HPE Election 2014

the

Beyond Signs

Voters’ Guide to 2014 High Point and Guilford County Races Election stories and material compiled by Enterprise Staff Writer Paul B. Johnson Photography by Laura Greene, High Point Enterprise Editors, Joe Feeney and Megan Ward

QUARTER-CENT SALES TAX

InsidE

Guilford County voters will decide whether they are willing to pay more in tax on retail purchases to fund improvements in public schools.

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REFERENDUM

City voters will choose whether to continue High Point’s election cycle on even-numbered years without a primary or switch back to traditional odd-numbered year elections with a primary.

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CANDIDATES Q&A

The High Point Enterprise submitted 10 questions to mayoral and city council candidates. Read their replies about revitalization, High Point’s taxes, the election referendum, Main Street diet and more.

Pages 3 – 12

GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

The lone at-large, countywide race pits veteran Democratic commissioner Kay Cashion against Republican challenger Larry Proctor. In District 1, a seat that covers portions of High Point, Democrat Carlvena Foster of High Point takes on Republican Eugene Lester III of Greensboro.

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GUILFORD COUNTY SHERIFF

In the race for sheriff, longtime Republican incumbent BJ Barnes faces a challenge from Democrat Danny Rogers of High Point.

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SCHOOL BOARD

Longtime school board member Nancy Routh faces a challenge from

Jack Kraemer in the nonpartisan race. Routh is from Pleasant Garden and Kraemer is from Greensboro, though High Point voters will vote in the race since it’s a countywide seat.

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CONGRESSIONAL RACES

6th District - Laura Fjeld vs. Mark Walker: Rep. Howard Coble, R-6th, is retiring at the end of this year after serving 30 years in Congress.

Two first-time candidates have staged a spirited campaign to succeed Coble.

12th District - Alma Adams vs. Vince Coakley Page 14

U.S. SENATE

Kay Hagan vs. Thom Tillis: High Point area voters will help settle the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina that may determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate after the Nov. 4 general election.

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N.C. HOUSE

61st House District: John Faircloth vs. Ron Weatherford Democratic challenger Ron Weatherford has mounted another bid to wrestle away the seat from state Rep. John Faircloth, R-Guilford, in the district covering parts of High Point.

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SAMPLE BALLOT, PRECINCT LIST, CLERK OF COURT RACE Page 15

PRECINCT MAP Page 16

Election 2 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Election 2014

C

Quarter-cent sales tax:

For or against?

G

H I G H

P O I N T

uilford County voters will decide whether they are willing to pay more in tax on retail purchases to fund improvements in public schools.

A referendum on the ballot would increase the county sales tax by a quarter of a cent starting next spring, with proceeds slated to benefit the Guilford County Schools.

The school system estimates the quarter-cent tax would raise $14 million annually. The tax, to better understand it, would mean a higher tax of 1 cent for each $4 you spend.

Advocates say the proceeds would help retain teachers, buy classroom supplies and address maintenance and capital needs. Sixty percent of revenues from the tax increase would support classrooms, with 40 percent going toward maintenance and repairs.

Opponents argue that county residents already face an excessive tax burden. Also, they contend that there’s no mandate as part of the measure that the additional revenue would go toward the schools.

When the Guilford County Board of Commissioners approved putting the issue before voters, commissioners pledged all extra money raised would accrue to the school system.

The tax hike only would apply to items currently subject to sales tax in North Carolina. It would not apply to groceries (unprepared food), motor vehicles, prescription drugs, certain medical equipment and gasoline.

Referendum: Whether to return to primary, oddnumbered election year

ity voters will choose whether to continue High Point’s election cycle on even-numbered years without a primary or switch back to traditional odd-numbered year elections with a primary.

Nearly 10 years ago, after a dismal turnout in the 2005 city election, the High Point City Council decided to shift its municipal election from odd-numbered to even-numbered years.

The change also meant eliminating a primary to narrow the number of candidates before the general election.

This fall’s referendum, if approved, would return High Point to odd-numbered elections with a primary beginning in 2017. The first election under the new cycle without primaries took place in 2008.

If High Point returns to odd-numbered year elections, its primary would take place in October as in the past, when city elections happened in odd-numbered years.

Other North Carolina cities and towns also stage October primaries in odd-numbered year elections.

The City Council decided to ask city voters to consider a change back to odd-numbered year elections in part because of concerns that some races for mayor and City Council are being decided with the winner

RE-ELECT JOHN FAIRCLOTH NC HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 61

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the citizens of Guilford County and North Carolina in public offices for more than 38 years.

Rated 4th out of 170 legislators in passing of bills sponsored!

• I am a fiscal conservative and a strong proponent of a free market economy.

I oppose unnecessary regulation, taxation, and unbridled spending that saps our entrepreneurial spirit and undercuts our middle class. Government should inspire and assist businesses to invest and to put people back to work. Citizens at work can solve many of our problems.

• Public safety is paramount. I support strong, honest law enforcement and dedicated prosecutors and judges who follow the rule of law and respect the Constitution.

GRAPHIC BY STEPHANIE BUTZER | HPE

getting far less than 50 percent of the vote.

By having a primary, the number of general election ballot names would be narrowed to two candidates for a one-seat contest, such as mayor and the ward council seats, and four candidates for a two-seat race, which is for the pair of at-large council seats.

If the referendum is approved, the new mayor and eight members of City Council would serve an extra year, or three years.

If the referendum is rejected, then the mayor and councilmembers would serve their normal two-year terms.

A vote for the measure would make the change.

A vote against the referendum would keep city elections on even-numbered years with no primary. Here’s the wording that will appear on the ballot:

“Beginning in the 2017 election and every two years thereafter, electing the mayor and the city council members by using the nonpartisan primary and election method pursuant to state law, and the mayor and city council members elected at the 2014 election serving a three-year term to expire in 2017.”

• I support a public school system with devoted teachers who produce well educated students, prepared to compete in society and a world economy. I also, however, defend a parent’s right to choose alternative school education if the public system is, in their eyes, failing its purpose.

• I support our heroic military veterans. Their health and financial issues must be fairly and consistently addressed.

I look forward to another term in service to all my fellow citizens of North Carolina and particularly of House District 61. Thank you in advance for your support and for your vote. I will represent you well.

QUALIFIED EXPERIENCED EFFECTIVE Re-Elect John Faircloth NC House of Representatives, District 61 www.JohnFaircloth61.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect John Faircloth

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

3

Candidate Q&A High Point Mayor Mayoral candidate Bill Bencini

Age: 62 Profession: EducationHigh Point Central, 1970 / Davidson College, BA, 1974 / Wake Forest University, MBA, 1981. Career- Working in the furniture industry as a manufacturer’s representative since 1976 Political background: High Point City Council, 1999-2010; High Point Mayor Pro Tem, 2009; Guilford County Commissioner, 2010-2014, Chairman, 2014 Years living in High Point: 56

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

We are suffering from nagging unemployment and underemployment due to the great recession and structural loss of manufacturing jobs from changes in federal trade policies. To address this problem, we must continue our economic development efforts in recruiting companies to High Point. We should change our economic development model to include revitalization efforts to make our city more attractive to employers considering relocation or expansion. Revitalization will also help retain and attract more young people to strengthen our employee base. Other successful cities such as Greenville, S.C. and Chattanooga, Tenn. have leveraged their revitalization projects to attract significant employment opportunities.

2. What does High Point do well?

The city provides excellent municipal

Bill Bencini

services to our residents with excellent city staff: electricity, water, sewer, police and fire protection, solid waste management, public library, parks and recreation. The city also is a key contributor to the success of a very large economic engine, the High Point Market. We often take for granted the efforts required by High Point to help our furniture market succeed with two spikes in activity twice a year. No other city in the country is set up to accommodate a near doubling of the population for short periods of time every April and October.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The city manager is the CEO of a large, intricate organization that includes 1,400 employees and an annual expenditures just short of $500,000,000.

Our city manager’s primary responsibility is the management of our employees and finances for the purpose of providing superior public services efficiently. The city council is our Board of Directors, giving policy direction to the manager in how our

resources are deployed.

Council has but three employees that work at their discretion: the city clerk, the city attorney and the city manager. For successful management, council members must channel all operational concerns exclusively through the city manager.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point?

What do you think about incentives?

We have an excellent economic development staff that does what they do as well as any counterpart in our region. To become more successful we need to work toward a stronger regional approach to recruitment.

Transformational projects cannot be attained by our municipalities and counties working independently. Our recruitment effort appears fragmented and that does not make for a good first impression to those companies considering our area. Incentives today are a fact of life in business recruitment. If we can make our city and region more attractive, incentives will become far less important as a recruitment tool.

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Taxes are about where they should be given two factors: the level of services our citizens demand and the level of revenues available to provide services. There are only two ways we can lower taxes and maintain the current level of services: increase our efficiency in providing the services,

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Mayoral candidate Jimmy Scott

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea Age: of narrowing sections Profession: Former of Main Street to Station Manager and on accommodate pedestrians air personality, Your Dred as a way to help revitalize Disciple, at WOKX-AM radio downtown High Point, station in High Point. He the street diet has been a received the AA Gospel subject of much debate.

Radio Announcer of the Year What are your thoughts Award in 2003 hosting the on revitalization and talk show, Dred’s Discussion, dieting Main Street? one hour daily Monday I favor revitalization but through Friday until the targeted to produce the station caught the attention most benefit for the dollars of ESPN and was sold. He has spent. The street diet is jimmy scott served as Educational VP of a stupid idea now. When Toastmasters International, 4. How would you work certain areas have been Chairman of the Board of to recruit industry and jobs revitalized it could work but The Wright Focus Group, to High Point? What do you until that time it doesn’t President of The National think about incentives? make sense.

Technical Honor Society Work alongside the EDC

High Point Chapter, various 8. Until 2008 High Point community advisory boards to draw manufacturing jobs. held elections on odd as well as Associate Minister Our resources should be incentive enough to draw years. This November’s of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Thomasville. companies to High Point; our ballot will include a people, clean air and water. referendum to move Jimmy has served as a

elections from even to odd volunteer youth coach for 5. What are your years and hold a primary.

Carl Chavis YMCA, High Point thoughts on the city’s What are your thoughts Parks & Recreation, High on this referendum?

Point Housing Authority, and taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would Don’t fix what isn’t broke.

Ferndale Middle School. you work to lower them?

Political Background: Too high. Make sure taxes 9. Should the city Years living in High do not increase just to fund continue to provide Point: special projects. money to outside

organizations and 1. What is High Point’s 6. The city has run nonprofits including biggest problem and what its own power grid for a High Point Theatre, Arts is your solution to it?

Council, Theatre Arts Poverty. Job creation that century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Gallery and Southwest pay a livable wage.

Energy’s. Should High Renewal Foundation?

Why? 2. What does High Point Point continue to provide residents with power?

Yes. These groups do the do well?

That’s not totally true. groundwork in those areas.

Protect clean air, water, High Point buys electricity The city is not prepared to and soil conservation. from Duke Energy and resells take over that work.

it to our residents. Middle

3. What should be the men always raise the price of 10. Has the city of role of the city manager?

Manage city departments a product. The administrative High Point done enough, costs alone could produce too much or too little to and be accountable to the substantial savings. accommodate High Point mayor and council.

University’s growth?

Please explain.

Too much. High Point University is a private school that does not accept any student. Its growth has been tremendous and good for High Point in terms of publicity but has not created economic gains for the city that a state school could have done.

or increase our available revenues as a benefit from a stronger economy. A stronger economy will allow us to stabilize, even reduce our tax rate. A stronger economy will lead to more construction and an increase in tax base, more sales tax revenue and more demand for revenue-producing municipal services.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

High Point should continue to provide residents with power, given the pro forma modeling of energy costs in the future.

Current models show Electricities reducing our rate of future increases due to elimination of the debt on the nuclear-powered generating facility. At the same time, models for Duke Energy show an upward trend in the future rate increases, due to Duke’s additional costs associated with moving away from older, dirtier coal-powered electricity production. At present, the models show High Point’s rates being the same as Duke by 2020, and lower than Duke after 2020.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Mtreet?

Revitalization should become a part of our

economic development model. Successful revitalization efforts will serve as recruitment tools for companies looking to relocate or expand.

Successful revitalization efforts will help retain our best and brightest young people, even attract young people from other communities. Successful revitalization efforts will help us become a more livable city. Regarding the Main St. diet, the Kimley-Horn traffic study is not yet complete, no site plans have been developed, and there are no cost estimates for the concept. More information is on the way that will allow our city to continue the lively conversation.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

The reason for moving our elections to even years was to encourage more voter participation. County, state and federal elections bring more voters to the polls than do elections with local candidates only. The even year elections without primaries have their own problem. Pluralities mean that less than half the voters can decide who will be elected to our ward, at large and mayoral seats. The return to primaries will be beneficial to our electoral process if the referendum is adopted by voters.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and

nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation?

Why? These outside agencies are lumped together as part of the “Recreational / Culture / Neighborhoods” section of budget expenditures. Funding to these organizations by the city is approximately $325,000, making up 7/ hundredths of 1 percent of the city’s total expenditures.

