Commissioner candidates get candid at forum
On Monday evening, May 2, the Lexington Area, Thomasville and Northern Davidson County Chambers of Commerce & Davidson Local hosted a forum for Davidson County Board of Commissioner candidates at Davidson-Davie Community College’s Reich Auditorium.
Candidates present included: Don Deal, Chris Elliott, Tripp Kester, Mandy Ellis Kiser, Fred Lankford, Jr., Tonya Lanier, Robert Miller, Matt Mizzell, Steve Shell, Don W. Truell and Karen Watford. Zak Crotts wasn’t present.
Instead of proposing questions to all candidates, the co-moderators asked candidates questions in groups. There were multiple rounds of questioning.
Below are questions asked of candidates in their group. Snippets of the answers are taken directly from candidates quotes.
What does improving Davidson County mean to you? How can our unique identity reflect both our heritage and focus on the future?
Tonya Lanier - growth, Davidson County has shown decline and stagnation, cultural morale has been damaged
Robert Miller - getting together with small businesses post pandemic, creating new businesses through tax break incentives, getting in the streets and talking with people, taking that to heart
Karen Watford - Davidson County has certain characteristics that lean towards traditional and rural, embrace traditions, be willing to try new things, provide services people want, improve what we already provide
Do you agree that a county’s budget should reflect the true priorities of that county? If so, which budgetary priorities would you change to improve our county?
Matt Mizell - yes, priorities should reflect county, there’s a strain on first responders, there’s a premium on experience, reworking pay structures, setting up Davidson County for success in 10 to 20 years
Don Truell - absolutely should reflect, budget roughly $150 million, always looking at incentives, upgrade salaries, we’re losing employees
Fred Lankford, Jr. - fire department paid for physicals, how his cancer was identified, provide the service to all fire departments, need them to be there when we call
What in your opinion is the current state of race relations in the county and what do you feel is the role of county commissioners in this issue?
Chris Elliott - we’re created in the image of Christ, racism has no part in my life or my family’s, I go to schools and I see kids laughing and playing together, focus more on what we have in common than different, we should dialogue
Don Deal - focus on certain struggles from one ethnicity to another, race relations have room for improvement, need to listen and love each other as Christ showed us how to
Are there any county ordinances or zoning that you feel should be tweaked or reworked to better serve the residents of the county?
Tripp Kester - make ordinances more business friendly, need opportunities to work in this county
Mandy Ellis Kiser - more research and thought into housing developments, we have to think long term, be proactive instead of reactive, have to make sure we have what they need to thrive and be successful citizens in Davidson County
Steve Shell - saddens me that subdivisions are taking the place of farms, I don’t want to change that, want to see an increase in lot sizes
To view the forum in its entirety, click here.
