10) Do you believe that there is a rift between City and County elected officials?
Mayor
James David (Pete) O’Geary (no incumbent in race): No response submitted.
Jeanne Hight (no incumbent in race): NO, I DO NOT. SOME TIMES IN MY OPINION I BELIEVE THEY THINK THAT THEY ARE BETTER, KNOW MORE, HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE DO. I’VE AL WAYS BEEN ABLE TO TALK WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S REMEMBER I SPENT NINE YEARS WITH THE HUMAN RELATION COMMISSION AND I HAD TO DEAL WITH MANY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE AL WAYS BEEN NICE TO ME AND I HAVE AL WAYS BEEN NICE TO THEM. I THINK YOU CALL IT RESPECTING EACH OTHER.
Ward 1
Mary Emma Evans (Incumbent): No response submitted.
George W. King, Sr. (Challenger): I cannot honestly answer that question and will freely say, “I don’t know.”
Ward 1 At Large
Bernard Alston (Incumbent): No response submitted.
Sara Coffey (Challenger): No. In addition, I do not foresee any difficulties in working with county commissioners and county government with my election to city council.
Ward 2
Bobby Gupton (Incumbent): Yes, to a limited degree. I believe we all want what is best for our citizens, but we fail to realize that people that reside inside the city and pay fully for the benefits of residing in the city are county taxpayers as well and are entitled to all the benefits that are granted to those that reside outside the city and in the county.
Mike Rainey (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 2 At Large
Lynn Harper (Incumbent): No, I do not believe that there is a rift between city and county elected officials. As Chairman of the FAIR (Finance and Intergovernmental Relations) Committee, I have attended each meeting of the City and County Intergovernmental Committees during this term. Although there have certainly been differences of opinion, these have been expressed in a business-like manner and usually in a very congenial manner.
These two bodies naturally look at issues from different directions. They represent two different governments. The City Council must have the concerns and best interest of the Citizens of Henderson at heart. The County Commissioners must have the concerns and best interest of all the residents of Vance County–which include the Citizens of Henderson–at heart.
This does not mean there is a rift–if these two bodies agreed all the time, there would be no need for discussion and there wouldn’t be the benefit of ideas from each perspective. We live in a democracy–where all ideas from the peoples’ elected representatives are valuable and should be heard before decisions are made.
Michael Inscoe (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 3
Garry Daeke (Incumbent): There is a rift, and it has been created by lack of understanding of the art of collaboration. The issue should not be control. Neither side should dictate in a partnership.
Frank Terry (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ward 3 At Large
Brenda Peace (Challenger): No response submitted.
Elissa Yount (Incumbent): If by rift you mean that we disregard, malign, or are disrespectful of each other– then the answer is a resounding, NO! If by rift you mean that we have differing opinions, positions, and priorities– then the answer could be interpreted to be yes. When the House and the Senate in NC disagree, we don’t start ranting and raving that they need to cooperate. When the Democrats and Republicans have differing views, we don’t call them incompetent. We call it what it is—working the hardest for your constituents. I would not sacrifice good decision making just to be cooperative. For too long the council would go along to get along and it brought us to the brink of financial ruin. I am not in city government to please everyone. I am in city government to do my best in a fair and impartial way for all the citizens. There is a role of reason in good government and that reason comes from public discussion. If these discussions seem strident and stern at times, remember–it is just your council taking up for the citizens in Henderson and trying to spend your money in the best possible way.
Ward 4
Horace P. Bullock (Challenger): No response submitted.
Lonnie Davis (Incumbent): No response submitted.
Ward 4 At Large
George Daye (Challenger): No response submitted.
Lora Durham (Challenger): No response submitted.
Ranger Wilkerson (Incumbent): Yes – definite difference of opinions. Funding is biggest rift at present.
Special interest groups are tremendous cause of conflicts.