Stated another way, only 1/3 of each penny in property tax revenue goes to outside agency funding. High Point can easily afford the current level of expenditure for community organizations which enhance our city’s quality of life.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

Early growing pains from a decade past have diminished as the university, city and surrounding community are more accommodating in dealing with continued expansion.

It is impossible to deny the benefits to our city resulting from the university’s growth.

HPU now brings 4,400 students and associated retail spending to High Point for nine months each year.

HPU is the largest consumer of city water and electric service. HPU continues to expand local employment.

The city benefits from branding “spillover,” as awareness of HPU spreads across the entire country.

HPU, like the High Point Market, has become a dynamic economic engine.

Polling Places Here’s a list of High Point polling places in Guilford County. The letter and number notation is the identification of the polling place — for example, H1 is High Point Precinct #1. The notation is what’s listed on a voter’s registration card from the county Board of Elections.

H1 - Hilliard Memorial Baptist Church, 2311 Westchester Drive H2 - Green Street Baptist Church, 303 N Rotary Drive H3 - First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 101 Kenilworth Dr High Point H4 - Springfield Friends Meeting house, 555 E Springfield Road H5 - Williams Memorial CME, 3400 Triangle Lake Road H6 - Bales Memorial Wesleyan Church, 998 Bales Chapel Road H7 - Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, 2207 E. Green Drive H8 - Astor Dowdy Towers, 701 E Green Drive H9 - Morehead Recreation Center, 101 Price St. H10 - Temple Memorial Baptist Church, 1458 Cedrow Drive H11 - Montlieu Academy of Technology, 1105 Montlieu Ave. H12 - Kirkman Park School, 1101 N. Centennial St. H13 - High Point Friends Meeting house, 800 Quaker Lane H14 - Emerywood Baptist Church, 1300 Country Club Drive H15 - Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 836 W. Lexington Ave. H16 - Lebanon United Methodist Church, 237 Idol Drive H17 - Conrad Memorial Baptist Church, 1920 N. Centennial St. H18 - Christ U Methodist Church, 1300 N. College Drive H19A - Greater First United Baptist Church, 1409 Deep River Road H19B - Pennybyrn at Maryfield, 109 Penny Road H20A - Oak View Baptist Church, 810 Oakview Road H20B - Northwood United Methodist Church, 2409 Ambassador Court H21 - Oakview Recreation Center, 503 James Road H22 - High Point Parks & Recreation administrative office, 136 Northpoint Ave. H23 - Victorious Life Church, 121 Skeet Club Road H24 - Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St. H25 - Tabernacle Baptist Church, 3929 Johnson St. H26 - Triad Community Baptist Church, 2525 Eastchester Drive H27A - Deep River Recreation Center, 1529 Skeet Club Road H27B - Deep River Friends Meeting house, 5300 W. Wendover Ave. H28 - First Christian Church of High Point, 2066 Deep River Road H29A - Turner’s Chapel AME Church, 7615 Florence School Road H29B - Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, 5959 Hickory Grove Road JAM1 - Jamestown Town Hall, 301 E Main St., Jamestown JAM2 - Friendly Hills Church PCA, 1450 Guilford College Road, Jamestown JAM3 - Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Road, Greensboro JAM4 - Haynes-Inman Education Center, 200 Haynes Road. Jamestown JAM5 - Fairfield United Methodist Church, 1505 N.C. Highway 62 West SDR1 - Smith Grove Baptist Church, 2707 Sandy Ridge Road, Colfax

Election 4 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Candidate Q&A High Point Mayor Mayoral candidate Marcus Brandon

Age: 39 Profession: Political Consultant Political background: State Representative, 20102014 Vice Chair of Education, Education Innovation, Regulatory Reform, Appropriation, and Natural and Economic Resources.

Rated most effective Democrat in the triad for past two terms, Legislator of the Year –State Employees Association (2012), Equality NC (2013) ACLU (2013) Parents for Educational Freedom (2012) Years living in High Point: Six (Grew up in the county in the Allen Jay/ Southern Guilford school districts) 1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

Our biggest problem is poverty, and it’s an issue that I plan to give my full attention to as mayor. We have the poorest zip code in High Point out of all the largest cities in North Carolina, and that cannot continue to happen. We need to take a multi-faceted approach and address all of the underlying causes that perpetuate that poverty.

We cannot just continue to follow the “safe” path as we’ve done for so many years and hope that things will take care of themselves.

High Point needs bold changes.

The city manager’s role is to ensure that the city departments run smoothly, while council acts as a board of directors that sets policy. That’s our current arrangement and I have no desire to change it; however, I would like to open up more avenues for direct citizen engagement in order to better address constituent requests. Many times residents are forced to address their concerns directly to their council person, instead of there marcus brandon being a more streamlined 2. What does High process of getting them in Point do well? touch with the right person The needs of High to handle their issues.

Point may be great, but 4. How would you work our assets and our people to recruit industry and jobs are even greater. We have to High Point? What do you a wonderful sense of think about incentives? community spirit in High Employers need an Point that brings everyone educated workforce. That’s together, as evidenced by why I plan to focus on the proliferation of groups improving High Point’s like Revitalize High Point standard of education. or We Heart High Point.

We also need to recruit In addition, we do a great other major events that job with groups like the can spur demand, just Furniture Market and High like the Furniture Market.

Point University, Thomas Incentives are sometimes a Built buses, and our young necessary evil, but should entrepreneurs putting our be used sparingly. I would city on the map. However, also implement a tax fee we cannot only rely on these policy for new and startexisting institutions. We have up businesses. But most to support these institutions importantly we need to tell so they can continue to the story of High Point. The grow. We’re one of the top 10 Mayor has a unique role in cities in North Carolina; now projecting the message of is the time to start acting the city, and mine will be: “Come to High Point: we are like it. open for business.”

3. What should be the 5. What are your role of the city manager?

thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Our taxes are currently much higher than many other cities across North Carolina, and we would do well to lower them. One of the best ways to achieve that without having to cut essential services is to grow our tax base downtown by allowing for businesses to occupy the storefronts currently used by furniture showrooms. The more business we have going on in High Point, the broader our commercial tax base becomes, and the less we have to rely purely on personal taxes to cover the budget.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

This is something we really need to take a look at.

I see positives and negatives on both sides of this issue.

Although I understand we are locked in until at least 2020 under the current system, we definitely need to ensure that we are getting a return on investment on this venture. Otherwise, it makes no sense to continue it.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main

Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting MainStreet?

Revitalization is very important to High Point, and it’s a subject that I’ve given a lot of thought to. That’s why I want to implement bold ideas like expanding our retail options downtown and introducing special zones to promote economic development. I am not necessarily against street dieting, but it’s only one part of a much larger issue and High Point needs to tackle the larger underlying problems before there can be real change. I also think adding residential space downtown to attract younger professionals downtown is essential to revitalization.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary. What are your thoughts on this referendum?

While I was in the state legislature, I voted for this measure to be brought before the voters of High Point in the form of a referendum. I am personally against the measure, because I believe in keeping

citizen direct access to voting as high as possible.

However, I will respect the decision of the citizens of our city.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation?

Why? In principle I am in favor of continued support for arts groups, as they are a vital part of stimulating High Point’s culture. I think there is much more we can still do to leverage those dollars to create more growth in that sector. I’ve worked closely with some of these groups in my own area in the past and hope to continue to do so.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

High Point University has done a great deal to improve High Point both on the local and national level, attracting many talented young people as students and potential residents, not to mention serving as one of our largest employers.

Dr. Nido Qubein has done an outstanding job with the resources he’s had at his disposal. Dr. Qubein is an example of thinking big and thinking different. High Point can do it too!

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High Point City Council may vote for

2

at

Large

candidates

At-Large candidates Regina D. Chahal and Michael A. Holmes did not respond

AT LARGE Latimer Alexander

Age: 57 Profession: Textile sales Political background: High Point City Council at Large member 2002 – 2012, Mayor Pro Tem for four years, president of North Carolina League of Municipalities 2012, Board of Directors member NCLM 2006 – 2012, National League of Cities FAIR (Finance, Appropriations & Intergovernmental Relations) 2004 - 2012, High Point member to Board of Directors – Electricities 2012 - current Years living in High Point: Moved here July 1980.

34+ years

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

First objective for the new City Council will be to build an open dialogue of communication and trust between all elected members and the new city manager. Once that occurs, Council must restore confidence with the city employees and the citizens that Council is working as a unified group.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point delivers first class municipal services to all its citizens. High Point is a fast growing city, attracting lots of new businesses and economic opportunities.

High Point has wisely invested in tremendous infrastructure that attracts world class companies seeking new locations.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The City Manager is the Chief Operating Officer of the City of High Point.

The City Manager works for and with the elected leadership to deliver on time and on budget the priorities outlined by the City Council. The City Manager is responsible to deliver a

Latimer Alexander

draft budget to the City Council for their review in mid- May. All city employees, including the department heads all work under the City Manager’s direct oversight responsibilities.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

During my 10 years on High Point City Council, I was involved in many requests for incentives.

During that time, the Councils that I served on awarded some and declined other opportunities for incentives. I am satisfied with our decisions by the jobs and tax base achieved.

We have a proven record of success. High Point recruits new business by providing excellent municipal services and appropriately zoned land uses. High Point works hard to be business friendly to large companies.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

I believe that the services currently provided by the city are satisfactory as measured by the annual survey of our citizens. I am satisfied that the city’s budget to deliver those services are lean and responsible. If citizens wish to reduce or eliminate services, then I would be

willing to listen and adjust the budget accordingly.

I would work to build consensus to eliminate the garbage fee in the future. I believe those cost are better born through property taxes as opposed to fees because those property taxes are deductible on State and Federal Income taxes - fees are not.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

As High Point’s member of the board of directors of Electricities, High Point is bound by contract to purchase power from Electricities. High Point’s residential rates are very close to parity to Duke/ Progress residential rates. By 2020, High Point’s rates will be less than Duke Power’s rate. Our Electric crews do a remarkable job in keeping and restoring our local grid.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

I believe that the City Project, Heart High Point and others have shown that many High Point citizens desire a greater feeling of community and an enhanced feeling of place and pride. I am willing to discuss how to make this happen. I’m not convinced that narrowing a street for a few blocks will achieve that desire. I am willing to engage in immediate efforts to reduce the speed limit on N. Main, to improve pedestrian safety and to encourage economic opportunities in the area. But shrinking the

width of the street alone solves very little.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I am 100 percent behind returning to odd years. The Institute of Government conducts classes only in odd years for newly elected council and mayors. This is invaluable as newly elected members begin their service.

Our newly elected leaders miss out on this valuable opportunity. Second, long ballots in even years lead to voter fatigue. Finally, media coverage during the even years is focused on the issues and candidates at top of the ballot. Local elections aren’t

given the time and careful discussion in the media and so our candidates miss out on hearing what you the voters think.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and non-profits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? High Point’s support of outside agencies is less than ½ of 1percent of the general fund budget. Yet much of the monies given for outside agencies are designed for enhanced quality of life within our community. If the city withdrew those modest dollars, many opportunities would be lost. Yet, our property taxes could only be reduced by $.003 per $100 of tax value. I believe that some modest, properly supervised

awards to proven non-profits is appropriate.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

High Point University is a major employer in High Point today. HPU is the city’s largest water, sewer and electric customer.

HPU’s economic impact on the retail businesses in High Point and throughout the entire Piedmont is tremendous. I believe that the City and HPU have found a way to work together and are moving forward to make both HPU and High Point better. Too much or too little will have to be measured over decades of time. I’m satisfied that on collectively both sides have benefited positively.

DR. JIM COREY JASON EWING EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL GRAD EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL GRAD B.S. VILLANOVA UNIV ATTENDED COMMUNITY MA BOSTON COLLEGE COLLEGE PHD FLORIDA STATE DID NOT GRADUATE ATIENDED 4 YEAR COLLEGE DID NOT GRADUATE MILITARY SVC U.S NAVY 25 YEARS MILITARY SVC NONE FOREIGN EXP LATIN AMERICA FOREIGN EXP NONE 10 1/2 YRS EXPERTISE REAL ESTATE EXPERTISE POLITICAL SCIENCE GOVERNMENT

IF YOU WANT TO BUY OR RENT A HOUSE JASON MAY BE YOUR MAN

IF YOU WANT TO BE REPRESENTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT JIM COREY IS YOUR CHOICE CAST YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER FOR

DR. JIM COREY

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

High Point City Council may vote for At large Cynthia Y. (Cindy) Davis

AGE: 45 Profession: Community Advocate and Volunteer, Homemaker with a strong background in Business Administration Political Background: I am a non-incumbent and I have been serving High Point for nearly 18 years; I am serving on the Planning & Zoning Commission (2010-present, Chairwoman 2013-2014 & Vice-Chairwoman 2012-2013), Update High Point Code Assessment & the Johnson Street/Sandy Ridge Road Advisory Committee. I attend all City Council, Finance, Budget, and public comment sessions.

