Candidate Questionnaire John Czajkowski – NC House 43

What NEW legislation will you be working on once in office?

 

AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 43 MY TOP PRIORITY IS TO “BRING WORK HOME” FOR THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 43 AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY. WE NEED INDUSTRY BROUGHT TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY WITH GOOD PAYING WORK AND TO BROADEN THE TAX BASE TO RELIEVE THE TAX BURDEN OF HOME OWNERS.

 

What is the number 1 challenge facing our state? Is there a solution?

 

AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 43 MY TOP PRIORITY  IS TO “BRING WORK HOME” FOR THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 43 AND CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

 

There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in county neighborhoods recently referred to as “orphaned roads.” A bill was introduced in the General Assembly two years ago but has not moved forward. What are your thoughts for solving this problem?

 

I BELIEVE ALL ROADS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BY SOME AGENCY OR ASSOCIATION IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE VALUE AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE AREA. LET’S FIND THE PROBLEM THAT IS PREVENTING MOVING FORWARD AND CORRECT IT.

 

With the possible redevelopment of the Murchison Road corridor, would you vote to annex the doughnut hole in Shaw Heights if the Fayetteville City Council sent the delegation a resolution to support the annexation?

 YES

 

What are your thoughts on additional tax on services in 2019?

    

I SEE NO REASON FOR ADDITIONAL TAX ON SERVICES.

Candidate Kirk Smith – Lee County Commission Questionnaire

Candidates Full Name:   Kirk Douglas Smith

 

Current Occupation/Position: US Army Paratrooper/Retired; Parts Sales Manager

 

Home Address:           3108 Avents Ferry Road

Sanford, NC 27330

 

Daytime Phone Numbers:

 

Home: 919-258-5689

Cell:     919-935-3197

 

E-Mail Address:          airborne7382@yahoo.com

 

Political Party Affiliation: REPUBLICAN

 

Candidate for: Lee County Commissioner District #2

 

Previously Elected/Appointed Position(s)

 

July – December 2007 Appointed Lee County Commissioner District #2

December 2012-2016 Elected Lee County Commissioner-At-Large

2012-2016       Lee County Commission Vice-Chair

 

Appointed to:

The Sandhills Center Mental Health Board

Lee County Fire Advisory Board

Fort Bragg Regional Alliance

Lee County Board of Health

Local Emergency Planning Commission

Alternate: Triangle Area Regional Transportation Organization

Alternate: Triangle J Council of Governments

Alternate: Lee County Parks and Recreation Board

 

Community Involvement:

Member and Sunday School Superintendent, Turner’s Chapel, Sanford, North Carolina

Middle School Sunday School, Volunteer for State and National Historic Sites located throughout the Southeast. Board Member of the Educational Non-Profit North Carolina Highland Regiment/71st Highland Regiment of Foot, Inc. Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, 82nd Airborne Division Association.

 

Community Endorsements: I have sought no Endorsements nor am I seeking political contributions.

 

  1. What NEW initiatives will you be working on once in office?Keeping Lee County Government’s taxing and spending in check is not a NEW initiative. That is what I will be working on once in office.
  2. What is the number 1 challenge facing the county? Is there a solution?
  3. The number one challenge for Lee County Commission is the combination of increased spending and debt placed upon the Lee County Citizens. We have the 21st highest property tax rate as per the 2017-18 budget year (21st in 100 counties) for a county that is 45th in population. We carry one of the highest tax payer burdens in North Carolina and that is the major reason our current Democrat board has to promote “corporate welfare.” In addition Lee County is about to surpass $100 million in total debt, buying and rebuilding a former school building. A building located in a crime ridden neighborhood at twice the cost of building two new schools on property the county already owns. I will focus on keeping spending and taxes in check.
  4. There is a statewide issue with unmaintained roads in county neighborhoods, recently referred to as “orphaned roads.” A bill was introduced in the General assembly two years ago but has not moved forward. What are your thoughts for solving this problem?Orphaned roads are also a problem in Lee County. Unfortunately the burden is too great for local government to solve on our own. There is a number of developers that went bankrupt and failed to properly transfer the road maintenance to the state. This causes a serious problem for financing and resale of properties on these unmaintained private roads. Solving this problem will require action by the General Assembly and the future legislators will have to address orphaned roads.
  5. Tell us about yourself and why you choose to run for office?My family settled here in Lee County back in 1992. From 1985-1988 while living on Fort Bragg, my wife did most of her horse business in Lee County, finding the proprietors of the business very warm and focused on customer satisfaction. While stationed in Germany we were preparing to move back to Fort Bragg and decided on buying enough property in either Moore or Lee County. We found our present home and location to meet our needs perfectly.  Since retiring from the Army, I started paying more attention to local government and became an active opponent to “corporate welfare.” As it is not the government’s job to pick business winners and losers. Government’s primary job is to “protect life, liberty, and property rights.” Since the 2016 election to which I was not re-elected for the At-Large seat, my neighbors began urging me to run again for the Second District, as they are upset by the “tax and spend” record of our current commissioner.
  6. Would you accept REALTOR Political Action Committee funds from our Association?

