League of Women Voters Candidate Forum

The Macon County Chapter of the League of Women Voters hosted a forum for candidates in the primary for Macon County Commissioner on Thursday, April 12, 2012 and here is a video and a few photos taken at the event that was held in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, NC.

The forum was well-attended by civic minded Maconians and I look forward to a forum or two that is planned for the general election.



Photos

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The Macon County Board of Commissioners Flips to Republican Majority

Ron Haven thanks his supporters.


The political makeup of the Board of Macon County Commissioners will switch from 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans to 3 Republicans and 2 Democrats starting with the December 2010 Meeting and will be electing a new chairman from their number.


Only 180 votes separated the top two finishers, Ron Haven and Ronnie Beale, and a mere 178 votes kept the third place finisher, Charlie Leatherman, from winning a seat on the Macon County Commissioners. 


Bob Simpson lost his seat on the County commissioners and Vic Drummond came in last place in an independent run for a seat on the Board of County Commissioners. I believe he received many of the votes that would have likely gone to Charlie Leatherman had there not been another choice for conservatives. 


A Table of the results are below:

Candidate	Percent of Votes	Number of votes
Ron Haven (R)	24.66%	5,719
Ronnie Beale (D) incumbent	23.88%	5,539
Charlie Leatherman (R)	23.12%	5,362
Bob Simpson (D) incumbent	18.36%	4,259
Vic Drummond (I)	09.98%	2,316

Table by Bobby Coggins

Jim Davis, Vice Chairman of the Macon County Commissioners, won his race to unseat John Snow in the NC Senate Race for District 50 and he will be replaced by an appointee of the Executive Committee of the Macon County Republican Party, who is expected to take up the matter this Thursday night. 

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A Letter from Vic Drummond Independent for Macon County Commissioner

Instead of using the typical mug shot for this post, I decided to go with a photograph of Vic Drummond in action. Every time I have seen this man, he has always been a blur of activity.


He is making an independent run for one of the District II seats in the Macon County Commission Race this year. Here is a rundown of the competition for the two available seats:


Democrats


Ronnie Beale (incumbent)
Robert (Bob) Simpson (incumbent)


Republicans


Ron Haven [website]
Charlie Leatherman


Independent


Vic Drummond [website]




I recently received a piece of campaign literature (having signed a petition to get him on the ballot) from him in the mail and thought to share it here.



Dear Macon County Voter:


Thank you for signing a petition to have my name placed on the November ballot as the Independent candidate for a district 2 seat on the Macon County Board of Commissioners. You have helped me succeed in that effort.


I promised that when I made the ballot I would discuss in more detail where I stand on the important issues that need to be debated in this campaign.


My positions on issues will be conservative. I believe in limited government that is fiscally responsible with low taxes; free-market capitalism with minimal government intervention, strict constitutional interpretation; and individual freedom and responsibility.


Here are three of the primary issues in this campaign:


1) Macon County must reduce taxes.


My two incumbent opponents voted to increase property taxes by 5.7% effective July 1, 2010, which will generate about $1.35 million. They claim this money is needed to finance a new school the commissioners voted to finance, even though voters rejected a $42 million bond issue in November 2007 for new schools.


This property tax increase could have been avoided by appropriating funds from the County’s unreserved fund balance of the general fund which held at least $14.7 million on June 30, 2009 -- the latest publicly available figure. This was four times the amount suggested by the State, and well above the targeted value set by the Board of Commissioners. The excessive amount of cash in this account should be refunded to taxpayers.


During a recession, the County should use its savings to avoid forcing taxpayer's to use their savings.


2) Property tax assessments must be re-evaluated in 2011.


My two incumbent opponents voted to not re-evaluate properties as scheduled in 2010, but push it back to 2013. The last property evaluations were made in 2007 near the peak of the “housing bubble.”


Assessed values are required by North Carolina law to be set at 100% of market value. Current assessments are well above market value, and must be re-evaluated in 2011.


3) The "Steep/Safe Slope Ordinance" currently under consideration must be rejected.


The proposed ordinance will place unneeded restrictions on building some homes on slopes in Macon County, and further damage the construction industry already reeling from the recession.


I will expand on each of these issues as my campaign progresses.


If you agree with my conservative philosophy and positions on these issues, and you would like to see at least one new commissioner elected this fall, I ask for your vote.


In order to succeed in getting my message to voters, my campaign will need to buy direct mailings, newspaper advertising, and other media. I ask for your monetary support to help accomplish this.


Please fill out the contribution form and return it with your check.


Once again, thank you for helping to get my name on the ballot, and I look forward to your support this fall.


Sincerely,


Vic Drummond
536 Timbercrest Dr
Franklin, NC 28734-8229
(828) 349-2970
www.drummond-for-commissioner.info
drummond_for_commissioner@verizon.net

*Under North Carolina election law, the following information must be provided when making a political contribution, and all contributions over $50 must be made by check only. All contributions must be in one name only - not husband and wife.


Full Name, mailing Address, including City, State and Zip Code, Phone Number, Employer's Name, and Job Title/Profession.


Make checks payable to "Drummond for Commissioner" and mail to: 


Drummond for Commissioner
536 Timbercrest Dr
Franklin, NC 28734-8229




Commentary


This will certainly be an interesting election year in Macon County. Many people I have spoken with are of the opinion that a conservative tide will reach local offices this November.

I'll have more on the local elections as news becomes available.

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