Years Living in High Point: 19 years

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

I know the expected/ desired answer is affordability, jobs and revitalization, but I think the problem is much bigger than that. I believe the biggest problem High Point has is the lack of understanding by the community at-large, as to what the council-manager form of Government is and the role of local government in general. Encouraging citizens to become more engaged, educational opportunities through self-study and encourage volunteerism on boards/commissions, because when we know what our officials can and cannot do, then our expectations line up with real life solutions.

2. What does High Point do well?

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- Providing and maintaining public services, such as water/sewer, electrical and trash removal to citizens and businesses, as well as Park and Recreational services.

- Maintaining 38 city owned roadways and assisting NCDOT. - Hosting the international Furniture Market, twice a year, the Fabric Market, as well as a variety of other events.

- Update High Point City Ordinance. Rewrite project which began in Spring of 2012.

- Implementing the ACCELA Program (50 percent complete) to help the seven departments that work with permitting, land development and the like operate more efficiently, which will expedite the permitting process for residential and commercial development.

3. What should be the role of the City Manager?

The city manager oversees the day to day operations of the city, as well as ensures the implementation of the policies and procedures. The manager is the eyes and ears of City Council, by gathering pertinent information from

the general public, business owners and being updated on economic development needs, wants and desires that will assist in our city’s healthy growth, through daily hands on interaction. The manager is responsible for developing and presenting a conservative annual budget to Council, which should be based on the city’s day to day operational needs.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

I will work hands on with our city manager, economic development and those who are business minded to research what the top companies are doing, where are they going and why. We must have the affordable services they need, a workforce equipped to do the job, performing schools, and be able to meet their transportation needs. I do not believe in corporate blackmail or strong-arming cities that desire to do business. I believe in local government working out the details of services that they provide in a reasonable manner that benefits both parties, especially if the company is financially sound.

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes?

If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Property taxes are too high. The city has implemented an Enterprise Fund, to offset the property tax rate. The city has worked hard to gain an AAA Bond Rate, but that means being vested by 50 percent or more, which means debt, but it also means we can borrow at a

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cheaper rate, should we need to in the future. I believe it basically comes down to being prudent in our spending, as well as being prudent in our issuance of bond debt. We must look to other possible revenue sources that apply to all citizens and not just property owners.

6.The city has run its own power grid for a century.

But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s.

Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Yes. It has been stated that our rates will cross over Duke’s rates, giving High Point a cheaper rate, as they will need to upgrade their system, something High Point has been working on to ensure quality service with our eye on cheaper affordable rates.

The anticipated rate increases for 2015 & 2016 is expected to be 5 percent, but no increase is expected in 2017-2019, with a decrease of nearly (17 percent) in 2020, with a slight increase in rates again in 2021-2030 by 1.3 percent.

Shortfalls are expected in the fund balance; the city cannot absorb the wholesale purchase cost.

7. Since 2012 when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

I do not think dieting Main Street is the answer for revitalization and its impact

on many small businesses would be great. The majority of revitalization lies with the private investment, coupled with public services, and monetary investment when appropriate. We invest in our personal homes and if we call High Point our home, then we should be investing in her growth and future, as individuals. We all play a role, some have vision, tools, time, money and the like, and we should strive as individual investors to contribute our skills, talents and resources to achieve something great together.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary. What are your thoughts on this referendum?

Vote NO! Press the NEW COUNCIL to simply implement a PRIMARY in the EVEN year, as their first act of business. The SENATE race has a primary in EVEN years and so can we.

Incumbents have the home court advantage over nonincumbents, so this should be an easy decision.

Winston-Salem and Greensboro are going back to EVEN year elections, after having only small percentage of voter turnout in their Odd year cycle. EVEN year elections allow for more voter turnout and helps prevent the Good Ole Boy rotating chair. Most VOTERS are accustomed to the EVEN year cycle.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including

High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? Non-Profit Businesses are created to complement an area of service within the cities they serve. Local Government should be looking at the length of time a non-profit has been receiving funds, coupled with the type of service they provide (life, death, luxury, etc.), as well as fiscal accountability.

I believe that the city should set a modest maximum and a minimum standard for non-profit funding, with a defined threshold. Local government should not be funding a nonprofit’s operating expenses, but making a modest contribution to continued service, when appropriate, which can be added to the nonprofits own fundraising efforts. (Note: The city owns the High Point Theatre)

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much, or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

I believe the city has been very generous with the University’s expansion over the years and the University is learning to communicate better than it has in the past with the residents surrounding the campus, over the last couple of years.

The University has the same rights to grow and expand as does any business or owner of property. If they buy it, zone it, build it and comply with city ordinances, then they should be allowed to do so, in an orderly fashion, as not to cause decay in any given area.

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At Large Orrick Quick

Age: 31 Profession: Pastor Political background: Ran in 2012 for High Point City Council Ward 1 Years living in High Point: Native of High Point for 31 years

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

We need a vision! No Vision= No Direction and No Direction = No Progress. I applaud the mayor and city council for their hard work to make this city better but it is time for Innovative Ideas to take High Point to the next level. I have a tremendous amount of Ideas to spark High Point and boost the morale of our citizens.

2. What does High Point do well?

I believe High Point does an excellent job of providing services for the citizens of High Point. Our City employees are hard working people which we need in order for us to make it a prosperous city.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

City Manager’s role is to effectuate policy and manage city employees.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point?

What do you think about incentives?

I do support the incentive program but let’s take a look at what High point already has and one of the things that High point has is railroads. We need to recruit businesses that need

Orrick Quick

railroads for transportation to create jobs here in High Point.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

I believe the city taxes are OK considering the services we receive. Everything has to balance out. If we lower taxes that also means that a particular service provided must decrease as well.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

I believe High Point should still provide power for our citizens. Even though ours are higher, I believe High Point has the best response time due to an emergency.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize

downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate.

What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

I am not against the dieting of Main Street idea, I just believe that we should focus on bringing businesses, shopping and entertainment to the area first before we starting dieting main st.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

When running for office it is about having a great platform that the citizens believe in and getting people to the polls. You can have a great platform but if the people do not vote, you will not get elected. In my opinion, even years has a way of getting people to the polls to vote.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? Yes, I believe the city should continue to provide money to these organizations. Nonprofits and community based organizations need the support from the city.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

I believe The City of High Point and High Point University have work hard to accommodate each other.

We need to work together so that we can continue see High Point grow and prosper.

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LARRY PROCTOR for GC Commissioner At-Large

”I believe Larry Proctor would make a great County Commissioner. I know Larry as a family man, a friend, a responsible citizen, volunteer, and business man. Larry Proctor knows what it means to make a payroll. Larry would protect our tax dollars as if it were his own. We need Larry Proctor working for us as our County Commissioner At-Large.”

BJ Barnes, Guilford County Sheriff

larryproctor.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Larry Proctor

Election 6 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Candidate Q&A

High Point City Council may vote for

At Large Britt W. Moore

Age: 51 Profession: Property Management Political background: 2010-2012 At-Large Representative, Liaison to: Parks and Recreation Committee, Furniture Market Authority, Chamber of Commerce,Theater Advisory Committee. 2012-2014, At-Large Representative, Chairman of Finance Committee, 2013-2014 Mayor Pro-Tem Years living in High Point: 51

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

The increasing pressure on the tax rate which is the primary funding mechanism for all the services the city provides. There are few options: grow the economy, raise taxes (fees, etc.) or cut services. No one wants to cut our high level of service, and I certainly do not want to raise taxes, so we must keep government efficient and drive policy decisions that spur private sector growth and employment, thereby increasing our tax base.

2. What does High Point do well?

We manage our city finances well; one of only 12 NC cities with AAA bond rating. We offer excellent

Britt Moore

recreational facilities for a town our size. We host the largest trade show in America twice a year generating over a $5 billion dollar impact, the USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship, many large youth sports events, Miracle Field, the John Coltrane Festival and many other events. We provide top-tier water, electric, police and fire services to our citizens. We have great people and huge amounts of intellectual capital.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

In High Point, the manager is the CEO of the city. The manager wears many hats, overseeing all departments, daily operations and most all personnel. He represents and champions High Point in matters locally, regionally and nationally. He reports to and works at the direction

of council and interacts with citizens regularly.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

The role of council is to make good policy decisions that set the foundation to attract new business and support our existing ones.

Our EDC has done a good job in these recessionary times of recruiting a diverse base of industry while increasing our tax base over the past few years and receiving accolades from our neighboring cities.

Incentives are a necessary evil in 2014 but not all should be approved. They must be judged on a case by case basis considering the intended and unintended consequences.

They all must be performance based with claw-back provisions.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes?

If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

We have lowered the tax rate and will continue to work do so. Taxes, license, fees; call it what you will, it is all a form of revenue to the city that is used to provide the necessary, mandated and desired services that citizens expect.

A thriving and prosperous private sector will offset the pressure on our taxes.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a

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century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

The Three Mile Island nuclear incident caused the initial cost of this capital project to skyrocket past original estimates almost 30 years ago. We are near the finish line of paying this off and our rates will fall as Duke’s rise. High energy cost hurt everyone, this is a problem the whole nation is battling.

There are many reasons why maintaining control of our electric distribution makes good sense. We witnessed this last winter during the massive ice storm that we endured.

Our staff and departments did an incredible job of recovery for our citizens against enormous challenges in a timely fashion. Duke Energy, of which I am a customer, is currently in the process of requesting a rate increase.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

We all want revitalization, a restoration of a strong employment base, job opportunity and quality of life

for our citizens. For long-term success this is a bottom-up proposition with government in a supporting role and a buy-in from the citizens.

The recent announcement of the “lotus” project holds huge potential as a catalyst for revitalization and I am excited to help shape it as it unfolds. Could dieting work?

As a concept, it may. There are many variables that are being still being weighed. At this point, I am not convinced the location being discussed is the best.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

This is an issues that has valid points on both sides.

I have heard them all and understand the reasoning.

I believe our city would be best served if this passes and puts us back in line with most other municipalities in our state. This one is up to the citizens to decide, as it should be.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why?

High Point has a long history of supporting local organizations that add to the quality of life for our citizens and the holistic experience of living here. When these areas are vibrant, it aids in the recruitment of business and folks that may be looking to move here. As a percentage of our budget, High Point contributes far less than most of our surrounding neighbors that we are so often compared with. In doing so, it will move our city and these organizations to become self -sustaining. So, yes, the city can play a reasonable role as long as we are not compromising our tax rate.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

I think we have worked very openly and effectively with HPU to this point. They are rapidly expanding their academic offerings, growing in an extraordinary way and attracting the attention and resources from individuals and businesses around the world. Our challenge is to leverage that growth and enthusiasm through mutual partnership in a way that it spills over into all parts of our ‘revitalizing” city. I see that happening and believe it will continue. I believe we should work just as effectively with all employers in our city.

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At Large David Rosen

Age: 51 Profession: Professional Photographer Professional background: Registered Independent; first time running for public office.

Self-Employed 28 years Married with one child Years living in High Point: 11

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution for it?

High Point’s biggest problem is the need to redefine our identity and vision for the future. For over a century, we were a manufacturing and mill town.

Most of that has gone, leaving Furniture Market our one driving economic force. We are putting all our eggs in one basket. We need to diversify, to find and market a new brand and vision to take us forward through the next 25 years. This requires close collaboration between the private sector and city government, working together for the good of the city as a whole. We need bold, innovative leadership to make this happen.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point has seen phenomenal success in two areas within the last five seven years. First is the success of the Economic Development Corporation. Loren Hill and his board have secured economic growth with a number of internationally known companies. The other is our partnership with High Point University.

In the last nine years, the growth of the university in its economic impact on High Point has grown 190 percent to $464.5 million. We need to encourage the further growth of our university, but more importantly, we need our city to have the jobs and infrastructure to keep our alumni here in High Point.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

Currently, the primary role of the manager is to report to the City Council to review and approve policy. In order to take High Point forward, the city manager also needs to be a leader who provides innovative ideas, including some calculated risks, that will push the council forward.

given Duke’s problems with its aging plants and coal ash ponds, their rates are not likely to remain near where they are now.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization David Rosen and dieting Main Street?

Revitalization in a 4. How would you work targeted area of Main Street to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you is important, before any discussion of change, our think about incentives? own Planning and Zoning The EDC has done a great Department needs to be job bringing in industry. We revamped. With respect to can continue and expand dieting any portion of Main this trend by making sure that our schools, both county Street, there first must be a reason. There needs to be schools and universities, can provide the skilled labor force businesses in the area of retail, dining, offices and other small industries need. businesses to even justify a Under the right reason to why we are doing circumstances, tax incentives this. should be made available.

However, there must be 8. Until 2008 High Point accountability. The companies held elections on odd years. must understand that the This November’s ballot incentives have a shelf life, will include a referendum that they will eventually be to move elections from paying taxes. They must also be held accountable to having even to odd years and a certain number of jobs, and hold a primary. What are to having their employees and your thoughts on this managers live in High Point to referendum?

