HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0974should be elected by districts. Bell said lie wasn't in favor of the district method, but if this
argumenthe board currently
om
orth Iredellused,
Heti
man
said Stewart resided n west Ired a dell,rMooresville,
and hs would covtertall sections of and f the
county.
PRESENTATION OF A PETITION FROM ALICE FORTNER REGARDING THE
VACANCY ON THE
IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Alice Fortner said she actually did not have a petition, but she wanted to recommend
Steve Robinson, the City Executive for Piedmont Bank (a subsidiary of Yadkin Valley Bank &
Trust) for the board vacancy. Fortner said Robinson had never run for a public office, but he had
a great deal of financial experience.
Lori Ferguson said she was a west fredell resident, and she recommended Steve Robinson
for the position.
Bill Lona, the President & CEO of Yadkin Valley Bank & Trust, recommended Steve
Robinson as the replacement. Long said that in 1989, when he was chairman of the Statesville
Chamber of Commerce, he worked with the Mooresville Chamber president in an effort to
eliminate some of the divisiveness between the northern and southern areas of the county. Long
said Robinson was a man of absolute integrity, extreme honesty, and fairness.
Tom Alexander recommended Steve Robinson for the position.
Bill Thunberg said the board members were elected to make the decisions, but he wanted
to recommend Steve Robinson for the vacancy.
Dann- Hearn said he was representing the Statesville and Mooresville Chambers of
Commerce. He recommended that a resident from south Iredell, with a business background, be
chosen for the position. He said the business sector paid 60% of the taxes in the City of
Statesville, and this group should have a voice in the matter.
Bill Newell Jr. said the recommendation from the Republican Party was not binding, and
that geography should be considered when making the decision on Ray's replacement. Newell
said he owned three businesses, and he felt the recommendation from the two chambers should
be considered. He recommended Robinson for the vacancy.
DELEGATION OF COUNTY
CITIZENS
& THE
DESIRING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
ALICEVACANCY ON THE IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Gene Houpe said he owned businesses in Statesville and Mooresville, and he wanted to
recommend Alice Stewart for the vacancy. Houpe said Robinson did not seek public office
during the past election, but Stewart did, and finished third in 19 of 25 precincts in the county.
Houpe said he didn't think the commissioners could find a person with more honesty and
integrity than Alice Stewart.
Steve Benfield recommended Stewart for the position. He said that if Mr. Robinson had
wanted the position, he should have filed for the office and paid his dues. Benfield also said that
if the chambers wanted a commissioner, they should endorse a candidate in the 2004 election.
Paul Hutchinson said he changed his political affiliation from democrat to unaffiliated in
order to work for some of the candidates. Hutchinson recommended the appointment of Alice
Stewart.
Tim Kinney said Alice Stewart had lost the commissioners' race, but she had won due to
at least being on the ballot. He said Stewart finished fourth in the commissioners' race, and the
board should follow procedures. Mr. Kinney said the commissioners should represent everyone
-- not just the two chambers and their special interest groups. He said there were many large
businesses that chose not to join a chamber of commerce. Kinney said democracies existed due