his experience.
“If I have to have an open-heart surgery, I don’t want to get somebody who just got out of school and think they can do open-heart surgery,” he said. “I’m looking for someone who is experienced. I do have experience.”
Moore, 55, has served two terms as a commissioner, and was a former chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party. He is hoping to make a return to the board.
“It is time the citizens of Davidson County were offered a choice – a true conservative choice,” Moore said in a press release. “A vote for Kenny Moore will be a vote for the return of both a moral and fiscal conservative Republican to the board.”
“I stand for limiting the size and spending of government, cutting taxes and for the traditional role of county government supporting schools, law enforcement and providing for the health, safety and welfare of the legal citizens,” Moore continued. “Nothing more and nothing less.”
Dunn, 58, was the first to announce her candidacy for county commissioner. She said her focus on the future is Davidson County. The businesswoman believes the county should have a top 10 priority list, taking things in order for the county and prioritizing the items.
A primary election will be held May 6 to determine the Republican candidates. If more than one Democrat candidate files, the Democrats will have a primary as well. In that scenario, registered Republicans will vote for their party, likewise for the Democrats.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.