The odd-year system increase our tax base. would allow voters to

concentrate on the issues 5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? important to our city, which tend to get drowned out by If you believe they are too the noise from statewide high, how would you work and federal elections. Also, a to lower them? primary would help narrow Our taxes here are the field of candidates to help ridiculously high. Presently, the voters with more focused we are 13 cents higher per hundred than Winston-Salem. choices.

We can either cut services, 9. Should the city which is counterproductive, or continue to provide money be proactive by encouraging to outside organizations more businesses in the and nonprofits including core city, which will in turn High Point Theatre, Arts encourage more people to Council, Theatre Arts Gallery live here. Both these things and Southwest Renewal will raise our tax base.

Foundation? Why?

Yes! The arts are key to 6. The city has run the revival of downtown. its own power grid for a In addition to providing century. But our electric enrichment to the people who rates are higher than Duke already live here, the arts help Energy’s. Should High attract people who tend to be Point continue to provide middle to upper-class citizens residents with power? who will happily spend their This is an issue of cost money not only in art venues, versus service. Our rates but in restaurants and shops are somewhat higher, but near these venues. Ultimately, being a smaller operation as High Point becomes known allows us to move quicker in as an arts and entertainment an emergency and to tailor destination, it will also become some construction around a more desirable place to live local needs instead of a oneand do business. size-fits-all master plan. Also,

10. Has the City of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

The city has been good about allowing HPU to

rezone and grow and with it has come economic growth for our city. The city should continue to nurture this developing relationship so that as HPU continues to grow, the city around it will grow also. High Point

University is now recognized as one of the finest schools in the Southeast, and in and of itself has the potential to attract satellite development that will ultimately contribute to the tax base of the city as a whole.

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

High Point City Council may vote for At Large Edward (Ed.) Alan Squires Jr.

Age: 42 Profession: The Squires Group which consists of commercial cleaning, Herbalife Independent Distributor, health insurance agent, and property owner.

Political background: Previous candidate experience Years living in High Point: over 30 years   1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?  High Point Economic department has been instrumental in bringing jobs to our city but our biggest problem continues to be social/economics and quality of life.

We are a top 10 city and now is the time to demonstrate it.

When elected I will work hard to implement: Streamline the process for acquiring a business permit by designing and implementing a “checklist� according to the type of startup business.

Create a business incubator to provide startup businesses with a professional office space.

Have a town hall meeting within the first 100 days after being elected Use incentives for small business development to

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stimulate growth within core areas.

Study and change, if necessary, the current zoning ordinances to determine highest and best areas to develop quality of life opportunities. Â Â 2. What does High Point do well?

Our citizens are informed about the immediate needs and potential transformations of the city through its website along with elected officials disseminating the information. Our citizens are encouraged to participate with public forums in assisting with problem solving the needs of their community.   3. What should be the role of the city manager?  The city manager’s role should be to ensure our city operates efficient

as possible while assisting council to accomplish the city vision. This will be obtained through hiring qualified administrators, providing the necessary resources and empowering them to perform their tasks. As an advisor the manager should expect each department to be innovative with problem solving and complete each task with excellence.  4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentive?  I will work hard with our Economic Development Department to develop an atmosphere of creative, innovation and support. I believe we have efficient staff in our department. As an elected official, my goal will be to provide the “tools� for them to perform at optimum level.

I am not against the use of incentives when used wisely.

I believe incentives should not only be used for large corporations but as a catalyst to ignite growth within our small business community.

These are some of the examples of how we could use incentives to for small businesses: free utilities six months, free curb appeal, free advertising on city website or other local engines, assist with upgrades when open in the core city, etc.

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  5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes?

If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?  When compared to other cities our size, the taxes are higher. However, our citizens enjoy the services being offered through taxes. It can be challenging to reduce taxes while still providing quality services. I believe taxes could be lowered by reviewing the budget line item by line item and making modifications to find a balance while ensuring quality services.   6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?  Our citizens deserve a utility company who can provide modest cost, quality, and service for their money.

When any business has comparable competition the consumer will benefit majority of the time. Â Â 7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization

and dieting Main Street? Â The platform of my campaign is developing a seamless city. No section of High Point will be underserved or overlooked.

Citizens in ALL neighborhoods will enjoy safe streets, reliable infrastructure, high quality of life, and the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

There is a lot of discussion regarding Main Street and it being the focus of redevelopment.

I have innovative ideas in transforming High Point into a seamless city. One idea is to create a “Downtown off Main.� My plan will include partnering with showroom owners and other key stakeholders within our core city to produce a year round economic engine without dieting Main Street.   8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum? Â The At-Large ballot this year with eight candidates would be an example of why a primary is necessary. However, I believe going back to odd years can be detrimental to our voter turnout. Â 9. Should the city

continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why?  I believe the city could provide money to outside organizations for a predetermined amount and time frame on a case by case basis. Once this timeframe is exhausted then the organization would apply for grant money through the City’s Community Development Department.   10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.  The city has a positive relationship and will continue this partnership with mutual benefit to assist High Point University with its growth.

The city has assisted with providing zone request approvals and necessary infrastructure to demonstrate a healthy public/private partnership. This partnership is a benefit to our city and citizens. High Point University is doing a remarkable job in attracting students from all over the world to attend. As a city it is imperative we develop a community where these students can flourish and desire to live upon graduation.

High Point City Council Ward 1 Ward 1 Willie Davis

Age: 54 Profession: Murrows Transfer for over 22 years Political Background: Second time candidate and I am a member of the citizen advisory council (CAC) board.

Years living in High Point’s: Most of my life, over 40 years. Have one son born and raised here in High Point. I attended High Point schools so I am very deeply rooted here and love High Point very much.   1. What is High Points biggest problem and what is your solution?

Economics, we need to do everything we can to bring more jobs to High Point to help lower our unemployment rate.

Revitalization to our core city. We need to cut red tapes that it takes to get businesses started and make our city as attractive as possible. Â 2. What does High Point do well?

We have a great furniture market twice a year, we have art festival for entertainment, we have a very reliable and dependable city service such as garbage pickup and street cleaning, we have a very dependable fire and ambulance service and a very top rating hospital.

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 3. What should be the role of the city manager?

To assure that the city is running as smoothly and efficiently as possible and to assist city council. Â 4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point?

What you think about incentives?

First I think incentives could be very useful tools when used in the correct way. I have no problem using incentives to bring jobs here. Another way to recruit jobs is to have a very educated work force program and to make our city as attractive as possible and to streamline business permit procedures. We need more dependable bus transportation for citizens who does not have their own transportation.

 5. What are your thoughts on city’s taxes?

If you believe they are high, how would you work to lower them?

Yes I feel like our taxes are high for a city our size but I don’t think that the city will lower them. We can stop raising them year after year if we bring more jobs into the city and creating stronger economic that will help lower our tax base.  6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

I am not sure about this, I need more time to educate myself on the contract the city and Duke Power has. I do believe that our rate are high. Â 7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subjects much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

Revitalization is a must but I am not sure that dieting is the way to go, first I think we all need to wait until the study on high point dieting is completed before giving an honest answer. I have a very open mind and are willing to listen and explore all avenues such as lowering the speed limit, and lets make sure what we are dieting for. Lets not put the horse before the cart and cause taxpayers millions of unnecessary dollars. Â (Note: Last three questions were not returned)

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www.EugeneLester.com Paid for by the Committee to Elect Eugene Lester

Election 8 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Candidate Q&A

High Point City Council Ward 1

WARD 1 Jeffrey Golden

Age: 51 Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Married to Ondrea, children: Darrin, India and Janasia Political background: Currently serving on High Point’s City Council Lifelong resident of High Point, 12 years Military service both active and reserves.

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

We have a citywide division that is three parts geographically, socioeconomically and racially. This makes our community unattractive to outsiders. A solution would be to dedicate a portion of the budget to the core city with earmarks for certain improvements. Creating a voluntary receivership program for abandoned and dilapidated houses and using these properties as their own collateral for any monies spent for renovations or rehab.

This will also address our affordable housing problem because these properties will be rented or leased while in receivership to recover any and all funds spent plus an administrative fee that will go to the housing Authority for any increase in staff.

Lastly it will create jobs for the builders and contractors that will be granted the contracts to do the work.

2.What does High Point do well?

High Point does a very good job with their incentive

Jeff Golden

program for large business.

It could do better with small business incentives. It doesn’t have to be monetary can be reductions in utility cost. Free advertising on city website or at the minimum links to their business.

Classes to assure that you are running it properly. This will be accommodated by partnering with one of the five universities that do business within our city limits. Anything that will encourage new business in a way that is not too costly for the city and its taxpayers

3.What should be the role of the city manager?

I think the city manager has to have a vision for the city of High Point and be able to communicate that vision to the council so that they can work effectively to accomplish that vision. I would like to see a manager that has some revitalization experience. I would like to have a manager that is able to lead in a non-parasitism manner. We need a manager that does not change for the person or situation but is true to his/her word at all times. We need strong

knowledgeable leadership and someone who knows how to influence people.

4.What do you think High Point Does well?

I think that our economic department does a good job with the directions they have been give over the years but needs more diversity in the types of businesses that they allow to come into the city. I think we can be more proactive by looking at trends of new businesses and what things we can expect. I feel this will help us prepare our workforce.

It does no good to attract a business and not have trained qualified personnel to do the jobs that are being sought.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

I think the city’s taxes are where they are because of a long history of using increases in taxes to compensate for losses in other areas. One of those areas is the core city where there has been a decrease in the tax base because of little to no growth. The inabilities of the city to collect from homeowners who have let properties become vacant for extended periods of time.

I think we can grow our base by making these properties livable and vibrant so that we can collect what is reasonable under the law.

Then and only then will you see our tax situation become more stable.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a

century. But our electric are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

I don’t think the city is in a position to change we own 21 percent of a nuclear plant along with several other municipalities.

Our portion of the debt is several years away from being satisfied. We could not overcharge even if we wanted to because of the regulations that come along with owning a nuclear plant.

Lastly by owning our own plant and following the proper guidelines we are not going to be involved in the cleanup cost of the spill that duke just experienced and should not have an effect on our cost. I think we should continue to control our own energy

7.Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

I know street dieting it has succeeded in some place and fell in some places. I know that NC beach area attempted it recently and they are already preparing to revert back at a significant cost to the taxpayer. I supported the traffic study because I do want to be pessimist and tell someone something will not work without giving it due process. I would like to see some projections on the

return of investment before I would sign off on the dieting.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

Some argue that local elections get lost in even years especially when there is a presidential election at the same time but my thoughts are that if people are engaged they know what they want and will vote accordingly. I also feel if there are primaries than we would have to look at extending the terms, in two year terms with a primary candidates will spend 25% of their time running for reelection instead of the job they have been tasked to do. I would only support a primary with four year terms and I would want to continue on even years as not to discourage those who wish to vote.

This is definitely a candidate driven issue and not one driven by the citizens.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation?

Why? Yes I believe this is vital to the quality of life that the citizens of High Point want and need. We have to be prudent in the way we allocate these funds so that we can serve the maximum amount of our citizens.

I think the Arts serve to diversify our community and close some of the gaps that we have among classes. The work done by organizations like southwest renewal we could not afford to pay them so any supplementary funds we can provide is a plus.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

The city of High Point has done a very good job accommodating the growth of High Point University.

In the last few months High Point University has acknowledged they have not done as good of job as they could with communication. They recognized the importance of this relationship and have made the changes necessary to nurture this relationship.

We now have a quarterly meeting with neighborhood leaders to include pastor’s community leaders, business owners and elected officials.

High Point University is an institution we all can be proud of.

November 4

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Ward 1 Jo Williams

Age: 67 Profession: Retired Political background: Independent Years living in High Point: 49

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

I think the biggest problem is communication between council members and mayor. They need to get to know one another and learn about the things that are important to them. A retreat weekend would help to listen and learn from one another.

2. What does High Point do well?

The furniture market.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

To assist the council and mayor make the most effective use of funds and run the city together.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

(Answer not provided)

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

As I have not looked at the tax base and structure that we currently have in place, I do not feel comfortable in answering that question. I do think

and dieting Main Street?

I am willing to listen and learn all aspects of this issue before I can comment one way or the other.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I think that every 4 years should be the goal Jo Williams that senior’s taxes should be because it takes time to learn lower because of them being to govern and the many aspects of being a council on fixed incomes. person.

I think we are doing fine 6. The city has run like we are and to add a its own power grid for a primary would add more century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke expense to the office.

Energy’s. Should High 9. Should the city Point continue to provide continue to provide money residents with power? to outside organizations To determine what is and nonprofits including the best possible solution High Point Theatre, Arts would require more data, Council, Theatre Arts more information and the Gallery and Southwest comparing of rates in other Renewal Foundation? cities and then possible Why? solutions can be reached Yes, and open it up for with meetings in each ward more non-profits and groups contributing input into rate in the community to take hikes or alternatives for the part in the process. future.

10. Has the city of 7. Since 2012, when High Point done enough, architect Andres Duany too much or too little to brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Street to accommodate Please explain. pedestrians as a way to High Point University is help revitalize downtown good for our city and I wish High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much more students would take advantage of this excellent debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization school.