No, I am not accepting political contributions so as to avoid any conflict of interest. My office is not for sale.

City of Fayetteville Downtown Design Plan – Public Input Needed

OPEN HOUSE FOR FAYETTEVILLE’S

DOWNTOWN DESIGN PLAN

The City of Fayetteville invites you to attend an OPEN HOUSE event to learn about the new Downtown Urban Design Plan. This plan will develop projects and goals for the City to complete over the next 3-5 years, with a focus on priorities, policies, and public investment. Help the City determine how to connect the assets of the Downtown and help turn our Downtown into a Neighborhood. The OPEN HOUSE is an opportunity to be involved in planning the future of Fayetteville’s Downtown to see what your fellow citizens are saying, to offer your input and ideas, and to learn about how you can help implementing the plan. Please stop in, stay for 15 minutes or the whole time!

OPEN HOUSE EVENT

Monday, August 13th

5:30pm – 7pm

Fayetteville City Hall Lobby

433 Hay Street, Downtown Fayetteville

NCDOT Public Meeting – Odell Road

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding the proposal to widen and extend Odell Road in Cumberland County.  Details are below.

Date:  Thursday, July 26

Time:  4:00 – 7:00

Location:  Spring Lake Town Hall – 300 Ruth Street

Additional Information: 

Kim Gillespie, project manager
(919) 707-6023
klgillespie@ncdot.gov

Transportation Plan – Public Input Meeting

The Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) is seeking public input on a regional bicycle and pedestrian plan.

FAMPO was awarded a $225,000 grant from NCDOT.  Those wishing to provide input can go to the Historic Courthouse, 130 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville, NC.

You can also take an online survey @ sandhillsbikeplan.com

 

Spring Lake – Sewer System Ready

Cumberland County will soon notify residents and property owners of the Overhills neighborhood when the new sewer system is complete.  Rates and paperwork will be mailed to the residents.

Background: (from Cumberland County Memo)

FAYETTEVILLE – Construction of a $4.4 million sewer extension project for Overhills Park Water and Sewer District is expected to start in three months and last one year.

The acquisition of the utility easements needed to extend the sewer main throughout the community delayed the project, which was originally approved in April 2014 with financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cumberland County. The projected cost in 2014 was $3.4 million.

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, acting as the governing board for the water and sewer district, received an update on the project during a special meeting July 19 and learned that USDA would cover the additional $1 million needed through grant and loan funding. The board signed a resolution accepting the amended funding conditions from the USDA Rural Utilities Services.

The County will receive a Rural Utilities Services grant of $2,961,000 for the project and a $1,379,000 loan from USDA. The loan will be repaid through sewer availability charges over a 40-year period. The County’s contribution remains at $50,700.

The Board of Commissioners established the Overhills Park Water and Sewer District in 2009 after failing septic tanks were reported in the area.  The district covers the Overhills Park Subdivision located just north of the Town of Spring Lake near the intersection of East Manchester Road and Highway 210.
 
The actual cost per customer will not be known until all work is complete; however, the estimate for the availability fee is $25.72 per month for owners that are not connected to the system. If property owners choose to connect to the sewer system, the projected monthly bill would be $50.25 per month (the availability fee is included in this amount).These figures are estimates based on projected customers and usage. The rates will be established once the exact cost and number of customers are determined. At that time property owners will receive a letter informing them of the actual rates.

The Town of Spring Lake will oversee the system’s operation, maintenance and sewer treatment. Cumberland County will handle the billing.    For more information, call 910-678-7682, email publicutilities@co.cumberland.nc.us or visit the Public Utilities webpage at co.cumberland.nc.us/public_utility/overhills_park.aspx.