RE-ELECT JAY WAGNER HIGH POINT CITY COUNCIL WARD 4 EXPERIENCE AND VISION FOR A NEW HIGH POINT PROMISES MADE – PROMISES KEPT • I DID NOT and WILL NOT vote for a property tax increase • I am the ONLY candidate to vote against the 2013 budget which raised garbage fees without an offsetting property tax decrease • I voted FOR the 2014 1.1 cent decrease in property taxes • I supported the growth of High Point University • I am the leading voice for Transformational Revitalization to improve our quality of life, attract new investment and new jobs.

• I streamlined the development approval process by leading the way for the elimination of residential plan review • I supported keeping the High Point Market strong

A HISTORY OF WORKING FOR YOU

• Small Business Owner • 16-Year Practicing Attorney • The ONLY candidate with experience as a City Attorney • Chairman, YMCA of Greater High Point • Chairman, Camp Cheerio • The City Project, Vice Chairman (7 yrs.)

• Chairman, Uptowne High Point • Planning & Zoning Commission (7 yrs., Former Chairman) • Advised the city on creating the Main Street Zoning District • Member of Zoning Ordinance Update Committee EXPERIENCE. VISION. LEADERSHIP. WWW.VOTEJAYWAGNER.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VOTEJAYWAGNER Paid for by Vote Jay Wagner

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

Candidate Q&A

9

High Point City Council Ward 2 Candidate Chris Williams did not respond Ward 2 Jerry C. Mingo

Age: 67 Profession: Retired from Banner Pharmacaps in 2008 as s supervisor of the Medicine Department Political background: None, did run for council in 2008 Years living in High Point: Have lived in High Point all my life

1.What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution for it?

Unity is one of High Point problems. We need to address the divide between the downtown core and the suburbs. We need to be one High Point, united in our differences promoting them as strengths rather than a weakness.

2. What does High Point do well?

I think High Point does an excellent job in public safety.

We have a police department that ranks second to none in the America. Overall, crime is down. Also, High Point does a great job in promoting the furniture market and hosting

jerry mingo the market goers who attend.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The city manager should be the main advisor to the council on overall government operations and supervise the daily operations of all city departments and staff directly and through department heads. He should prepare, monitor and execute the city budget which includes submitting each year to council a proposed budget package with recommendations for consideration and

possible approval. He should operate with professional understanding of how all city functions operate. He should be the public relations officer, meet with citizens and citizen group, businesses and other stakeholders. Attend all council meetings.

4. How would you recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

We need to have availability of certain resources to recruit industry and jobs to High Point. These resources should include but not limited to availability of a highly trained workforce.

Also, infrastructure facilities like schools, police and fire departments, good and available transportation.

Attracting businesses, keeping them and getting them to expand often involve providing incentives. While this seems like corporate welfare, we cannot simply give money to corporations.

However, we need to weigh the benefits with expected cost to determine whether we should proceed with a particular incentive.

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you think they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Property taxes are always controversial and even more so because of the economy.

Property values have declined but property taxes have increased. One way to lower taxes to make sure property assessments are accurate.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

If we can get better rates from Duke Energy then let’s go with them. But what will we be giving up for cheaper rates? We need to weigh our options.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much

debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

We need to revitalize High Point. I am for revitalization.

We need to pick an area and do it. We cannot keep putting the same plans on the table but just giving them another name. We have had a plan in place like the core city plan since 2007. Why is it still a plan? We keep going in circles. Council needs to listen to our citizens. If they had, street dieting may not have become the issue that it is today. At this time I do not think dieting Main Street is a good option. The citizens on main have spoken.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary. What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I think the referendum is good. We seem to be one of four cities in our state that hold even-numbered year elections. The primaries will help to narrow the field and

potentially produce the top candidates for the job.

9. Should city continue to provide money to outside organizations and non-profits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? I don’t have a problem with money being allocated by the city to support nonprofits if money is set aside for this specifically. I do have a problem with the same nonprofits getting this money every year. We should not be in the business of supporting the same non-profit every year.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

This is called progress.

High Point University has become a major player in our city. Being one of the most prestigious universities in the nation we need to support it. They have brought a lot of recognition to our city.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Ward 3 Judith P. ( Judy )

Mendenhall

Age: 76 Profession: retired Political background: City Council, 1979-85, 1989-92, 2012-present (Ward 3 representative ); Mayor, 1985-87; previous commissioner, Power Agency #1; past president, Electricities Board of Directors; currently serving on NC Governor’s Commission on Homelessness Years living in High Point: 54

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

A large percentage of our citizens living in poverty affecting the crime rate, children’s education, people living in substandard housing, the financial strain on local service agencies and the economy in general is our biggest problem. We must continue to increase available jobs through recruitment of new industry and support the retention and growth of existing business. For people to obtain and keep jobs, training opportunities through GTCC must be available and public transportation should provide service when and where it is needed. The city must work to provide the highest quality of life possible for all citizens.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point has interested citizens who are involved in all the various aspects of volunteer service through agencies, boards and commissions, giving hours of their time serving because they want to make a difference. There are also generous people who provide financial support in amounts often beyond belief to the many service providers such as the United Way and its member agencies, the arts, churches and other religion based organizations serving the community. This caring spirit of our citizens is one of our strongest assets.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The City Manager serves as the administrative head of the city. The Manager’s job is to direct staff so that the policies and procedures adopted by the Council are carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

The Manager also offers professional advice to Council on matters under consideration, presents a budget which is not just balanced but reflects the most effective and efficient way to provide services both needed and desired

Judy Mendenhall

and insures that the City operates in as user friendly a way possible, addressing the questions, concerns and needs of our citizens.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

The Economic Development staff of the city has had great success and should be supported so they may continue as they currently operate. I also want see us give additional attention to small business and retail as well as major employers’ recruitment. We need to improve the way we handle permits and inspections to make it as easy as possible for growth and development. I view incentives as investments

in the future and as long as we continue to have the necessary guidelines in place determining when they are awarded, I am supportive of incentives.

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes?

If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Council lowered the tax rate this year and plans to reduce it further in the coming years. With reductions in state funds, it will be necessary to make up those losses without reducing services, which could affect the tax rates. Currently the City adds a higher percent than is required to fund balances, so a slight reduction there could provide for desired service levels without raising fees or taxes. Citizens want and deserve a high level of service, but there is a cost. We must be certain that staffing and expenditures are as low and efficient as possible.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Our customers realize faster and more efficient service in most cases than Duke customers, which is a benefit from having our own

power delivery service. As part of Power Agency #1, we, along with our partners, suffered from high construction costs due to the 3 Mile Island incident and the additional safety requirements put in place when our plant was being built. Those debts will be retired in the next five years and our rates will drop significantly below Duke’s at that point. We definitely should continue to provide this service.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

First, the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street surfaced before Duany, so it was not his new idea. I have concerns about reducing the number of lanes on our main north to south thoroughfare, envisioning gridlock and unwanted traffic increases on adjoining streets.

Reducing lanes on a different street for pedestrian traffic and commerce might work however. Hopefully the study will provide some answers from a traffic engineering standpoint although it seems

not as much as council anticipated. Revitalization needs to happen in neighborhoods, commercial areas and industrial locations throughout the core city and beyond.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I believe holding primary elections to narrow the field of candidates is desirable. Also, training for newly elected officials is held in January of the even years since most local elections are in the odd years. Since our elections are in the even years, any new people go an entire year without the training that I know from experience is so valuable. That training lets people know exactly what they can and cannot do while in office. A return to the odd years would provide that training at the beginning of the term for those who are new.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal

Foundation? Why? First, the High Point Theatre is a city department so it is funded as such.

Funding nonprofits that provide services to the community gives support for their efforts to add to the quality of life in our community. The dollars set aside for this are small in the overall scope of the city budget but are a valuable part of the budgets of the agencies receiving the funds.

This Council has established guidelines for this type funding to ensure the money is used wisely and accounted for on an annual basis.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

As far as I am aware the City has partnered well with High Point University to assist in its growth plans. HPU is a great asset for our city and its continued growth and development add a great deal to the economy and reputation of High Point.

Discussions between the University and the City continue to take place which allow both city staff and council to work with University officials to make good decisions about present and future needs and the city’s role.

“The right thing to do and the popular thing to do are not always the same.

I ask for your vote and that you join me as we make tough decisions in challenging times for the betterment our city, our home.” - Britt W. Moore • Lifelong High Point Resident • Experienced City-Wide Representation • Responsible and Effective Leadership • Honesty, Loyalty, Integrity • 30 Years Private Sector Experience and Ownership • Provided Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability

“I don’t just want to win an election, I want to make a positive impact in High Point.”

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Britt W. Moore

Election 10 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Candidate Q&A

High Point City Council Ward 3 Ward 3 Alyce Hill

Age: 48 Profession: Former attorney and banker: Former Treasurer, BioRx, LLC; Civic leader and community volunteer Political background: Although not an elected position, I have served on and chaired the city’s Board of Adjustment. My involvement and leadership positions in the High Point community are extensive.

Years living in High Point: 19

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

High Point faces many challenges, and nearly all of them are a direct result of a lack of meaningful economic growth. Therefore, I believe economic development is the most important issue facing our city. We need economic growth in our Core City achieved through revitalization, economic development focused on growing our tax base, economic diversification to attract new industries and develop empty worksites, and economic expansion to bring jobs accessible to those living in more distressed areas of the city. Furthermore, we must have city leaders who can work effectively together to plan and implement such development.

2. What does High Point do well?

We do an excellent job of getting furniture buyers and sellers (our visitors) into

Alyce Hill

and out of the downtown area during market, as well as a good job of hosting other events that attract visitors to our city. We have a first class library, up-to-date technology for fighting fires, have a nationally-recognized program for reducing violent crime, and we’ve done a good job of planning for long-term solid waste disposal.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The manager should implement and execute the broad policies adopted by the council which are formed based on information presented to council by the manager and his (or her) department heads (our government’s many functions are carried out through departments whose directors answer to the manager).

The manager should be the professional face of the city, attending important civic and social functions and becoming familiar with the hundreds of people who are involved in our public life. The manager should also promote

a positive, responsive and solutions-oriented culture within the city’s departments.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

Among the reasons Merck gave for relocating to the Triangle was “quality of life.”

We are good at identifying areas to be served by water and sewer to attract industry, but while we have the outparcel driven Palladium, we don’t have a central “city” offering the types of amenities companies desire when evaluating locations.

The City of Greenville, S.C. has been immensely successful in attracting large industries in the past 20 years. Its leadership will tell you it’s because they have the best downtown in the Southeast.

The reality is that incentives are a primary tool for recruiting industry.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes?

If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

A lower tax rate is always more desirable, but certain governmental functions must be funded and provided such as emergency services, basic infrastructure needs, water and sewer, and the like. The real issue is our tax base which is fragile given its reliance on the downtown furniture district and which has been heavily impacted by reduced real estate values. Therefore, while governmental expenditures must be scrutinized and justified, and governmental functions

privatized where appropriate, the real solution is through meaningful economic development to expand our tax base alleviating pressure on our tax rate.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Our rates are higher because we joined Electricities before the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island events that drove up the cost of the nuclear reactor that supplies the power we consume. In the next five years that plant will be paid for. With no more debt service to cover, our electric rates should drop substantially, making our power much cheaper than Duke Energy. Besides, if the only supplier in this state is a monopolistic Duke Energy, prices will likely go up, not down, even with close monitoring by our Utilities Commission.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

First, street dieting was promoted in the 2007 Core City Plan adopted by council. It was not Duany’s brainstorm. While I strongly support revitalization, I have

never staked myself out as supporting street “dieting.”

Without results of the traffic study to determine feasibility, no one knows what the possibilities are. If feasible it should be discussed. If not, we move on. My real concern is the effort by some to make revitalization a referendum on street dieting. Revitalization is not a single project, but is a process of beginning focused, proactive economic development ultimately spread to the entire city.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I support moving our elections back to oddnumbered years. One of the reasons given for the switch was to increase voter turnout in local elections. However, moving elections to evennumbered years has meant that critical local issues have been lost in all of the noise of federal and statewide elections. Moving to oddnumbered years is pragmatic.

Our local needs and issues are too important to allow them to become lost in the political chaos that reigns in even-numbered election years, especially when we are electing a president and governor at the same time.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre

Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? The centuries when the greatest advances occurred in human understanding and science were those when government supported the arts. The High Point Theatre and Theatre Arts Gallery exist because the city required reservation of space for them upon sale of its old City Hall block. Supporting them is conceptually no different than providing parks for sports, which the city does seemingly without public dissent or debate.

The Southwest Renewal Foundation is a private effort to focus on an area that would benefit from functions described as economic development, urban planning, parks and recreation, better public safety – all undeniably city services.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

We’ve come a long way from the days when we asked HPU to declare its growth area and promise to stay inside it, and nearly allowed one or two neighbors to force HPU to remove the billboard beside its stadium.

I see HPU as more than an economic engine, although it is that. HPU has put us on the global map almost as much as furniture in recent years. It has given us a success story and the hope that we can become even better. For these reasons, I will support any reasonable request HPU makes of the city.

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High Point City Council Ward 4 Ward 4 Jay W. Wagner

Age: 46 Profession: Attorney Political background: Two years on City Council.

Candidate for Mayor in 2010. Served seven years on Planning & Zoning Board, two as Chairman.

Years living in High Point: High Point native.

Lived in High Point for my entire life, other than leaving for educational purposes and three years I lived in Greensboro and Oak Ridge.

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

Property values. Since 2005, when deducting out new construction, High Point’s existing property values have fallen over $1.1 Billion … greater than 12 percent. Property values reflect supply and demand and our decline shows lower demand to live here. Regional peer cities that have invested in infrastructure to promote walkability and quality of life are experiencing tax base growth two to four times our rate. We need to be far more proactive with investment in infrastructure to provide the impetus for private investment. If we continue to elect people who refuse change, we can expect the current trend to continue.

2. What does High Point do well?

Furniture Market. No city in the world manages a logistical behemoth such as market as well as we do.

We move, house, feed, and entertain 80,000 people twice a year. No one else can even come close. We are the best in the world. One way to improve on it is to give them an inviting, walkable place in our core to spend time and spend money. We must redevelop and revitalize.

This is the biggest missed economic opportunity in our city every year.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

High Point needs a strong

jay Wagner

city manager. In addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operations of every department of city government, the manager must be an advocate for High Point and must promote policies which grow wealth for our city government and its citizens.

The manager must advise the city council as well as carry out its directives.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

EDC has done a commendable job in industrial recruitment, but we must expand our economic development strategies. Quality of life is the key factor in determining where job creators choose to live. In a three-year study of people in 26 cities nationwide asking “What draws people to a city and keeps them there?”

Jobs, economy, and safety were NOT among the top drivers. Instead, a vibrant nightlife, places to meet people, and arts and cultural opportunities were the main factors. Cities with these amenities also had higher economic growth. I hate incentives, but they are a necessary evil.

5. What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

Too high. Not coincidentally, while existing property values declined

from 2005 to 2013, property tax rates increased from 54 cents to 67.5 cents per hundred over the same period. While I believe in cutting the budget to lower taxes, ultimately we must grow our way out of this problem by being far more proactive in promoting entrepreneurship and investing in infrastructure to provide the impetus for private investment. I have not, and will not vote for a property tax increase. More investment and higher property values will allow us to cut the property tax rate for everyone.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Our higher rates are the result of debt service on the Catawba Nuclear Station.

Current rate projections related to debt service show that if we stay the course Duke’s rates will surpass ours around 2020 and will remain higher into the foreseeable future. In addition, our electric department provides a higher level of service to our citizens than does Duke. Lower rates over the long term far outweigh any short-term gain of lower rates now. These lower rates will provide an economic advantage to High Point companies. We should stay the course.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

If the traffic study of Uptowne verifies that dieting is possible, the city should do it. Great urban streets balance walkability with traffic flow. Uptowne has all the necessary ingredients

for revitalization, except its sidewalks are too narrow, there is no on-street parking, and car speeds are too fast.

Existing building design in Uptowne will make new infill investment easier and more cost-effective. Independent road diet studies show substantially increased property values, improved business and better traffic safety will result. Our own economic study of the road diet showed a substantial positive economic impact to the city.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I support the referendum.

High Point needs a primary.

It is unacceptable to elect representatives with less than 50 percent of the vote.

Past elections have included dubious candidates that a

primary would weed out.

Odd year elections are the statewide standard for local elections. The referendum would bring High Point back into line with the rest of the state.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? Like a large majority of cities, High Point chooses to allocate taxpayer funds to non-profit entities. Many enrich our quality of life and make us more economically competitive.

Such entities generally come in two forms: (1) Public-Private partnerships created with the expressed purpose of furthering some city policy goal (High Point Economic Development Corporation, The City Project, etc.), and (2) Communitybased nonprofits (including traditional charities (Open

Re-Ele

Door Ministries), and special purpose entities (Arts Council, TAG & SRF). High Point should fund outside organizations as long as they support or further city policy goals or provide an appreciable economic benefit.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

I support an effective, proactive partnership with High Point University. The growth of HPU is the greatest success story in our city over the last decade. The university is a true economic engine for our city. While I believe the city has done all HPU has asked us to do, I believe we should go further to partner with HPU to promote their continued growth in a way that can help us revitalize our city, promote entrepreneurship, and improve our quality of life.

ct

NANCY

ROUTH BOARD OF EDUCATION AT LARGE

for Guilford County Nancy Routh - Experienced, Committed, Dedicated to Public Education

More than 40 years of experience in pubic education in Guilford County “I believe in our school system and look forward to continuing to work as an advocate for the resources we need”.

Paid for by: Routh for Board of Education Committee

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

11

Candidate Q&A High Point City Council Ward 4 Ward 4 Jim Bronnert

Age: 63 Profession: Retired Business Owner Political background: Since 1985, I have advocated for municipal issues, including being involved with a bill introduction to the Hawaiian State Legislature.

Here in High Point, I am the founder and president of the Oakview Citizen’s Council, a member of the Leadership Council, and a member of the City’s Park and Recreation Commission.

I have been very interested in our City Council, so have gone to all of them the last several years.

Years living in High Point: 8

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

One of the problems is lack of jobs that pay a livable wage. The other major problem is to make High Point as affordable place to

jim bronnert live. I believe the solution is to continue to search out companies that will bring good jobs here and the city needs to lower taxes and fees to allow a better quality of life.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point does well to promote the rich history it has in the furniture industry and has made the Furniture Market a great economic impact on the city.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The city manager supervises the day to day operations of city departments, prepares and executes the city budget, is involved with the citizens in the public relations arena, is a technical advisor to the council, and should attend all council meetings.

Our city manager also oversees all hiring, firing, disciplining, and suspensions of city employees.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you think about incentives?

I feel that recruitment of jobs should be more aggressive and incentives used only if the city will see a return on those incentives.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

I feel the city taxes are

too high. I would like to see a plan put in place to progressively reducing taxes over several years.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

I believe the city should continue to provide power because of the huge investment that has already been made. I do not think it is right to add landfill and recycling fees onto the power bill, because those are separate issues.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate. What are your thoughts on revitalization

and dieting Main Street?

I think there are parts of the city that definitely need revitalization and I would certainly like to see more private investment. I believe once a demand is created to attract businesses to Main Street then retail and restaurants will follow. I do not believe that dieting is a solution to any problems that High Point faces.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I believe that our elections should stay on even years for a better voter turn out. We can move our filing dates aback to allow for a primary.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations

and non-profits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? I do not believe the city should continue to support non profits that use the city money for administrative costs. I believe that some non profits should be self sufficient and seek out other forms of revenue through fund raising, private donors, etc. I think each non profit should be looked at individually as to the service they provide to the city.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

I think the city of High Point has done a great job in accommodating the growth of High Point University. I feel the city has done everything possible to continue to promote higher education that HPU provides.

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High Point City Council Ward 5 Ward 5 Roger Sims

Age: 46 Profession: Insurance and Financial Services Professional with New York Life Insurance Company Political Background: None Years living in High Point: 42

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

High Point has an identity crisis through which we are trying to muddle. Are we the Home Furnishings Capital of the World, the home of High Point University, or a former textile and furniture manufacturing hub? There are very sincere individuals and groups who have conflicting ideas of how High Point should present itself. We need a unifying group to create a vision that will incorporate the diverse voices of our fair city into a single clear goal. I can help facilitate that effort to formulate a plan that gives us a target for which we can shoot.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point does an unbelievable job of dealing with the tremendous amount of logistics required to host 80,000 people for one week twice a year for the Furniture Market and an additional 50,000 visitors to High Point University throughout the year. That influx of people would swamp most communities, but High Point has learned how to welcome them and make them want to come back. Our ability to receive them, house them, feed them and move them around is unparalleled by any city our size. We need to capitalize on these strengths.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The city manager should serve the city in a similar way as the Chief Executive Officer serves a corporation. He or she should have the ultimate responsibility that all departments are operating efficiently and effectively as each department head should report to the city manager. Major roles should include establishing the city budget, working to implement the vision of the Mayor/Council and hiring and firing department heads. Additionally, the city manager should serve as the liaison between the Mayor/ Council and the city staff representing both to each other.

Roger Sims 4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point?

What do you think about incentives?

Our Economic Development Corporation has done a fantastic job throughout the years in bringing large employers to High Point. There needs to be another mechanism to encourage the smaller “mom and pop shops” to come also. Perhaps a “small business concierge” would be helpful to assist them in navigating through the myriad of necessary set up issues. While I don’t like incentives per se, I understand they are a part of the recruitment game these days, and not offering an incentive could disqualify us right out of the chute.

There definitely needs to be performance criteria to receive them.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

When you add the taxes that High Pointers pay to the city and the county, we find ourselves one of the most expensive NC cities in which to live. There are two sides to the tax coin: raise revenues or reduce expenses. I believe raising revenues through increased investment in High Point (not a tax increase) would allow us to maintain or improve our services without raising taxes to pay for it. With enough investment, we could actually lower taxes without having to suffer any reduced services.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century. But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Yes, High Point should continue to provide residents with power. There have been many times during the past century when storms have ravaged our area with subsequent power outages. More often

than not, I hear of Duke Energy customers that are offline, while those on High Point’s grid still enjoy their power. When it comes to the cost vs. value question, I appreciate value.

Furthermore, we own 18.9% of the Catawba Nuclear Unit in York County, SC, one of the best, safest and most efficiently operated nuclear plants in the U.S., a tremendous asset to High Point.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate.

What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

Revitalization can provide much needed revenue to High Point without requiring the citizens to pay more taxes.

Investment always comes with risk, and this one is no different. A diet of Main Street would be a costly investment to undertake, but one I think High Point would do well to consider.

The much anticipated results of the traffic study will definitely be welcome to evaluate the potential return on this investment.

Nevertheless, revitalization must occur in this and other parts of the city for us to make High Point “the single most livable, safe and prosperous community in America.”

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years. This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

If the purpose of changing to even numbered years was to get more voters at the polls, then it worked, with roughly two to five times as many voters casting ballots, depending on the year. However, with that increase comes the loss of the primaries. Without a primary, a person could be elected to office with less than a majority, which puts that person at an immediate disadvantage. If there’s a way to change the filing period to before the primaries, we’d have the best of both worlds.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and nonprofits including

High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation?

Why? We need to look at the bigger picture. Are people attracted to High Point because of its quality of life, which includes the arts?

Does having a vibrant arts community encourage people to move to and spend money in High Point? What’s the return on the investment? These are difficult questions to answer.

Perhaps a study on the number of patrons utilizing those outside organizations would help in determining if those monies are being spent wisely. Again, more revenues through economic development would allow us to have the same services without a tax increase.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth?

Please explain.

I believe the city has done a great job of accommodating High Point University’s growth. High Point University has become a tremendous economic engine for our city. The students, faculty and visitors it brings into High Point are all encouraged to spend their dollars at local stores, restaurants and service providers. These benefits far outweigh the inconveniences of having to reroute your GPS around Montlieu Ave.

JIM

DAVIS

CITY CITY COUNCIL COUNCILWARD WARD5 Who am I?

Lifelong resident of High Point with deep roots in Ward 5 Married 28 years; two children; 51 years old Successful small business owner for over 30 years

Accomplishments 1st term (2012-2014)

Proven conservative voice on council Balanced budget 2 years with no increase in property taxes 1.1 cent decrease in property taxes for 2014/15 Good steward of taxpayer monies Real, engaged representation in Ward 5 Appointed Mayor Sept. 2014; Mayor -Pro-Tem (2013-14) Stopped excessive spending; reduced debt by 2.mm by not being afraid to ask the necessary questions Monthly open forum community meetings to inform residents on City affairs

Community Service

City Council Ward 5 (2012-2014), Mayor-pro-tem High Point Board of Adjustment High Point Planning and Zoning High Point Parks and Recreation

2014 Pledge Promises

To continue to abandon the continued increase in property taxes by researching efficiencies within city departments and making the necessary cuts To improve Planning and Development permitting process to help facilitate development and job creation To promote job growth/creation To continue to improve communications throughout our cities by networking with neighboring communities and fostering positive interaction

And the most important pledge promise of all is that I will continue to be your “Voice of Reason” and bring a common sense approach to all matters at hand. I hope I can depend on your vote for another term so I can really show you what we, together, can do to make High Point grow in the next term.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Jim Davis

Election 12 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Candidate Q&A

High Point City Council Ward 5

Ward 5 Jim Davis

Age: 51 Profession: NC Licensed General Contractor Political background: Served on various boards and commissions last several years, Council Member Ward 5, Mayor Pro-tem, currently serving as Mayor for City of High Point Years living in High Point: Life Long resident; 51 years

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

Poverty, loss of jobs, deteriorating neighborhoods.

Council is currently exploring options to assemble larger tracks in areas with boarded up houses in buildings for redevelopment. I will continue to push for greater concentration of city resources to clean up and promote pride of ownership. Commission a transit study of the need to get residents to and from areas of job growth and retail centers.

2. What does High Point do well?

jim davis

Our city is financially stable with very good fiscal policies and infrastructure in place.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

Run the daily operations of the city, manage employees and administer policies. He should also communicate well with employees, our citizens and City Council.

4. How would you work to recruit industry and jobs to High Point? What do you

think about incentives?

I am not a fan of incentives but understand the need to be competitive as they may be necessary. I will continue with economic policies, work towards regional calibration for recruitment of jobs and investment. I will continue to work towards favorable planning and development policies to help increase investment opportunities for High Point.

5.What are your thoughts on the city’s taxes? If you believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them?

I feel that they are too high.

I will continue to promote accountability and efficiencies in departmental budgets, work towards continuation of reduction in our tax rate so that we can be competitive with our neighboring communities.

This was and is my reason for running two years ago and I will continue to balance the budget with no increases.

6. The city has run its own

power grid for a century.

But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s.

Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

Our choices are limited, current studies have shown fiscally our city is better to continue with our ownership interest in Agency One. Currently we are on track to retire debt in 2020 and the projection of rates will be reduced by 20%.

7. Since 2012, when architect Andres Duany brought up the idea of narrowing sections of Main Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to help revitalize downtown High Point, the street diet has been a subject of much debate.

What are your thoughts on revitalization and dieting Main Street?

I am proponent of revitalization in our city.

Revitalization and street dieting are two separate issues.

I have supported our Core

City Plan, Washington Street improvements, South Main street improvements and other initiatives. A large majority of residents have expressed opinions on dieting main street.

I believe the majority of citizens throughout our city that I have heard from is currently not in favor or not dieting main street at this time. I will continue efforts to revitalize our city where it creates economic impacts, job creation while increasing our tax base and promoting private sector investment.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

I believe this issue is important for the voters to decide. I did support putting the referendum on the ballot.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside

organizations and nonprofits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? High Point Theatre is a department of the city and is city owned. This is a quality of life issue. Many of these organization contribute a valuable service for our citizens.

I believe if these organizations receive funding from our budget, they need to be accountable for the monies.

Monies should not go to operating expenses but to specific programs that benefit our community.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

The University has experienced phenomenal growth under the leadership of Dr. Qubein. I believe the city has done a great job embracing this valuable asset in our community.

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High Point City Council Ward 6 Ward 6 James W. Corey

Age: 73 Profession: Retired Educator. Career U.S. Navy officer 25 years. Ph.D. Political Science.

Taught at High Point University.

Now Duplicate Bridge instructor and director Political background: Registered Republican, but vote for best candidate Years living in High Point: 14 years

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

High Point’s biggest problem is the persistent economic and social gap between North and South High Point. The lack of a supermarket in the South is an example. City incentives should be a last resort to attract new industry and economic activity in the South.

BuzziSpace is adding 113 jobs in South High Point. Yet when one looks at the January 2012-August 2014 High Point job announcements-most are in North High Point. The HP EDC needs to double its effort

Jim Corey to attract more businesses to South High Point.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point has two shining stars: The Furniture Market and High Point University. Furniture manufacturing was a shining star which has largely dimmed away.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

The role of the City Manager is to direct the operations of the city government and staff on a

day to day basis. He is the liai- 6. The city has run its own son between City Council and power grid for a century. But the City staff. our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s. Should 4. How would you work High Point continue to proto recruit industry and jobs vide residents with power? to High Point? What do you The High Point City’ electhink about incentives? tricity is generated largely by There are three primary nuclear power which does not things that attract new indus- produce greenhouse gasses. try: Available, reasonably priced Duke power still uses coal to land, a willing and capable generate electricity which prowork forces, and low taxes. duces greenhouse gasses and Incentives are frosting on the toxic coal ash. Until Duke Power cake. is far less polluting, we should

stick with the clean electricity 5.What are your thoughts of High Point even if it costs a on the city’s taxes? If you little more. believe they are too high,

how would you work to lower 7. Since 2012, when archithem? tect Andres Duany brought City taxes are directly up the idea of narrowing related to city services and sections of Main Street to programs. Incentives come accommodate pedestrians as from tax dollars. The Furni- a way to help revitalize downture Market is a short period town High Point, the street in High Point. What happens diet has been a subject of the rest of the year to the much debate. What are your empty showrooms? Could thoughts on revitalization we lower taxes by eliminat- and dieting Main Street? ing incentives? Would this be

a wise policy? The City needs The revitalization and Main to do further study on the Street dieting are not being whole incentive program. proposed to increase the flow

of North-South traffic or beautify Main Street. The root is more commercial economic activity, but why would a customer park their car and walk down a side walk when they can drive to Oak Hollow Mall for shopping?

It is true that Johnson and Centennial streets are major N-S streets so they may be able to accommodate traffic from Main Street. Safety and security are other issues of walking in the downtown of High Point.

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

High Point does not need partisan elections for its municipal offices since they are nonpartisan. Holding elections on even years would merge HP offices with national, state and county offices on the long ballot. Since HP offices would at the very end of the long ballot, there would be ballot drop off and many HP offices would not

be marked as voters grew tired of the long ballot. We should stick with the odd years where HP offices are more visible.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and non-profits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? The city should provide limited funds to non-profits and outside organizations. These activities enrich the cultural life of High Point.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

The city has certainly done enough to accommodate HPU. As mentioned before it is one of the shining stars of High Point.

Still it is land locked and further expansion is problematical. It needs to look at decentralization of new programs to the south of the city where possible.

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Ward 6 Jason Ewing

Age: 37 Profession: Residential Real Estate Broker Political background: Ran unsuccessfully in 2010, currently serving first term in office Years living in High Point: 7.5

1. What is High Point’s biggest problem and what is your solution to it?

High Point has been experiencing an identity crisis ever since I have lived here.

Folks need to stop digging their heels in on plans that have been drawn in the past or devised by big money consultants. High Point needs to decide on a singular vision and focus, and regardless if some agree with it or not, we ALL have to work together in order to create a better city to live and work in.

2. What does High Point do well?

High Point is a very philanthropic community.

Public services issues (ie., water, sewer and garbage) are addressed in a very timely fashion. Economic Development has thrived in High Point, as our MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) was ranked 4th in the nation in 2013 for attracting corporate real estate projects > $1,000,000.

3. What should be the role of the city manager?

To work at the will and pleasure of council, advising us on policy that may need enacted , changed or deleted.

The manager should present to council a fair and balanced city budget which addresses our essential needs without burdening taxpayers beyond

this year by .011 and I intend to continue moving property taxes in that direction until we become competitive.

6. The city has run its own power grid for a century.

But our electric rates are higher than Duke Energy’s.

Should High Point continue to provide residents with power?

At this point, we don’t have much of a choice but to continue to offer electric service to many in our community. The city of High Jason ewing Point is only about a 19% stake holder of NCMPA1 (NC their economic capabilities.

Municipal Power Agency 1)

which owns 75% of a single 4. How would you work nuclear unit at the Catawba to recruit industry and jobs Plant. There are many to High Point? What do you stakeholders that would all think about incentives? have to agree to get out of I believe that it is necessary the power business, and even for city council to create an then, the sale price would environment that removes probably fall short of the debt barriers that hinders industry service owed. and new businesses from 7. Since 2012, when coming to High Point (i.e., architect Andres Duany removing policy and/or brought up the idea of amending policy to be more business friendly). I don’t like to narrowing sections of Main offer incentives, but understand Street to accommodate pedestrians as a way to that sometimes it is necessary help revitalize downtown to bring much needed jobs High Point, the street diet into our community. I would has been a subject of much rather offer infrastructure debate. What are your improvement that other thoughts on revitalization businesses could also benefit and dieting Main Street? from in lieu of cash.

I am supportive of

5.What are your thoughts revitalization, but not supportive of dieting Main on the city’s taxes? If you Street. I believe that we, as a believe they are too high, how would you work to lower them? governing body, need to make sure that there are tools in I believe our property tax place to support revitalization, rate is higher than it needs to like grants that assist with be. When you compare cost of living with quality of life in High vacant and dilapidated buildings. We need to remove Point to some of our regional the bureaucracy that hinders neighbors, we fall short of growth and development, offering much ROI for our .664 so the private sector is tax rate. There is room to cut comfortable investing in large from the budget and create more government efficiencies, scale projects that will improve target areas. we reduced property taxes

8. Until 2008 High Point held elections on odd years.

This November’s ballot will include a referendum to move elections from even to odd years and hold a primary.

What are your thoughts on this referendum?

We are one of 3-4 municipalities in the state of North Carolina that elects its city council in the even years.

Local issues get drowned out by the larger races (ie., President, Governor, US Senate, state legislature etc.) and do not get the exposure that they should. A primary is also important so that there is a true majority (> 50%) electing their

representatives rather than a candidate simply needing one vote more than his/her closest competitor.

9. Should the city continue to provide money to outside organizations and non-profits including High Point Theatre, Arts Council, Theatre Arts Gallery and Southwest Renewal Foundation? Why? City funding of non-profits is a slippery slope. I do not agree that we should hand money out to anyone that comes before the city with the hands out, however, I do see a value in funding

some organizations that provide a public service that a municipality could otherwise have to fund in their absence.

My expectation is that any funds provided by the city are used in activities that benefit the public generally and not special interests.

10. Has the city of High Point done enough, too much or too little to accommodate High Point University’s growth? Please explain.

I believe the city has done an adequate job accommodating the needs of HPU as they continue to grow.

“TAKING HIGH POINT TO ITS

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT ORRICK QUICK

HIGHEST POINT.”

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

13

Election 2014 Guilford County Board High Point voters will have a say in two competitive races for the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

The lone at-large, countywide race pits veteran Democratic commissioner Kay Cashion against Republican challenger Larry Proctor.

Cashion, from Greensboro, is touting her community service and advocacy for job creation and education as reasons why she should be re-elected.

Cashion’s community service has included advocating for Clara House, a shelter for abused women and children. Cashion also was instrumental in the formation of Family Service of the Piedmont, an agency that assists families across the county.

“My 45-plus years

of

Commissioners

Kay Cashion

Larry Proctor

CArlvena Foster

of hands-on volunteer community service have shown me the need for a communityunderstanding public representative. I will be a good steward of our county’s resources and devote the time and energy the job requires and the county needs and deserves,” Cashion says on her campaign website.

Proctor, who now

lives in Greensboro but was born and raised in High Point, is touting a platform of jobs and economic growth, public safety and fiscal responsibility.

“I operated a business here in Guilford County for more than 40 years and I believe this experience and stability can be beneficial in serving the residents of Guilford,”

he says on his campaign website.

District 1

In District 1, a seat that covers portions of High Point, Democrat Carlvena Foster of High Point takes on Republican Eugene Lester III of Greensboro in the race to replace outgoing Democratic Commissioner Bruce Davis of High Point.

Eugene Lester

Davis is relinquishing the seat because he instead chose to make an unsuccessful bid for Congress earlier this year.

Foster, a longtime member of the Guilford County Board of Education, said she would bring her experience and understanding of the school system to the Board of

Commissioners. Foster has long ties to High Point, including her role with the Carl Chavis branch of the YMCA of Greater High Point.

Lester, an attorney, also highlights education in his platform.

“Government must provide a quality education on an equal basis in the community,” he says on his campaign website.

Lester said he also advocates for redevelopment zones within the county to promote business growth and job creation, as well as setting fair tax rates to foster growth.

District 1 is a Democratic-leaning one in terms of voter registration and voting history — Davis didn’t face a Republican opponent during the previous two election cycles.

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Guilford County Sheriff In the race for sheriff, longtime Republican incumbent BJ Barnes faces a challenge from Democrat Danny Rogers of High Point.

Barnes touts that crime in his jurisdictions has been reduced by 56 percent since 1995, the year after he was first elected.

Barnes touts improvements he’s made in the criminal justice arena, such as advocating for construction of the

new jail in downtown Greensboro and helping inmates address their drug and alcohol addictions.

“Sheriff Barnes believes that time should be used constructively to improve the person’s education and life skills.

That’s why each jail has programs to give the inmate a future with hope of avoiding incarceration and of being employed,” according to his campaign website.

BJ Barnes

Danny Rogers

Rogers said he would bring needed reforms to the sheriff’s office if elected. His positions include: • Building and maintaining stronger relationships between law enforcement and the residents of Guilford County • Collaborating with the police and public safety departments throughout the county • Reviewing policies about promotional

opportunities within the sheriff’s office “As sheriff I believe preventing crime would be more effective than just putting criminals behind bars once the crime is committed.

Therefore, as sheriff of Guilford County I will focus on preventing crime by being proactive in our communities,” Rogers says on his campaign website.

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At-large An incumbent and challenger with extensive backgrounds in public education are facing of f for an at-large seat on the Guilford County Board of Education.

Longtime school board member Nancy Routh faces a challenge from Jack Kraemer in the nonpar tisan race. Routh is from Pleasant Garden and Kraemer is from Greensboro, though High Point voters will vote in the race since it’s a countywide seat.

Routh spent a long career in the Greensboro public schools as a teacher and principal and has ser ved on the school board for the past 12 years. Routh touts her experience and commitment to the public schools, saying she has a track record of supporting teachers and admin-

school board

istrators as they seek to educate students.

Kraemer, who has a long background as an educator and librarian, said he’s r unning in part because of low morale and heavy turnover rate with teachers leaving the Guilford County Schools. He also questions whether the current school board has provided the level of fiscal oversight of the school system that would be expected by taxpayers.

Nancy Routh

Jack Kraemer

RE-ELECT

JUDY MENDENHALL HIGH POINT CITY COUNCIL

WARD 3

A PROVEN LEADER WHO HEARS AND

RESPONDS TO YOUR ISSUES AND CONCERNS For more information visit www.judymendenhall.com

Paid for by Mendenhall for City Council

Election 14 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Election 2014

6th Congressional District High Point area voters have a rare political opportunity this fall — filling a pair of open U.S. House seats.

Rep. Howard Coble, R-6th, is retiring at the end of this year for health reasons at the age of 83 after serving 30 years in Congress. Former Democratic congressman Mel Watt left office at the first of this year to become head of the Federal Housing Finance

Agency after 23 years in Congress.

Two first-time candidates — Republican Mark Walker and Democrat Laura Fjeld — have staged a spirited campaign to succeed Coble in the 6th Congressional District.

Walker, a former minister from Greensboro, has said he will continue Coble’s conservative legacy while bring a fresh outsider perspective to

Laura Fjeld

Mark Walker

Congress. Walker said he would lower government entanglement in people’s lives, which should lead to greater opportunities for people seeking jobs and prosperity.

Fjeld, a former vice president with the University of North Carolina system from Orange County, said she would bring a moderate voice to Congress and work in a bipartisan fashion. She

has hammered Walker as being too extreme on topics such as women’s rights and restrictions on abortion.

The 6th Congressional District has a rough equivalence of registered Democratic and Republican voters, though political analysts say the district leans conservative.

Both candidates have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars battling for the open seat.

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12th Congressional District

The 12th Congressional District race between Democrat Alma Adams, a longtime state legislator from Greensboro, and Republican Vince Coakley, a former broadcast journalist from Charlotte, hasn’t gotten as much attention.

Adams looks to continue the legacy of

Watt, stressing issues such as increasing wage levels for hourly workers, supporting the Affordable Care Act and access to health care and insurance and standing up for issues related to women.

Coakley pledges if elected to return to founding principles of the countr y to promote economic

Alma Adams

Vince Coakley

opportunity.

“In order to create jobs and strengthen our economy, we must focus on the principles of freedom, liberty and opportunity that our Founding Fathers followed in writing the Constitution,” Coakley says on his campaign website.

Coakley objects to the Affordable Care Act, also known as

Obamacare, and would support Americans “freedom to choose their health care coverage in a free market system.”

The 12th Congressional District is considered a safe Democratic one, as Watt won each of his campaigns by wide margins against an array of Republican challengers.

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U.S. Senate High Point area voters will help settle the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina that may determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate after the Nov. 4 general election.

Anyone watching television during the past several months hasn’t been able to get away from campaign ads in the race between Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican challenger Thom Tillis.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent in the race, which

polls have consistently shown is tight.

Hagan, the first-term senator from Greensboro, has touted what she says is her moderate approach to issues during her six years in office. Her campaign also has hammered Tillis on what Hagan claims are harmful cuts to North Carolina education spending during Tillis’ term as speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives.

Tillis, in turn, has linked Hagan to what he calls the liberal

Kay Hagan

Thom Tillis

and destructive policies of President Barack Obama, saying that Hagan’s Senate

voting record shows consistent allegiance with the president’s positions. Tillis also

has called out Hagan, a member of the Senate Armed Ser vices Committee, for missing key meetings where senators were briefed on the threat of Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria.

The Senate race has broader political implications. If Tillis unseats Hagan, it would show that North Carolina is trending Republican like other Southern states. In the past two election cycles, voters have elected the first GOP governor

in 20 years and given the Republican Party control of both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in more than 100 years.

If Hagan holds the seat, it would show Democrats can remain competitive in a state that Obama narrowly carried in 2008 and lost by a close margin two years ago. When Obama won North Carolina in 2008, he was the first Democratic presidential candidate to do so since 1976.

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61st House District Voters in the 61st House District might do a double-take when they go to the polls and see the two names on the ballot — it’s the same pair of men listed in the last election two years ago.

Democratic challenger Ron Weatherford is mounting another bid to wrestle away the seat from state Rep. John Faircloth, R-Guilford, in the district covering parts of High Point. The two candidates from High Point squared off in 2012, with Faircloth capturing the seat with more than 60 percent of the vote.

But Weatherford, a retired postal worker who does substitute teaching in the local schools, hopes that dissatisfaction with Republican control of the N.C. General Assembly will translate into 61st State House District voters switching support to him.

One set of issues that Weatherford emphasizes is concern for the environment, such as his opposition to introducing the practice of fracking in North Carolina. Weatherford also is critical of how the Republicancontrolled General Assembly responded in

John Faircloth

Ron Weatherford

the wake of the coal ash spill on the Dan River in Rockingham County, saying legislators weren’t hard enough on Duke Energy Corp.

“Two years ago, environmental issues

weren’t at the forefront as much,” Weatherford said. “We have to give our state agencies the ability to enforce safety measures.”

Weatherford also objects to changes the

General Assembly made in public education, such as reducing the number of teaching assistant positions in the classroom.

He’s also concerned about access to health care, especially among rural residents, and would work to prevent any more hospitals or medical centers from closing in the state.

Faircloth, a former High Point police chief and city councilman, said he stands by his record serving constituents and advocating for issues important to the city, such as state assistance for the High Point

Market.

“I’m running on my qualifications for office, my experience and effectiveness,” Faircloth said.

As he’s gained seniority in the state House, Faircloth said his role allows him to become a more effective voice for High Point and Guilford County.

“I’ve got the highest effectiveness rating for getting bills passed for Guilford County and fourth-highest among all 170 legislators,” he said. “I feel like I’m doing a good job for our folks and getting things done. Experience counts.”

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Clerk Guilford County voters are assured of picking a new clerk of Superior Cour t this fall.

In the Democratic primar y, challenger Lisa Johnson-Tonkins of Greensboro upset cur rent Democratic Clerk of Cour t David Churchill. That means J o h n s o n - To n k i n s i s squaring of f with Republican Janet Wallace in the fall general

election.

Johnson-Tonkins said she wants to introduce technological improvements to improve the ef ficiency of the clerk’s of fice and better ser ve customers seeking its ser vices.

“Not only do they (clerks) administer oaths and are responsible for record-keeping for both superior and district cour t;

of

Lisa Johnson-Tonkins

Court

janet Wallace

they ser ve the public in various customer ser vice roles by providing cour t dates, accepting cour t fees, and providing other information within the cour thouse,” she says on her campaign website.

Wallace also says she wants to make the clerk’s of fice work mor e ef ficiently for county residents.

“Information needs

to be mor e accessible. We need accurate court calendars on the Internet; printed court calendars available at the entrance of the court buildings and at each cour troom; and an electronic kiosk that gives the cour troom and case information on the main floor of each cour thouse,” Wallace says on her campaign website.

Election THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE Wednesday, October 22, 2014 www.hpe.com

15

Election 2014

l a r e n n o e i G ect le el amp t s allo b Editor’s note: This sample ballot includes partisan and nonpartisan races for statewide and congressional races and local elections in Guilford County. Specific ballots used by individual voters will vary with where they reside and their precinct or polling place.

Statewide/congressional

Clerk of Superior Court Janet M. Wallace (R)

Lisa Johnson-Tonkins (D)

U.S. Senate Sheriff Thom Tillis (R) BJ Barnes (R) Kay Hagan (D) Danny Rogers (D) Sean Haugh (L)

Nonpartisan 6th Congressional District

Mark Walker (R) High Point Mayor Laura Fjeld (D) Bill Bencini

Marcus Brandon 12th Congressional District Jimmy Scott Vince Coakley (R)

Alma Adams (D) High Point City Council at-large

(for two seats) Nonpartisan Latimer Alexander

Regina D. Chahal Supreme Court Chief Justice Cynthia “Cindy” Davis Mark Martin Michael A. Holmes Ola M. Lewis Britt W. Moore

Orrick Quick Supreme Court Associate Justice David Rosen (first seat) Edward “Ed” Squires Jr. Bob Hunter

Sam J. Ervin IV High Point City Council Ward 1

Willie Davis Supreme Court Associate Justice Jeff Golden (second seat) Jo Williams Eric Levinson

Robin Hudson High Point City Council Ward 2

Supreme Court Associated Justice Jerry Mingo Chris Williams (third seat)

Mike Robinson High Point City Council Ward 3 Cheri Beasley Alyce Hill

Judith P. “Judy” Mendenhall N.C. Court of Appeals (first seat)

Marion Warren High Point City Council Ward 4 Chuck Winfree Jim Bronnert John M. Tyson Jay W. Wagner Elizabeth Davenport Scott

Tricia Shields High Point City Council Ward 5 Jody Newsome Jim Davis Marty Martin Roger D. Sims Hunter Murphy

Keisha Lovelace High Point City Council Ward 6 Ann Kirby Jim Corey Abe Jones Jason Ewing Sabra Jean Faires

Daniel Patrick Donahue Superior Court Judge District 18C J. Brad Donovan Stuart Albright Lori G. Christian

Jeffrey M. Cook District Court Judge District 18 Betsy Bunting (first seat) John S. Arrowood Wendy M. Enochs Valerie Johnson Zachary

District Court Judge District 18 N.C. Court of Appeals (second seat) (second seat) Bill Southern H. Thomas “Tom” Jarrell Lucy Inman

Board of Education at-large N.C. Court of Appeals (third seat) Jack Kraemer Donna Stroud Nancy R. Routh

N.C. Court of Appeals (fourth seat) Board of Education District 2 Paul Holcombe Ed Price Mark Davis

Soil & Water Conservation Supervisor (for two seats) Guilford County Anna Gerringer Amoriello

Lewis A. Brandon III State Senate District 26 A.J. “Andy” Courts Jr. Philip “Phil” Berger (R) Richard “Dick” Phillips William Osborne (D)

State Constitutional Amendment State Senate District 27 Constitutional amendment providing that a Trudy Wade (R) person accused of any criminal offense for

which the State is not seeking a sentence State Senate District 28 of death in superior court may, in writing or Gladys Robinson (D) on record in court and with the consent of

the trial judge, waive the person’s right to a State House District 62 trial by jury.

John M. Blust (R) For Sal Leone (D) Against

State House District 61 Guilford County Sales and Use Tax John Faircloth (R) Local sales and use tax at the rate of oneRon Weatherford (D) quarter percent (0.25%) in addition to all

other State and local sales and use taxes.

State House District 60 For OR Against Cecil Brockman (D)

City of High Point Charter

Amendment District Attorney Beginning in the 2017 election and every Doug Henderson (D) two years thereafter, electing the mayor

and the city council members by using the County Commissioner At-Large nonpartisan primary and election method Larry R. Proctor (R) pursuant to state law, and the mayor and Kay Cashion (D) city council members elected at the 2014

election serving a three-year term to expire County Commissioner District 1 in 2017.

Eugene E. Lester III (R) For OR Against J. Carlvena Foster (D)

Mayoral and City Council endorsements Conservatives for Guilford County

Guilford County Democratic Party

• At-large City Council - Latimer • Mayor - Marcus Brandon Alexander and Cynthia Davis • At-large City Council - Regina • Ward 5 - Jim Davis Chahal, Michael Holmes, Orrick • Ward 6 - Jason Ewing Quick or Ed Squires Jr.

• Ward 1 - Jeff Golden • Ward 2 - Jerry Mingo

Election 16 www.hpe.com Wednesday, October 22, 2014 THE HIGH POINT ENTERPRISE

Precinct map

WHO REPRESENTS YOU IN HIGH POINT All High Point voters cast ballots for mayor and the two at-large seats on High Point City Council. The other six council seats are decided by voters in six wards across the city.

Any candidate running for a ward must live in the district as well. The mayor and eight members of council serve two-year terms. The municipal races are nonpartisan, meaning the party affiliation of the candidates doesn't appear on the ballot.

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Source: City of High Point

LESLIE LONG | HPE

EXPERIENCE COUNTS While in office...

Crime Reduced by 56% Decentralized & Localized Operations Reduced Response Time Built a New Jail $17 Million Under Budget Implemented Volunteers in Police Service Increased Life Skills Opportunities for Inmates Developed Award Winning Prodigal Son Program Deployed Mobile Fingerprinting Technology Integrated Facial Recognition Technology Created the Crisis Intervention Team Training Began Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy Implemented Light Aircraft for Investigators Formed the Criminal Gun Unit

KEEP BJ BARNES OUR SHERIFF OF GUILFORD COUNTY

Implemented Mutual Link Streaming Video

te o v h t Nov. 4 rnes BJ Ba iff er h S r o f